章節 7: The Blackwoods

The morning sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains of Parker's bedroom, casting long shadows across the floor.

The Blackwood mansion, as grand and imposing as it always as is, it still carried that quiet, early-morning stillness.

It was just another weekend morning. The rest of the house was still waking up, with Helena, his aunt, preparing breakfast downstairs. The smell of eggs and bacon slowly filtered through the walls, a usual Saturday routine, but one that always felt a little forced for him.

In the kitchen, Helena spoke to Annabelle, her voice echoing lightly through the mansion. "Annabelle, go call Parker down. Breakfast is ready."

Annabelle, the loudest of the bunch, did what she was told, but as expected, she didn't take the typical route. Instead, she leaned against the bottom of the staircase and shouted up to Parker, her voice a shrill bark that was impossible to ignore.

"Paaaarrrkerrrr! Breakfast! NOW!"

Parker, still half-dazed and sprawled over his laptop, groaned at the piercing noise.

"Ugh, that brat." It was always Annabelle who took pleasure in waking him up, and her method was never subtle.

He slid off the chair, stretching out his stiff muscles, closing his laptop with a sigh.

A half-amused grin danced on his lips. As much as he hated being disturbed, there was something about her loud shout that made him laugh inwardly. It was just so... good today.

He was going to step into a new life.

"Seriously, could she not just be less loud for once?" he muttered to himself, already heading toward the stairs.

Slipping into his slippers, he made his way down, his mind still running through what he'd been working on.

The idea of his new life — the penthouse, the system, the freedom — was a spark he couldn't extinguish.

As he walked downstairs, he could already picture himself getting out of here, leaving the Blackwoods behind for two weeks straight. But first, breakfast... and the circus that came with it.

It was at this breakfast that everything will start.

Annabelle was sitting at the kitchen table, a smug little grin plastered on her face. "Took you long enough!" she teased.

Parker rolled his eyes, fighting back a smirk. "Yeah, yeah, you know how to get me up. Just like a good alarm clock that you're."

His aunt, Helena, was already plating up the food, unbothered by their usual banter. "Sit down, Parker. I'm not waiting on you," she said, her tone as neutral as ever.

Parker slid into his seat, taking the plate she slid toward him. He gave her a look, but didn't argue. It's all the same anyway.

Before long, a couple of familiar faces joined in, it was his uncle Robert that joined first before Vivian came too, they sat in their usual seats as Parker offered greetings to them out of necessity and a must than his own liking.

"Good morning too Parker!" Robert replied less interested while Vivian just nodded in acknowledgement.

"Good morning fam, not, you Parker!" An arrogant and annoying voice had chose that exact time to grace them it's presence.

"I don't care too Julian!" Parker muttered under his breathe for himself.

Julian, the oldest and only son of Robert Blackwood, strutted into the kitchen like he owned the place. He had that classic golden boy vibe—charming but a total pain if you couldn't deal with his attitude.

Lean and handsome, he rocked his bronde hair and blue eyes, just like his dad.

Dressed to impress, he slid into his seat in a flashy red jacket that looked like it was straight out of a fashion magazine. The intricate patterns screamed confidence, and he knew it.

Seriously, who wouldn't notice him in that get-up? He was ready to take on the world—or at least steal the spotlight at the breakfast table.

"Going somewhere, Julian?" Robert asked, raising an eyebrow. Normally, weekends were family time, much to Parker's annoyance—he always ended up as the errand boy. So seeing Julian dressed up like this piqued Robert's curiosity more than it made him angry.

"Yes, Dad, I'm heading out with Bella and some of my uni friends," Julian replied, getting ready to dig into his breakfast like the rich kids do.

"Oh that Harper oldest daughter?"

The moment Parker heard the name Harper, he couldn't help but arch an eyebrow. 'The Harpers, huh?' he thought to himself. Meanwhile, Robert and Helena beamed at Julian's announcement.

"Oh, Bella! How's she doing? It's been a minute since she last visited her mother-in-law?" Helena chimed in, her enthusiasm on full blast, making Julian smile. The cocky jerk—at least in Parker's eyes—pretended to be embarrassed, but Parker could see right through it like a thin white veil he was.

"Mom, don't tease her like that," Julian said, rolling his eyes. "Oh, about that, she said she'd visit in a few weeks. We're just busy settling into university and all."

The breakfast chatter continued, mostly revolving around Julian and his love life until they were nearly finished eating.

"Ahem." Parker cleared his throat, trying to grab their attention.

Helena, his aunt, turned to him mid-conversation. "What's up, Parker?" Her tone had that edge — not angry, just… tired, as if dealing with him was another item on her long to-do list.

The rest of the table perked up, waiting to hear what he had to say. Parker hesitated for a beat, then decided to just go for it.

That got their attention.

Every pair of eyes shifted to him, waiting for whatever bombshell he was about to drop. Parker hesitated. He wasn't the type to speak up—especially at this table—but this was important. He swallowed hard and forced himself to push through.

"Ahhh…" he began, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. Then he straightened up, trying to look more confident. "I wanted to discuss something important with you, Aunt Helena, and Uncle Robert."

That got their attention. Helena's eyebrows arched slightly in surprise. Parker rarely initiated conversations, let alone anything he called "important."

Annabelle, the youngest, couldn't resist chiming in. "Ya!" she intoned, tossing in her favorite Korean catchphrase. "When did you start having important things to say?" She punctuated her sass with a playful kick to his shin under the table, grinning like the little gremlin she was—triumphantly as her foot connected.

Parker winced but didn't retaliate.