The Arrogant Heir Shoved the Old Groundskeeper, Never Realizing the Man Was the Secret Majority Owner of the Entire Estate
Chapter 1: The Shattered Roses
The foyer of Blackwood Manor was a cathedral of marble and gold, a space designed to intimidate anyone who dared step inside. Julian, the sole heir to the Blackwood fortune, marched through it with the confidence of a man who owned the very air he breathed. He was late for a brunch with potential investors, and his mood was foul.
In his path stood Elias, the groundskeeper. Elias had been with the estate for decades, a quiet fixture who pruned the hydrangeas and tended the rose bushes. He was carrying a fresh bouquet of yellow roses—the first of the season.
"Move," Julian snapped, not breaking his stride.
Elias, startled, fumbled his footing. Julian didn't stop. He shoved the elderly man with a sharp, dismissive blow to the shoulder. Elias tumbled, his worn knees hitting the cold marble with a dull thud. The yellow roses scattered, their stems snapping, petals bruising against the pristine floor.
May you like
Julian laughed, a sharp, condescending sound. "Get out of the way, old man. You’re staining the floor."
Elias said nothing. He didn't look up. He simply reached out, his trembling fingers gathering a single, crushed flower. He looked at it for a long moment, his face unreadable, before tucking it into his pocket.
