Silence Was My Goodbye , Now Watch Me Rise

The gavel came down at the capital's most exclusive auction house, and my late father's Patek Philippe pocket watch had just been driven to a billion.

The ones bidding it up were my fiance, Barbara Summers, and the three childhood friends who'd sworn since we were kids that they would always protect me.

I stared at the watch on the stage. It was the only proof that I was the rightful heir of the Delgado family.

Barbara had one arm draped around Carter's shoulders. In full view of every guest in the room, she raised her paddleCarter says his tuxedo tonight is a little plain. Needs an accessory with some weight to it. One point one billion.

Laughter rippled through the crowd. Mocking me the real heir, only just brought home who couldn't even hold on to his own father's keepsake.

William Delgado, give it up. You're never going to beat Carter. The three of them sneered at me from across the floor.

The entire room was watching me like I was the evening's entertainment. But my mother, Maura Delgado her face had gone dark.

They didn't know the family was watching this. Grading it.

If I touched my private trust fund for this watch, or if I got on my knees and begged Barbara for help, I would lose my claim to the Delgado Medical Group for good.

I looked at those four women throwing away fortunes for Carter Delgado, and I set down my paddle.

That pocket watch was the symbol of whoever held power in the Delgado family.

I'd been lost for twenty-two years. The family only found me and brought me home three years ago.

Tonight was my first time officially representing the Delgados at the charity auction. My grandmother had told me I had to bring back my father's watch. No exceptions.

Barbara knew what this watch meant to me.

She raised her paddle anyway. Her eyes never landed on me. Not for a single second.

The overhead lights bore straight down onto my face.

I sat in my bidding seat and watched Barbara take the watch from the presenter's hands, lean over, and tuck it into the breast pocket of Carter's tuxedo. My nails dug deep into my palms.

Camera flashes erupted across the ballroom.

The whispers drilled into my ears:

Ms. Summers isn't even being subtle. She's backing her future husband right out in the open. Doesn't matter if he's the fake heir as long as she wants him, he's the one who matters.

That so-called real eldest son is pathetic. Came home thinking a name was enough, and now he's lost the woman and the heirloom in one night.

Barbara leaned down and straightened Carter's collar, her gaze full of patience and indulgence.

I'd known her for three years. I had never once seen anything from her but cold composure.

In her eyes, I was a schemer who had clawed his way into a wealthy family. My pain, my silence just leverage I was hoarding, just another play for a bigger payout.

Earl Delgado strolled over with a glass of champagne.

My second uncle. A pack of young tycoons trailed behind him like an audience.

William. Ms. Summers clearly doesn't give a damn about you. What are you still sitting here for?

The way I see it, a man's got to know his place. You can dust a sparrow in gold it still won't be a phoenix.

Carter grew up in this family. He's the one fortune smiled on. You show up out of nowhere trying to push him out, and now even God's had enough sent Ms. Summers right back to his side.

Every word landed on what was left of my dignity. My knuckles went white around the glass.

Before the auction started, Barbara had given me her word in the lounge.

She said she'd win the watch for me. A gift for our third engagement anniversary.

I believed her.

To hold up my end, I'd even turned down exclusive medical-device distribution deals with several other families.

But one minute before the watch went on stage, Carter had leaned into her ear and cried.

That was all it took.

She didn't just fail to help me. She became the sharpest blade in Carter's hand.

She knew about the inheritance evaluation.

If I lost my composure tonight, or if I walked out without this heirloom, the Delgado Group's line of succession would tilt toward Carter.

The applause lingered long after the gavel fell. The charity auction was over.

Carter wore the Patek Philippe pocket watch at his chestthe heirloom that symbolized bloodlinestrolling through the ballroom on Barbara's arm.

My three childhood friends, the ones who'd once sworn they would always protect me, were busy running interference for Carter now, shielding him from toasts and steering introductions his way.

Barbara broke away from the crowd and walked toward me.

She stopped in front of me, her voice flat.That watch is Carter's ticket to staying in this circle. You're already the Delgado heir. You don't need one antique.

It's just an old keepsake. Be the bigger person.

If that keepsake had gone to a stranger tonight, I looked at her, how would Grandmother see me? The Delgado heir who can't even hold on to his own father's belongings?

Barbara's brows knotted together.

It's always about leverage with you. Besides the inheritance and the shares, is there anything else in that head of yours?

When I didn't answer, her voice dropped lower. William, you're ruthless. You'd survive just fine without the Delgados. But Carter can't!

If I hadn't given him the watch tonight, the family elders would've written him off for good. He'd be thrown out.

I stared down at the tips of my shoes.

She didn't know. The succession fight inside the Delgado family had reached the closing net.

My mother's hints had been perfectly clear.

Either I passed tonight's evaluation and proved I could keep absolute control of myself.

Or she would marry me off to the notorious eldest daughter of the Wang family, trading me for the Summers Group's capital injection.

I'd wanted to gamble on three years of what Barbara and I had built.

But that bidding war stripped every last illusion away.

Carter came trotting over with a glass of juice, pressing himself against Barbara's side.

Barbara, I want to go say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore over there.

I'm scared I'll say the wrong thing. Could you teach me, brother?

He turned to face me, eyes wide with rehearsed innocence. You keep all those notes on people's connections, right? Every executive's preferences, written out on your desk. Who smokes, who drinks what, when they prefer to be approached. Every last detail, memorized.

He paused there, pressing his hand over his mouth as if he'd caught himself.

I'm not saying you're scheming or anythingI just think you work so hard.

The expressions on several nearby socialites shifted.

He tracks details like that? The Delgado heir's mind runs deeper than I thought.

Well, what do you expect? Raised outside the family. You can smell the social climbing on him.

The whispers settled over me.

Those notes were Grandmother's assignment. She'd told me to memorize the habits of every elder in the capital, all for the sake of the Delgado family's century-old foundations.

Barbara had praised me for being thorough at the time.

But now she stood there looking at me with nothing in her eyes but disgust, and didn't say a single word in my defense.

Carter tugged at Barbara's sleeve. Did I say something wrong again? I'm no good with words, not like my brother. He always knows how to charm the ladies

Barbara smoothed his hair. Don't worry about it. Your brother has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. He won't hold a little thing like this against you.

Then she took Carter's arm and walked with him into the center of the crowd.

My name drowned in a room full of contempt.

I set down my glass and pushed open the heavy wooden doors to the terrace.

Cold air hit my face, and I drew a long breath.

Grandmother was due back from her overseas business trip in three days.

Tonight's events would reach her ears, twisted and exaggerated beyond recognition.

I stood on the terrace for twenty minutes before going back inside.

Lorraine Pruitt blocked my path. William, don't go looking for trouble with Carter.

Her eyes tracked my direction, guarded, certain I was going after the pocket watch.

Lorraine was the first person to reach out to me after I was brought home.

She'd seen my name once on a sponsorship list at the orphanage.

Back then, the Pruitt family had all but frozen her out. I'd scraped together my scholarship money and sent it to her in secret, enough to get her through the worst year.

Later, once I was back with the Delgados, I pulled every connection I had to help her secure control of the Pruitt family's management.

I thought we were ride-or-die.

But now she was shielding Carter, standing between him and me.

I shifted to walk past her.

She grabbed my wrist. Be good. Barbara's already made her choice. If you make a scene now, you'll only embarrass the Delgado family.

Let go.

I tried to shake her off, but Carter glanced our way and her grip tightened hard.

The sudden force threw me off balance. My foot turned and I tumbled down the steps.

My right kneecap cracked against the tile with a sharp, clean sound.

Pain shot straight to my skull.

Lorraine stood frozen. Why do you have to play the victim? You've had everything since you came back to the Delgados. Carter only has Barbara.

Victoria Cox and Althea Mason followed over.

What happened?

Victoria glanced at my swollen knee. Her expression didn't change.

So what's the Delgado golden boy performing now? Trying to keep Barbara by getting hurt?

Althea had her hands in her pockets. William, you pulled this same trick three years ago. Aren't you tired of it?

Did that little notebook of yours calculate exactly how far to fall, too?

Victoria pressed her fingers to her temple. William, you've already backed Carter into a corner. All he wanted today was one pocket watch. Was that really worth hurting yourself in front of everyone?

If it's really about saving face, her voice flat, completely even, I'll dance the next one with you. That enough to get you through the night?

I gritted through the pain and got to my feet, pushing past them.

Move.

William!

Victoria lost patience. She seized my arm. If we hadn't pitied you and helped you find your footing back then, you think you'd be where you are today?

I fought to wrench free.

She yanked hard.

The sound of bone leaving its socket.

My left shoulder dislocated.

The pain swallowed every sound in my throat.

Victoria's hand hung in midair.

She stared at my arm hanging limp, but her voice stayed rigid. You had to fight me on this. All so you could go chase after a man?

I clenched my jaw, my right hand clamped over the dislocated left shoulder.

Sweat ran down my face and dripped onto my tailored suit.

Althea's mouth curled. Drop the act.

You're William Delgado. The real young master who grew up tough. A little scrape like this is nothing to you. Don't expect us to feel sorry for you.

My face was drenched in cold sweat, and I smiled at her.

You're right. I've had it rough before. It doesn't hurt.

I let go of my right hand. My left arm hung at my side.

The smirk vanished from Althea's face. She turned away, unable to look at my shoulder.

Victoria's voice shook. I'm calling the private doctor.

No need. I forced every last ounce of strength into my legs to stay upright. If word gets out, Delgado Group's stock will tank.

You're insane! Victoria's eyes burned with fury. You're always calculating for your precious Delgado empire!

Back when Carter had that allergic reaction and his face swelled up, you locked him in the stockroom so you could finish negotiating with a supplier. All for your perfect performance numbers!

She was panting with rage. You've never had real feelings. All you know is what benefits you!

She turned and left, taking the others with her.

Althea shook her head with a cold laugh. William, you're just gambling that Barbara will feel sorry for you, aren't you? You could cripple yourself and she still wouldn't look back.

I ignored her and limped toward the end of the corridor.

Wind poured in through the windows.

I leaned against the cold wall, pain throbbing through my left shoulder in waves.

But I didn't lift a hand to brace it.

The last thread snapped.

At one in the morning, I made it back to the Delgado villa.

My mother, Maura, sat in the unlit study. The ember of her cigarette flared and dimmed.

I already know what happened tonight. She crushed the cigarette out. Barbara can't protect your position.

I stood in the dark and said nothing.

Your grandmother will see the briefing tomorrow morning. Your marriage can't wait three days.

I already broke it off with Barbara, just like you wanted. My voice was raw. What more do you want from me?

She raised her head, her gaze sharp and merciless. I want to see you marry someone suitable.

Three days. Before your grandmother returns, I want a signed engagement.

That word, suitable, meant exile.

She wanted me to marry someone who posed zero threat to the Delgado inheritance.

Barbara's worst rival, maybe. Or some down-on-her-luck heiress living overseas.

The moment I was married, even if Grandmother wanted to hand me the Delgado Group, she'd have no legitimate grounds.

Barbara held enormous power in the capital. Without her approval, no one would dare accept my engagement.

Six a.m. The emergency wing of the Delgado family's private hospital.

I had just walked out after getting my dislocated shoulder set when I ran into them in the corridor.

Barbara was helping Carter out of the car. A strip of gauze was taped around his ankle.

He walked unsteadily, brow tight with pain.

Lorraine, Victoria, and Althea trailed behind, arms loaded with high-end supplements.

William? Carter's eyes went red the second he spotted me.

His gaze dropped to the sling strapped across my chest. What happened to you? Is it because I took the pocket watch last night? Are you upset about that?

Barbara looked up, and the instant her eyes hit the sling, her pupils contracted.

Victoria stood next to Carter, her face ashen.

Althea leaned against the nurses' station, arms folded.

Getting a wound treated. I stepped aside, ready to leave.

William. Carter called after me. I heard Mother already picked a wife for you? In three days?

The air in the corridor went still.

Barbara's expression darkened instantly. Three days?

She strode up to me. William, are you done playing games? When did I ever say I was having a wedding in three days?

I stared at the floor tiles and said nothing.

Less than five hours had passed since the conversation in the study.

Carter hadn't just gotten hold of the informationhe'd dropped it right in front of Barbara, perfectly timed.

Barbara

Tears spilled down Carter's face. If you really are going to marry William, I'll be happy for you. It just feels so sudden

Something wild flickered through Barbara's eyes.

She turned to Lorraine. Take him inside for the exam first. Don't let his wound reopen.