The Heiress Chose the Forgotten Son

“Have you decided, Alara?” Mason Whitmore slid the agreement across his desk. “Of my four sons, which one will you choose?” Ten years ago, I saved his life. He brought me into the Whitmore family and made me a promise: when I turned eighteen, I could choose one of his sons as my fiancé. The man I chose would inherit the Whitmore company. Everyone thought I would choose Ethan. He was Mason’s eldest son, a champion race car driver, and the boy I had loved for years. Then I heard him tell Jenny: “Alara was never my choice. I only said I’d marry her to keep my father happy.” So I made my decision. Not Ethan. Not Julian. Not Ryan. I would choose the son they all ignored. Noah Whitmore. The one in the wheelchair. Chapter 1 Ten years ago, I saved Mason Whitmore. He had collapsed outside an old warehouse by the docks. No bodyguards. After he recovered, he found me. “You saved my life, Alara,” he said. “Come back to the Whitmore estate with me. I’ll take care of you.” I had no home, so I went with him. Mason had four sons: Ethan, the champion race car driver; Julian, the billionaire CEO; Ryan, the professional hockey player; and Noah, the fourth son, who used a wheelchair and rarely appeared in public. When Mason introduced me, he said, “This is Alara. When she turns eighteen, she may choose one of you as her fiancé. The man she chooses will inherit the company.” I immediately said, “No. I’m not marrying anyone.” Mason only smiled. “We’ll talk when you’re older.” Everyone thought I would choose Ethan. So did I. Julian and Ryan made their positions clear long before I turned eighteen. Julian called the arrangement inefficient. Ryan told me not to drag him into it. Ethan never rejected me. He let me follow him to races, accepted my concern, and never corrected the rumors between us. I mistook that silence for acceptance. Until one week ago. I had gone to Ethan’s racing club to deliver a sponsor file Mason asked me to bring. The lounge door was half open. Inside, Jenny was crying. “Ethan, Miss Alara is the one your father chose for you. I shouldn’t make things difficult.” Jenny Hayes was the girl the Whitmore family sponsored. After her mother died, Ethan, Julian, and Ryan brought her back to the estate. Since then, they had protected her like she was priceless. Ethan said, “Alara was never my choice. I only said I’d marry her to keep my father happy.” Julian said, “That agreement is Father’s way of controlling succession. She’s a condition, not a choice.” Ryan laughed coldly. “What does she have besides Father spoiling her? Jenny, if she hurts you again, I won’t let it go.” I left before they could say more. Ten years meant nothing to them. If they wanted Jenny, fine. I would not stand in their way. The next day, I went to Mason’s study. “Have you made your decision?” he asked. “Yes. I choose Noah.” Mason looked at me as if I had named a stranger. For years, everyone had watched me chase Ethan. Noah was the last name he expected. “Noah is my son too,” Mason said at last. “If you choose him, I hope it is because you see him, not because you are running from the others.” “I know what I’m doing.” Because in ten years, Noah was the only one who had never hurt me. He was also the only one who never treated Jenny’s tears as proof that I was guilty. Mason closed the agreement. “Then keep it between us until the ceremony. I don’t want my sons interfering before the documents are ready.” I nodded. “If this is your decision,” he said, “I’ll support you.” When I left his study, Ethan, Julian, Ryan, and Jenny were downstairs. Ryan saw me first. “Well? Who are you choosing?” Ethan frowned. “Don’t play games, Alara.” Julian set down his tablet. “Why wait until the succession ceremony? Whoever you choose, Father will force him to honor the agreement.” Ryan sneered. “Do you enjoy keeping us hanging?” Jenny tugged Ryan’s sleeve. “Don’t say that. Miss Alara probably just can’t bear to choose.” Then she looked at me. “Mr. Whitmore loves her so much. Whatever she wants, someone always gives it to her.” I looked at her. “What does my decision have to do with you?” Jenny’s eyes reddened. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken. Please don’t be angry.” Ryan stepped in front of her. “She only said one thing. Did you have to scare her?” Julian frowned. “Alara, don’t turn Father’s affection into a privilege.” Ethan’s voice was the coldest. “You’re just an orphan my father brought home. The Whitmore family gave you a name. That doesn’t give you the right to bully Jenny.” Once, I would have explained. Now I would not. They had already chosen who to believe. Not long after Jenny came to the estate, Ethan’s confidential race briefing was leaked from my account. A security audit traced the login to a guest tablet assigned to Jenny. When I confronted her, she started crying. “Miss Alara, I don’t know why it shows my device. I know you don’t like me, but you can’t blame me just because they care about me.” Ethan was there. He did not ask why Jenny’s tablet had accessed my account. He only looked at me. “I never thought you would become this kind of person.” “I didn’t frame her,” I said. Ryan pulled Jenny behind him. “Enough. Stay away from her.” Julian only said, “Jealousy is ugly.” Then Ethan warned me, “If this happens again, don’t expect me to marry you.” Back then, it hurt. Now it was absurd. Who said I still wanted him? In the living room, Jenny was still crying. Ethan comforted her while Ryan and Julian stood on her side. “If you bully Jenny again,” Ryan said, “I won’t agree even if you choose me.” Julian said, “Without the Whitmore family, you are nothing.” Ethan stared at me. “Stay away from Jenny.” I listened quietly. They thought they could still threaten me, but I no longer wanted them. “Don’t worry,” I said. “I won’t choose any of you.” Chapter 2 The next morning, Mason’s lawyer came to the estate. Before the succession ceremony, I had to confirm the end of Mason’s guardianship and the engagement agreement. The lawyer waited downstairs for half an hour. Ethan never came. I called him. “The lawyer is here. Mason said at least one of you should be present.” Ethan’s side was noisy. “I can’t leave.” “Where are you?” “Jenny has a foundation panel today. We promised to go with her.” “This is about Mason’s legal documents.” Jenny’s voice came through the phone. “Miss Alara, if you don’t want them with me, you can just say it. You don’t need to use documents to call them back.” Ethan’s tone turned cold. “You heard her. Don’t use Father to pressure me.” “I’m not.” Ryan took the phone. “We promised Jenny. If you can’t sign by yourself, wait.” Then he hung up. I looked at the dark screen. As long as Jenny needed them, nothing else mattered. That afternoon, they came back. Jenny held her foundation folder, eyes red. The moment she saw me, she lowered her head. “Miss Alara, I’m sorry. Did the lawyer wait so long because of me?” Before I could speak, she stepped closer. “I only wanted to explain...” Then she stumbled into the display stand beside her. Folders slid across the floor. Jenny clutched her wrist and cried. “It hurts...” Ethan rushed to her. “Jenny!” Ryan turned on me. “What did you do this time?” “I didn’t touch her.” Jenny sobbed. “It’s fine, Ethan. Miss Alara didn’t mean it.” Ethan looked at me coldly. “You just said you weren’t targeting her.” Julian picked up the legal packet from the floor. “Guardianship termination. Engagement agreement. Company succession.” He looked at me. “You must feel powerful now.” Ryan sneered. “Using your control over the inheritance to take it out on Jenny?” “I said I didn’t touch her.” Ethan held Jenny close. “Enough. If my father weren’t forcing me, I would never marry you. Honestly, the thought makes me sick.” I nodded. “Good.” Ethan frowned. “What?” “Because I never planned to marry you.” Ryan laughed. “Everyone knows you’ve loved Ethan for ten years.” Julian said, “Pretending not to care now is a little late.” I looked at them. “Who said I was marrying Ethan? I won’t marry any of you.” Ethan gave a cold laugh. “Are you going to use the fact that you saved my father to guilt us again?” He stepped closer. “Fine. I’ll marry you, but only if you stay away from Jenny.” I looked at him. “What makes you think you can set conditions?” Ethan froze. “I’ve already chosen,” I said. “And it isn’t you.” For once, none of them answered. Ryan laughed first. “If you have that much backbone, tell Father.” Julian closed the file. “She’s acting.” Ethan stared at me. “She’ll choose me in the end. She has no other choice.” They were wrong. I already did. That evening, Noah’s assistant, Lucas, came to see me. He handed me a gray metal box. “Miss Alara, Mr. Noah asked me to deliver this.” Inside was a silver Whitmore board pin, simple and unmistakably official. “Mr. Noah said that since you chose him, you may wear this at the succession ceremony.” I closed the box. “Thank him for me.” “He also said he will arrive on time.” I nodded. That was the only good news I had heard all day. Later that night, the event team brought the access credentials for the ceremony. Mason had told me to check mine first. I picked up the primary family badge with my name on it. Soon after, Jenny came in with Ethan. “Miss Alara, you’re here too?” She saw the badge in my hand. “That one looks more official than mine.” Ethan asked, “You like it?” Jenny lowered her head. “I only thought it would look better for the foundation interview photos.” Ethan looked at me. “Give it to her.” “It has my name on it.” “Then have them print another.” “No.” His face cooled. “Don’t push it.” “What if I do?” Ethan took the badge from my hand and gave it to Jenny. “Wear this tomorrow.” Jenny smiled through her tears. “Thank you, Ethan.” Then she looked at me. “Thank you too, Miss Alara.” I said nothing. Jenny leaned closer and whispered, “See? If I want something, they give it to me.” I looked at her. “Stay away from me.” She smiled and stepped back. Her elbow hit the lighting control panel behind her. A portable stage light snapped loose and dropped from its frame. Jenny screamed and threw herself into Ethan’s arms. I was closest. I pushed the falling stand away before it hit her. The hot metal casing burned across my arm. Ethan carried Jenny out first. Ryan and Julian followed him. No one looked back. By the time the staff lifted the stand, my arm had gone numb. Jenny was only frightened. I was the one sent to the hospital. Lying in the emergency room, I stared at the ceiling. These ten years had been ridiculous. This time, I swore I would leave them all behind. Chapter 3 I woke up in the hospital. Outside the door, Ethan said, “Is she awake?” Ryan scoffed. “Jenny was terrified all night. Alara only burned her arm.” Julian said, “That’s not the problem. The problem is whether she’ll complain to Mason.” So they were not here for me. They were here to keep me quiet. The door opened. Julian placed a folder beside my bed. “Private room extension. Sign it. I’ll pay.” Ryan dropped a tablet on the table. “Your accounts are restored.” Ethan put down a black card. “Use it.” I looked at them. “Why are you really here?” Ethan paused. “Jenny may lose her foundation appointment.” Julian opened the folder. “The equipment incident has to be reported. If you sign this statement, it becomes an accident caused by your own mistake.” Ryan added, “Then Jenny’s name stays out of it.” I understood. They wanted my silence on paper. “I won’t sign.” Ethan frowned. “Alara.” “She caused the accident herself.” Ryan snapped, “She’s already scared. Why do you have to ruin her future too?” Julian said, “This statement won’t hurt you. Mason will protect you anyway.” “So I deserve to take the blame?” Ethan stepped closer. “If you sign it, I’ll marry you.” I almost laughed. “You think that’s a reward?” His face darkened. “I’ve already compromised.” “I told you. I’m not marrying you.” Ryan sneered. “Then none of us will marry you.” “Good.” A hospital administrator came in. “Miss Hayes is crying. She says she’ll withdraw from the foundation if this becomes a scandal.” Ethan turned to leave. Ryan followed. Julian looked at me. “Don’t take this too far.” “You already did.” Minutes later, Ryan came back and grabbed my uninjured wrist. “Sign it.” “Let go.” Ethan stood at the door. “Stop making a scene. Help Jenny first.” The administrator hesitated. “Miss Alara has not agreed.” Julian said, “This is a Whitmore hospital. I’ll handle it.” I looked at them. “You’ll regret this.” Ethan did not look back. “Get it done.” Ryan pressed the pen into my hand. When I tried to pull away, pain tore through my burned arm. By the time the statement was taken from me, my signature was barely legible. They went to Jenny. Ethan stayed beside her. Ryan comforted her. Julian handed the signed paper to the administrator. The nurse whispered, “Miss Alara looks pale.” Ethan said, “She can handle it.” He was wrong. I blacked out. When I woke again, Mason was beside my bed. “What happened?” I looked at him. If I told the truth, his sons would break his heart. So I said, “An accident.” Mason did not believe me. But he did not push. Lucas arrived soon after. Noah’s assistant. He handed me a document and a gray metal box. “Mr. Noah asked me to bring these.” The document was an engagement confirmation. Noah had already signed it. Inside the box was a second silver Whitmore board pin. Lucas said, “Mr. Noah heard what happened. The first badge was taken from you. This one will be registered under his seat.” “No one else can use it.” I held the pin. It was not romantic. It was better. It was respect. Lucas continued, “Mr. Noah has replaced your medical team and filed a counterstatement. No one can access your records or use that signed paper without review.” For the first time that day, someone cared what I wanted. “Thank him for me.” “He also said he will attend the ceremony in three days.” “Tell him I’ll be there.” After Lucas left, Mason asked, “You’re sure?” “Yes.” “In three days, the succession ceremony begins. All directors and relatives will attend.” “I’ll announce Noah then.” Mason was silent. Then he nodded. Three days later, the Whitmore succession ceremony began. It was held in the top-floor boardroom of Whitmore Group. Directors, relatives, and lawyers filled the room. Everyone knew I had to name my fiancé today. “She’ll choose Ethan.” “Maybe Julian.” “Ryan still has a chance.” No one mentioned Noah. I stood outside the boardroom and pinned Noah’s silver pin to my clothes. Ethan, Julian, and Ryan were already inside. Jenny sat beside Ethan, her wrist wrapped in gauze. The lawyer stood. “Miss Alara, please take your seat.” Chapter 4 The lawyer was about to read the succession terms when someone hurried into the boardroom. “Miss Hayes has been summoned by the foundation board.” Ethan stood first. Ryan was already heading for the door. Julian got up too. I stayed seated. Soon, Jenny was brought inside. Her eyes were red, and the stolen badge still hung at her collar. She leaned against Ethan. “I’m fine. Please don’t blame Miss Alara.” The boardroom went silent. Everyone looked at me. Mason’s voice sank. “What does that mean?” Jenny bit her lip. “The foundation received a complaint about me this morning. It included the hospital incident report and a counterstatement.” She glanced at me, then lowered her head. “Maybe it was a misunderstanding.” Ryan turned to me. “You again?” “I sent nothing.” Ethan sneered. “You always say that.” Julian checked his phone. “The complaint came from an internal Whitmore address.” He looked at me. “Convenient.” I smiled faintly. “So now every Whitmore email is mine?” Jenny tugged Ethan’s sleeve. “Stop. Today is important for Miss Alara. I don’t want to embarrass her.” The more she said that, the worse everyone looked at me. Whispers started around the room. “She really can’t stand Jenny.” “Over inheritance rights?” “No wonder the three young masters don’t like her.” Ethan looked at Mason. “Father, I know today matters, but Jenny has to appear before the foundation board now.” Ryan said, “I’m not leaving her alone.” Julian closed the file. “The ceremony can be postponed.” Mason’s face darkened. “This is the Whitmore succession ceremony, and you three want to walk out in front of every director for her?” Ethan held Jenny closer. “She is not an outsider.” Ryan said, “She matters more than this ceremony.” Julian was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Father, Alara will be fine. Jenny is different.” The room went still. Mason looked at them. “So this is what I raised?” Ethan lowered his voice. “If you’re disappointed, I accept it. But I won’t leave Jenny.” Ryan said, “Neither will I.” Julian said nothing, but he had already moved to Jenny’s side. Jenny cried. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have come. I don’t deserve this.” Ethan comforted her. Ryan looked at me with disgust. “Are you satisfied now, Alara? Everyone can see what you’ve done to her.” I did not explain. There was no point. They had already chosen what to believe. Mason said sharply, “If you walk out today, don’t regret it.” Ethan looked at me. “She is the one who should regret it.” Then he led Jenny toward the door. Ryan followed. Julian paused for one second, then left too. At the doorway, Ethan turned back and looked at me. “Just cancel the announcement,” he said coldly. “It would look pathetic to get engaged when the groom isn’t even here.” Ryan laughed. “Don’t embarrass yourself, Alara. Everyone knows who you were going to choose.” Julian adjusted his cuff. “Dragging this out won’t make any of us change our minds.” Everyone looked at me. Some pitied me. Some mocked me. Most waited for me to fall apart. “No.” I looked at the lawyer. “Continue.” The lawyer opened the file and read in a clear voice, “According to the engagement and succession agreement signed by Mr. Mason Whitmore, Miss Alara has chosen Noah Whitmore as her fiance.” “From today on, Mr. Noah Whitmore will become Miss Alara’s fiance and the official successor to Whitmore Group.”