The Consortium’s Heir by Benjamin_Jnr

Chapter 304

"My adoptive family doesn't treat me as well as the outside world believes. Also, the woman who took me away from the orphanage-well, she makes it clear how sick she is of me. My adoptive mother often expresses how helpless she is when I get picked on by everyone else, but I can tell she, too, doesn't like me," Maurice revealed, testing the waters as he cautiously looked at Darius.

Yet, disappointment soon tightened his chest to know the answer he wanted never came.

Darius continued to stare at Maurice, knowing what the latter was thinking. He secretly found it funny how the boy reacted. While everyone was still stunned by the sudden turn of events, he raised his hand, hovering it over Maurice's head.

That caused Maurice to stiffen, holding his breath until the former's hand rested on his head. Only then did he calm down.

Darius quirked a brow but kept his opinions to himself. All he did was calmly point out, "You were hoping to see if I knew your birth parents and whether I could tell you about them."

Maurice rolled his eyes. He thought he hid his emotions well, yet Darius had somehow seen through him and accurately guessed his every thought. One thing he did not anticipate, however, was how to deal with the situation before him.

Silence ensued at the scene, making things even more awkward. Everyone felt the tension, including Maurice’s peers, who watched from the sides.

Maurice was not focusing on this; his eyes were rolling at a specific person —Darius. A deep frown eventually marred his face when he realized everyone's attention was on him. Despite his annoyance, Maurice could not do anything about it.

car and then drive away before anyone noticed. His breathing grew

brow while fixating on

more ashamed than before. Since he had never been in such a predicament, he did not know how to

Darius. He could almost see his younger self in the blond boy before him. While the two had entirely different life experiences, Darius was once a confused young boy who could

at Maurice’s car and said emotionlessly, "If you don't wish to continue with your current lifestyle, I think getting in that car and leaving is the best option. Because your adoptive family isn't as

upward, shooting a prying

former's prying eyes, though, as they resembled that of a cautious child. He knew very well Maurice was only reacting out of fear. On top of that, Darius himself had experienced that specific type of fear numerous times-Maurice was

his chin higher and placed

the outcome of things as he had taken a liking to Maurice. One could even say Edward viewed Maurice as a child of

he believed the latter would have made the perfect child. Thus,

much I like you." Edward ruffled Maurice's hair and candidly revealed his sentiments to the boy. While

full of love and sincerity that Maurice’s eyes became glossary with tears. He had never experienced such emotions before, so he stiffened on the spot, not knowing how to react.

Edward dejectedly retracted his hand. Yet, as he did so, a pair of hands speedily reached

warmth and affection from an adult's gaze. It was almost too blinding, so he loosened his grip and looked down. His hands then crossed before his chest as though

tender smile spread across Edward's face just then. "Is there something you wish