For twenty three years, Alexander Blackwood had lived as if his name carried no weight.
That was not an accident.
In England, names meant everything. Old names opened doors. Forgotten names were buried quietly, without ceremony.
Alexander's had been erased.
He stood outside the Blackwood Group headquarters in Canary Wharf, staring up at the glass tower that reflected the grey London sky. Thousands of people worked inside. None of them knew that the blood running through his veins once owned the foundation beneath their feet.
"You don't belong here."
The security guard's voice was firm, practiced.
Alexander looked down at his worn coat, then back up at the building. "I'm here for a meeting."
"With who."
"Richard Blackwood."
The guard laughed once, short and dismissive. "You and half the city."
Alexander did not argue. He simply stepped back and waited.
Five minutes later, a black executive car pulled up at the entrance. The doors opened. A group of men stepped out, suits sharp, movements confident.
At the center was Richard Blackwood, chairman of the Blackwood Group. One of the most powerful industrial conglomerates in the UK.
Alexander's grandfather.
Richard stopped abruptly.
His eyes locked onto Alexander.
The world seemed to freeze for a fraction of a second.
"That's impossible," Richard muttered.
Alexander met his gaze calmly. "Good afternoon. Grandfather."
Silence spread like a crack through glass.
The men around Richard stiffened. One of them whispered, "Sir?"
Richard's face drained of color.
"You're dead," he said slowly.
"I was told the same about you," Alexander replied.
The Past They Buried
An hour later, Alexander sat in a private boardroom overlooking the Thames.
Richard Blackwood sat across from him, hands clasped tightly.
Twenty three years ago, Richard's eldest son had disappeared with a woman from outside their class. No marriage. No permission. No forgiveness.
Weeks later, the son was declared dead in a car accident abroad.
The child was never mentioned again.
Until now.
"We searched for you," Richard said quietly.
Alexander shook his head. "No. You erased us. There's a difference."
Richard closed his eyes.
"You have no idea what your return means."
Alexander leaned back. "Then explain it to me."
Richard exhaled heavily. "You are the legitimate first heir of the Blackwood bloodline."
The words hung in the air.
Outside, the city moved on, unaware that ownership of billions had just shifted.
The System Awakens
As Richard reached for a document, Alexander's vision blurred.
A translucent interface appeared before his eyes.
[Legacy System Activated]
[Heir Confirmation Complete]
[Bloodline Match: 99.98%]
Alexander stiffened.
"What is this," he whispered.
Richard looked up sharply. "What did you say."
"Nothing," Alexander replied calmly.
The interface continued.
[Welcome, Primary Heir]
[You have inherited access to the Blackwood Legacy System]
[This system exists to restore rightful dominance]
Alexander's heartbeat accelerated.
First Rewards
[Initial Heir Package Granted]
[Reward 1: £500,000 Liquid Capital]
[Reward 2: Blackwood Holdings Minority Shares 1.5%]
[Reward 3: Executive Clearance Level One]
[Reward 4: Vehicle Voucher Unlocked]
Alexander's phone vibrated.
Bank notification.
£500,000 credited.
His breath caught.
This was real.
Richard watched him closely. "Your return will not be welcomed by everyone."
Alexander looked up, eyes sharp.
"I didn't come to be welcomed," he said. "I came to take what was left unfinished."
A New Life Begins
As Alexander left the tower that evening, his phone vibrated again.
[New Objective Assigned]
[Establish Independent Business Entity]
[Reward upon Completion: £2,000,000 + Industry Authority Token]
Alexander smiled for the first time in years.
London's lights flickered on around him.
The city had forgotten him once.
It would not get that chance again.