Williams lawyer has read his will, Sarah lawyer has also read her will.
And the court had declared that Ryan would take over his parents' property when he is ready, but for now Zavian would be the one managing the company.
The only thing Ryan had was his parents' assets.
Ryan sat in his room, a little space given to him downstairs. His room was the smallest part in the house. He sat on his bed, sniffing. His parents' death really hurt him, he felt so weak, like he was dying. He couldn't even imagine a day without his parents. He felt like he was walking through a dark tunnel with no light at the end. He felt like he was drowning in deep pain.
Ingrid decorated the dining table beautifully, plates filled with food. Everyone was seated, including Riaan. Ingrid walked in.
"What is the meaning of this, Ryan? What are you doing at the dining table with my children?" her sharp voice cut through the air.
"Ryan, get out of here. This is a family dinner, not a place for strangers."
"Auntie, I'm family too," Ryan said, his voice trembling slightly.
Ingrid's expression hardened. "You're not part of the immediate family, and I don't want you here right now. Just leave us to eat in peace."
The room was filled with thick tension as Ryan slowly got up from his seat, his eyes welling up with tears. Without a word, Ryan turned and walked out of the dining room, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the house.
Some minutes later, Zavian came in. He pulled out a seat for himself and sat down. And he started eating. After taking some spoonfuls of jollof rice, he looked at everyone, his eyes scanning the room.
"Where is Ryan?"
Ingrid hissed, "He is in his room," she answered.
"Why? He should be here eating. What happened?"
"Mum chased him away and called him a stranger," their daughter Aurora, a six-year-old girl, said sadly.
"Will you shut it and eat your food?" Ingrid yelled.
Aurora got more sad and started to sob.
"Enough, Ingrid!" Zavian yelled. "He's okay, Aurora," he said coolly.
But Aurora continued to sob. "Okay, how about you go to Ryan?"
Immediately, Aurora stopped crying. She picked up a plate and filled it with jollof rice and added three dragon wings.
Aurora carefully balanced the plate in her small hands, her sniffles fading into quiet determination. The room fell silent as she climbed down from her chair.
"I'm going to Ryan," she said softly.
Zavian stood up immediately. "Wait, I'll come with you."
Without sparing Ingrid another glance, he followed Aurora out of the dining room. The sound of their footsteps echoed down the hallway, softer this time—gentler.
They stopped in front of Ryan's door.
Aurora knocked lightly. "Riaan… it's me."
There was no response.
Zavian frowned and pushed the door open slowly.
Ryan sat on the floor beside his bed, his back against the wall, his face buried in his arms. His shoulders trembled slightly. He hadn't even bothered to turn on the light—the room was dim, almost suffocating.
Aurora walked in first.
"I brought you food," she said, placing the plate carefully beside him. "You didn't eat."
Ryan slowly lifted his head. His eyes were red, his face tear-stained. For a moment, he couldn't speak.
"You… came for me?" he whispered.
Aurora nodded, her small face full of concern. "You're not a stranger."
Those words hit harder than anything else.
Zavian stepped forward, his expression dark with restrained anger. "You should never have left that table," he said quietly. "This is your home too."
Ryan shook his head weakly. "It doesn't feel like it."
Silence filled the room again—but this time, it wasn't empty. It was heavy… full of everything left unsaid.
Zavian clenched his jaw.
"That changes today," he said firmly.
Ryan looked up, confused.
"You are not a guest here. You are not an outsider. And as long as I'm in this house, no one will treat you like one."
For the first time since the dinner began, something shifted in Ryan's chest. Not relief… not yet.
But something close to it.
Aurora smiled faintly. "Eat before it gets cold."
Ryan gave a small nod and picked up the spoon with shaky hands.
As he took the first bite, a quiet realization settled deep within him—
He had lost everything…
But maybe… not everyone.
End Tag (for readers):
Rejected at the table, but not forgotten in the heart… How long before Ryan stops being a "stranger" and becomes something far more dangerous?