The second huge painting hung on the wall was that of a man much younger than Eddard.
Silver and black hair were his most distinctive features, though it wasn't silver because of age. That was simply how his genetics manifested.
Staring at the middle-aged man, the faint and blurry memories suddenly became clearer.
Reagan Mercer.
Jul stared at the painting for a moment.
'It has only been three years since he died and barely over a year since Rose took the reins.'
In between those moments was when Eddard returned briefly before his death. Though since Rose became the interim chairman, everyone had been waiting for one thing.
The next head of the entire family.
The group continued through the corridors until they eventually arrived before a pair of massive double doors.
The final doors.
"Here it comes, Jul." Jada's voice came from beside him.
She took a small breath. "Are you ready to meet your family?"
Jul didn't answer immediately.
'I still can't believe the kid was the former family head's son.' A strange thought crossed his mind.
'Man, kid. You really know how to stir things up.' For a moment, he wondered what would have happened if Reagan hadn't died naturally.
What if someone had killed him instead?
He had spent enough time around the underworld to know that powerful people rarely died without a reason.
'If that had happened...' He paused. 'Would I have been able to live with that thought?'
The thought disappeared almost as quickly as it came. He didn't want to think about it anymore.
The double doors opened.
...
A massive living room was revealed.
The first thing that caught his attention was the color. Everything was white. The furniture, carpets, the tables, and even the massive television mounted against the far wall.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, illuminating the room with brilliant light. Everything reeked of wealth.
Then, standing within it was a group of people.
The Mercer family.
For a long while, Jul remained silent as he stared at them.
A single thought slowly formed in his mind.
'How can they accept me?'
Even if it was true that he was one of them. Even if he really was related to the former head of the family. How could they simply allow someone who had been missing for fifteen years back into their fold?
'Is this some rich-family thing that I don't understand?' His eyes moved toward his mother, then his sister.
Weren't they curious about what had happened to him all those years? Why had neither of them asked?
What Jul didn't know was that the two had already agreed not to ask. They were afraid that digging into the past might make things worse.
'I can only think that someone ordered everyone to keep things this way.'
His eyes eventually landed on the woman standing at the forefront.
The interim chairman of the Mercer Group.
Rose Mercer.
She wasn't an unfamiliar face even before their meeting in the hospital. In the absence of her husband and son, she had held together the massive empire with an iron grip.
That alone spoke volumes about her capabilities.
'I guess she's worried about who will become the next head.' A faint smile appeared on Jul's lips. 'Well, I plan to sit back and enjoy the show while I recover.'
He looked at the people before him, then casually raised his hand.
"Hello."
Silence followed.
Absolute silence.
Jada and Katelyn stared at him with wide eyes. Even Lia and Malik, standing behind them, froze.
That was his first word? After fifteen years? After everything that had happened?
Jul didn't seem to notice, or perhaps he did, but did not care.
The attention in the room shifted. It wasn't really on Jada, nor was it on Katelyn either.
It was on him. The man sitting in the wheelchair.
They watched him carefully, almost as if they were measuring every movement.
Some looked relieved, simply happy that he was alive. Most of them included his mother, Jada, and, surprisingly or not, Rose.
Others looked uncertain. What would happen now? Would the current balance of the family change? Whose position would he take?
Then some looked with suspicion. Was this some kind of plot? Why return after fifteen years? Why return after the family had already lost billions searching for him?
And why now? Just a few weeks before such a crucial time for the family.
Others, however, seemed almost indifferent. Yes, a missing family member had returned. Yes, he was supposedly the son of Reagan Mercer.
But so what?
He had been missing since childhood. He had no medical achievements. No experience within the family. No influence whatsoever.
And even if he wanted to start now, how far could he possibly go? Who would possibly allow him? They already had their own plans.
Jul's return changed those plans slightly, but it didn't destroy them.
Most of them were here only because they had been ordered to come. There was nothing more to it.
And Jul noticed all of it. Their expressions, their posture, their eyes, and ultimately their reactions. His eyes slowly moved across the room, studying each face.
Most weren't even trying particularly hard to hide what they thought, or perhaps they just didn't care.
Then he noticed something else.
Every single person was dressed impeccably. Tailored suits, elegant dresses, even expensive jewelry. Everything carried the unmistakable appearance of quiet luxury.
Even their posture was different. It carried a kind of discipline that wasn't casual or relaxed. It felt more controlled.
Everyone looked…composed.
Too composed.
It didn't feel like the atmosphere of a family reuniting with someone they were just meeting after decades, or had just awakened after a life-threatening accident.
It felt like a questioning room.
Or perhaps...a courtroom.
The woman at the front finally spoke. "Based on your reaction, it seems you don't remember much. But regardless of your memory..." Her eyes moved across the room.
"...this is your family."
The word seemed to strike something within the room.
Several expressions changed. The word 'family' seemed to jar them. Especially among those who had been suspicious.
One of them finally couldn't hold back.
"Grandmother!" A relatively young man who appeared more concerned about his appearance than the weight of his words stepped forward.
"How are we suddenly supposed to accept someone I have barely seen in my entire life into our fold?"
No one stopped him. Only a few people murmured in agreement.
Seeing that, the young man continued. "I'm not denying that he could be one of us." His eyes settled on Jul. "But where has he been all these years?"
His voice became sharper. "Why come back now? What does he plan to do by returning?"
Katelyn and Jada both tensed. These were their own family members. People who should have welcomed Jul.
Yet every question sounded like an interrogation. They glanced toward Jul, expecting him to take offense.
But he wasn't listening. His attention remained on the people around him. He was already organizing what he knew about them in his mind.
Then, Rose simply raised one hand and silence followed.
"Planche."
"Yes." The silver-haired man stepped forward. His posture was straight, and his voice was calm. "Master Jul Mercer was eight years old when he was kidnapped while returning home from school."
He paused. "Upon his return, evidence gathered showed that, prior to his disappearance, he had no knowledge whatsoever of his family's true position or influence."
The room remained silent.
"He was a child." Rose allowed the words to settle. Then she spoke.
"So..." Her gaze swept across the room. "...it is illogical to blame an eight-year-old child for disappearing from his home."
Rose lifted a finger.
"Now, I forbid any of you from asking further questions." Her tone wasn't loud. It didn't need to be, and no one challenged her.
She turned toward Jul, her expression softened slightly.
"Now, Jul." She looked directly into his eyes. "You have met your family."
There was a brief pause then.
"Welcome home."