I’m Dedicated To You

The Hale ancestral mansion is located in the countryside. The ancestral mansion is filled with a lot of trees that supply the house with fresh air making the place comfortable to stay in. The mansion has a lot of rooms that you can get lost in when you are looking for your room. The house is built with granite and it was designed with gold giving it royalty vibes. The mansion has two gardens but one of them belongs to the old madam Hale solely so she can plant her desired flowers in it.

The Hale family dining hall is filled with the Hale relatives and there are different dishes on the dining table that you will notice that there is a feast going on they were there to celebrate master Hale’s 69th birthday but there is no single celebration atmosphere in the air except for the sumptuous feast on the table that you will mistake the purpose of the gathering.

“Erm erm,” Emily Hale Bradley’s mother clears her throat. “Since we are here to celebrate dad’s birthday, why don’t we make a toast to him,”Bradley’s mom says, trying to lift the mood of the dining hall.

“Yes let’s make a toast to him”old madam Hale also joined in to support her daughter-in-law trying to lift the atmosphere too because the air in the dining hall is so choking.

“I don’t want Will to raise his glass if he hasn’t thought of a way to get back the 10 million dollars” old master Hale says grumpily and the whole dining hall goes silent.

The Hale relatives present at the dining hall were the parents of Bradley Justin, Emily Hale and 16 years old Bradley, Bradley’s uncle Will Hale, Kate Hale Justin’s wife, and their 12 years old son Jayden Hale and the only girl of the Hale and the last child of old master Hale Beatrice Hart (she adopted her husband last name after getting married), her husband Preston Hart and their 6 years old daughter Joanna Hart and some other distant relatives so it was awkward when the old master Hale brings up the mistake Will Hale (Bradley’s uncle) makes but it’s the old master no one dares to go against him.

“Dad…. about…. that… I …. do….”Will Hale says stuttering but was interrupted by his father.

“Dad? You still see me as your dad after squandering 10 million dollars away,” the old master asked, banging his fist angrily on the table.

“Dad I think you need to keep calm it’s your birthday you don’t want to ruin it”Beatrice Hale (Bradley’s Aunt) intervenes and the old Master Hale’s countenance changes a little because he loves his daughter and when everyone in the dining hall saw that the old man is no angrier they decided to take turns in wishing him a happy birthday and they started presenting him gifts and when they are done they go back to their seat to eat and it’s the grandchildren turn to greet the old master Hale.

“Joanna you haven’t wished your grandpa,” Beatrice says urging her daughter.

“Happy birthday grandpa and my gift to you is wishing to live 100 years more,” Joanna says with her tiny cute little voice and the old master smiles so wide that you can see his wrinkles visible.

“Of course, I have a very cute granddaughter. I will live past 200,” the old Master says laughing.

“Happy birthday grandpa and this is my gift to you, “Jayden says, lifting a drawing of old master Hale.

“Oh my God, this looks amazing. My grandson draws so well.” Old madam Hale complimented her grandson, so the old master could also compliment him.

“Ohhh mother shouldn’t flatter him I think he still has a long way since his skills aren’t perfect yet, “Kate Hale says joining old madam to flatter his son’s gift and the other relatives on the seat join in complementing Jayden except for Bradley’s parents that kept mute because they don’t think their son has anything to present to his grandpa.

“A real businessman doesn’t need to learn how to draw, “old master Hale says and the people in the dining hall suddenly stop their compliment because the old master automatically doesn’t like the gift so, there is no need to keep bootlicking.

“Bradley I don’t see you with any gift,” Kate asked seeing that Bradley isn’t with any gift she is trying to embarrass him in front of others, especially his grandpa because they all know the fancy him and that earns her a cold glare from Emily Hale because she knows what she is up to.

“There is no need for the gift. I am happy that he is already here with us, “old master Hale says smiling at Bradley, his parents sigh in relief and the other relatives also support old master Hale as always.

“Happy birthday grandpa”, Bradley says smiling at his grandpa. Some people were surprised because they never saw him smile.

“And this my birthday gift to you, “Bradley says bringing out a brown envelope people in the dining can’t help but stiff laugh that did the cold prince write a poem for his grandpa that’s what his parent thought and they can’t help but facepalms.

“This is…” old master Hale asked, shocked.

“Yes, it’s the Dallas land that you want grandpa “Bradley replies smirking at the shocked relatives after hearing what he just said.

“What do you mean Bradley?”Bradley’s father asked in his strict voice.

“Yes it’s exactly what you heard Dad, it’s the Dallas land that grandpa wanted so much but my uncle failed in acquiring it and also got scammed over it, “Bradley says looking at Will Hale’s side the man looked at him with daggers in his eyes.

“You are definitely my grandson, “old master Hale says, almost crying and the people present at the dining hall were surprised because old master Hale doesn’t usually get emotional.

“How did you acquire it, Bradley,” grandma asked Bradley with a pleased voice.

“I won it by beating old master Dallas in a game of chess,” he says and everyone in the dining hall became silent because how could a 16 years old boy win against a man that has been playing chess for 50 years but he is Bradley Hale the son of Justin Hale he can do that much but his competency already sowed a feeling of hatred in the mind of Will and Jayden Hale.

“Of course, you are my grandson,”grandpa says. He was very pleased and the people in the dining hall were already imagining how old master Hale would brag to his friends.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Grandpa, can I ask you for something?”, Bradley asked.

“Of course, you can ask for anything because I should give you something for giving me a good birthday gift, “old master Hale says.

“If you want to develop the land I think you should give it to Hart construction. They are doing good work these days,” Bradley says looking at his aunt’s seat and Beatrice can’t help but pass him a grateful look.

“I see you want to give your brother-in-law a chance,” grandpa asked grumpily because he doesn’t like Preston for his precious daughter but he didn’t have a choice back then.

“Then I think I will give him a chance to prove himself, “grandpa says and everyone was in awe of how the old master Hale listens to his grandson because he says he is not going to support Preston business then and when Preston heard of it he quickly stood up and bow to old master Hale and promised to never let him down he also passed a grateful look to Bradley which he doesn’t acknowledge.

After the gift presentation, the old master Hale’s mood improves and the atmosphere turns into a joyous mode. People started dining and feeling the best of the little party that Bradley’s mother and Jayden’s mother organized.

“How did you think that you should get your grandpa that land?”, Beatrice asked, sitting beside Bradley who is sitting on a chair looking at the people socializing.

“If you lose something important you will want it back and that is exactly what I thought” Bradley replied not interested in the talk.

“Thanks for mentioning your uncle,” Beatrice says.

“I didn’t mention him because he is my uncle but because he is a prospering businessman and it won’t be bad if Hale group works with someone like that,” Bradley says standing up ready to leave the living room Beatrice also sensed that.

“You should have fun when you can, you are just 16, “Beatrice says but Bradley doesn’t reply as he walks out of the sitting room. What he doesn’t notice is that two pairs of cold eyes follow him out, smirking wickedly.

The cold air slaps against my face and I can’t help but sigh softly because this feeling is better than the suffocating mood inside the house. I kept walking not knowing exactly where I was heading but what I liked the most about this place was that it was so comfortable and spacious. I kept walking mindlessly but suddenly my sixth sense started telling me something is wrong and when I looked around I saw that I already walked far away from the house and I am now in the fields so I started walking hurriedly back to the house but I suddenly felt some presence behind. As a son of an aristocrat, we sometimes learn some martial arts but I am not really that good my martial art sense is telling me that the presence behind me is not just one and I don’t think I can take them even if they are two because I am still 16 years old like my Aunt said earlier so, I quickly fasten my pace but I felt like they are catching up to me but I decided to scream for help because I don’t think I will be able to outrun them.

“He…..” but before I could scream for help I heard a bang sound and I felt an impact on my head. I slowly slurped down and then everything blacked out…