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.

His breathing grew

did not move at all. He raised his brow while

more ashamed than before. Since he had never been in such a predicament, he did

boy before him. While the two

you don't wish to continue with your current lifestyle, I think getting in that car and leaving is

shooting

did not mind the 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, who only raised his

was happening between the two. His face then lit up with joy at the outcome of things as he had taken a liking to Maurice. One could even say

latter would have made the perfect child. Thus, his features softened as he approached Maurice's

While speaking, he knelt to meet Maurice at eye level, trying to be as sincere as possible. "If you're okay with it, I hope you'll agree to be my son. I understand you have many concerns still, but I think you should give yourself

that Maurice’s eyes became glossary with tears. He had never experienced such emotions before, so he stiffened on the spot, not knowing

as he did

was the first time Maurice had felt such 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

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