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.

away before anyone noticed. His breathing grew shaky at that idea. Still, he kept a firm and vengeful gaze, eyes darting from

all. He raised his brow

Maurice feeling more ashamed than before. Since he had never been in

came from Darius. He could almost see his younger self in the blond boy before him. While the two had entirely different life experiences, Darius was

"If you don't wish to continue with your current lifestyle, I think getting in

head immediately shot upward, shooting a

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 himself had experienced that specific type of

only raised his chin higher and placed both

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 Edward viewed Maurice

earlier, he believed the latter would have made

boy. While speaking, he knelt to meet Maurice at eye level, trying to be as sincere as possible.

and sincerity that Maurice’s eyes became glossary with tears. He had never experienced such emotions before, so he stiffened on

Yet, as he did so, a pair of hands speedily

such warmth and affection from an adult's gaze. It was almost too blinding, so he loosened his grip and looked down.

across Edward's face just then.