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Chapter 1: Brother's Funeral  

Milo had a vivid dream.

In the dream, he became a young, wealthy heir named Milo Blackburn—or more accurately, a spoiled rich kid.

Drinking, shooting guns, blowing things up, and playing with women—only the raucous indulgences of the night seemed to validate his existence.

Hotels, nightclubs, private parties, and luxurious yachts—each day in his dream seemed to start and end in places like these.

It was the standard routine of a young, rich, handsome man.

Like flipping through a photo album, his 22 years of life quickly flashed by.

When he realized that he was in a dream, a sudden, disorienting sense of falling came over him—like plummeting off a cliff.

"No!"

He suddenly jolted awake, shouting and sitting up.

"Oh, baby, was it another nightmare? Please, don’t do this. You’re making the Paladins in heaven sad. I know your brother would never want you to be this heartbroken over him..."

Milo was still disoriented.

A blonde woman, tears in her eyes, walked over and hugged him, sobbing quietly.

A deep male voice spoke nearby: "It’s not his fault, Robin. Everyone knows how close Paladin and Milo were. They were the best of brothers."

The woman held him, her tears dripping onto his hair.

Milo stared blankly at his surroundings.

He noticed he was in a grand hall with exotic décor.

He didn’t recognize this style at first, but the knowledge suddenly flooding his mind told him it was a Georgian-style interior—an architectural style originating in Britain in the early 18th century, during the time of industrial revolution, colonial expansion, and Britain’s height of power.

In the vast hall, Milo was half-reclining on a sofa, held by the sobbing blonde woman.

Around him, people stood or sat—men and women, old and young—but all of them were foreigners.

The old man who had spoken was a very elderly white man, his face dotted with age spots but still with a full head of golden hair.

After speaking, the old man didn’t look at Milo or the grieving woman.

He turned to the rest of the mourners, who looked equally sad and somber.

"Paladin has passed. It’s a fact that can’t be undone. All this crying is futile."

The old man continued: "We’ll make a public announcement. There will be a funeral and memorial. He’ll be laid to rest in the family plot in Plymouth."

The old man was clearly the leader of the group. Once he spoke, everyone nodded or fell silent, agreeing to his words without protest.

*Three days later.*

In Massachusetts, Plymouth.

Inside a Protestant, Anglican church.

Milo sat in the front pew, dressed in a black suit with a small white flower pinned to his chest, his expression distant and dazed.

Ahead, a priest stood before Paladin's black coffin.

According to Anglican customs, the priest was conducting the final rites for the deceased.

After three days, Milo understood everything. He had traveled back in time.

From being a screenwriter in 2024, he had transformed into a wealthy heir in 1995 America, a third-generation member of the Blackburn family.

This generation, he had an older brother named Paladin Blackburn.

Paladin was the epitome of a “model child,” ten years older than Milo.

Fourteen years ago, when Milo was still in elementary school, his outstanding brother had joined the Massachusetts National Guard.

In 1991, he was sent to Kuwait for a year and awarded an honorable discharge.

From 1993 to 1995, he served as the Attorney General of Massachusetts.

Last year, Paladin was hospitalized after a minor stroke, and it was discovered that he had brain cancer. He was admitted to a cancer center in Boston for treatment.

Recently, Paladin’s cancer worsened, and despite efforts, he passed away at the young age of 32.

Today’s funeral was the final farewell to Paladin Blackburn.

With Paladin gone, the Blackburn family had lost the "successor" they had painstakingly cultivated.

Let’s turn our attention back to the younger son, Milo.

Compared to his older brother, Milo was, by even American standards, a hopeless wastrel.

While Paladin had never been involved in any scandals, Milo’s behavior was notorious.

At just 16 years old, Milo had made headlines when he crashed a sports car, leaving someone permanently disabled.

At the time, his sister-in-law, Haley Harrison Blackburn, worked at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Though Milo was involved in the incident, he was not blamed, and the local news quickly removed the story.

From then on, Milo’s life spiraled further down the path of excess and recklessness.

Looking back on those times, Milo’s expression was hazy.

Suddenly, someone gently nudged him.

"Sweetheart, it’s time to say your final goodbye to your brother."

It was his mother, Robin Blackburn.

Her face was streaked with tears, her makeup long smudged.

She was one of the two people in the church crying the hardest.

The other was Paladin's wife, Haley.

According to Anglican tradition, Milo kept a somber expression as the choir sang the hymn There is a Fountain.

He walked up to the stage and stood before his brother's coffin, looking down at the sea of mourners.

Perhaps it was a moment of emotional reflection, or perhaps it was the deep feelings of the original Milo.

As he gazed at the coffin, his eyes immediately filled with tears.

"I’ve always been a troublemaker. I remember, when I was about eight, just before Christmas. I begged Paladin to take me to cut down a tree for Christmas decorations."

"At that time, he was already serving in the National Guard. He was so busy, and Christmas was his only two-day break. Even when he was off, he still worked, and had to go to Boston for his duties."

"But he loved me so much that, despite his hectic schedule, he still made time for me and made sure Dad and Grandpa didn’t scold me for asking."

"I was so happy riding on Paladin’s shoulders… I know, I was already eight and heavy, but my brother still treated me like I was a little kid… Sorry, I can’t go on."

Milo had initially wanted to follow the tradition of the service and share lighthearted stories of his brother.

But his feelings were so overwhelming, especially with the deep bond between him and Paladin, that he could only manage the beginning before being overcome with grief.

Tears flowed uncontrollably as his speech became fragmented.

He finally finished, half-sobbing: "He... my brother… the only scar on his face is from saving me… God, I would give my life to bring him back... Lord…"

After speaking, he stepped down from the podium. His mother, Robin, was the first to embrace him.

"Don’t be too sad, my dear. We have to move forward."

The second to hug him was his sister-in-law, Haley. "Milo, Paladin loved your smile. He wouldn’t want you to be like this."

His father and grandfather also came to hug him, but the men remained silent.

As the time came, the guests began singing In Christ Alone.

The coffin, covered in flowers, slowly left the hall.

After the priest’s prayer, the coffin was placed in a hearse and driven to the family cemetery, with family and friends following in their cars.

Then, Milo and a few other adult men from the family carried the coffin to its designated spot and began the final burial rituals.

There was a brief address from the bishop, followed by a moment of silence, and finally, the coffin was lowered into the grave.

Once the coffin was in place, family and friends lined up to throw flowers into the grave, saying their last goodbyes.

When the flowers had all been tossed, the grave was sealed.

And with that, Paladin Blackburn—the shining example of the “ideal child,” the man who made his peers feel inferior—was gone, leaving this world for good.

(End of Chapter).

Chapter 2: The Secret Meeting

The sky over Plymouth was overcast today, as if the town itself mourned the passing of Paladin.

According to tradition, after the burial and sealing of the grave, family and friends would gather at the deceased's home for a brief visit. Finally, they would share a meal before parting ways.

About five miles away from Plymouth’s famous tourist attraction, the site where the Mayflower landed, there was a vast coastal estate.

This estate was the site of the Blackburn family tomb and served as the family's stronghold.

Inside the mansion, in a secret room with a chimney, sat John and Joseph Blackburn. They were the grandfathers and fathers of Paladin and Milo.

"Paladin was a good kid. I don’t think we’ll ever find a better one," said one of the men, a middle-aged man with a sincere face.

"I think..."

He continued, his voice soft, "I think Paladin wouldn’t want us to be so sad, to fall into despair over his death."

After he spoke, several other men nodded in agreement.

Except for John Blackburn and Joseph Blackburn, whose faces remained somber.

Then, John Blackburn, the former Massachusetts State Senator and former Republican whip, spoke up.

"Dear George, you're right. Paladin is in the past."

John continued, "We need to look ahead. Robin needs your comfort, George. She’s the one who is most affected by this."

George nodded, signaling that he would comfort his sister.

But George didn’t leave right away. Perhaps he didn’t recognize John’s polite hint to leave.

However, as he noticed everyone’s gaze on him, it dawned on him.

The Texas governor realized that the room full of Democrats likely intended to discuss matters that might not be suitable for his ears.

Though they were family, their interests were not entirely aligned.

Finally, George Bush stood, smiled, nodded to everyone, and left the secret room.

Once Paladin and Milo’s uncle had departed, Joseph Blackburn softly spoke up:

"Paladin is gone. I think it’s time we discuss who will take his place."

"Andrea. He hoped she would take over his position. She was Paladin's deputy," said Brian Roscoe.

Brian Roscoe was a trusted ally of the Blackburn family, currently serving as a Massachusetts state representative and as Joseph Blackburn’s chief advisor.

"But Harrison's side is pushing for Hailey to take over Paladin’s role," said another member of the Blackburn family, Jeff Mark Hughes.

Hughes was one of the forty state senators from Massachusetts.

The group debated, with some thinking Andrea was the better choice, as she had been a key ally of the Blackburn family and Paladin’s right-hand.

But others felt Hailey, Paladin’s wife, was more suitable.

According to American political tradition, when a public official dies while still in office, their spouse can often take over the position, at least temporarily.

After all, it was the Blackburn family’s influence that helped Paladin rise to such prominence as the state’s Attorney General at a young age.

But Hailey’s family, the Harrisons, had also supported Paladin’s rise to power just as much as the Blackburns had.

Now that Paladin was dead, it was reasonable for Harrison to want to reclaim the position.

The debate continued, and eventually, everyone—Joseph included—paused, looking to the elderly John, who had been silent for some time.

Though John was no longer in a political position, he was still the true patriarch of the Blackburn family, despite his age and his affiliation with the Republican Party—much to the dismay of the room full of Democrats.

"Andrea and Hailey are both good kids," John Blackburn said slowly. "But I think it’s better for Hailey to move toward Washington. Let Andrea take over. As for Harrison... I’ll explain things to Jersle."

His decision seemed to carry the weight of finality in the room.

With that, the discussion on who should succeed Paladin as the state Attorney General came to an end.

After a brief silence, Joseph spoke again, "What about Milo? Should we bring him back?"

Everyone in the room immediately understood what Joseph meant.

The Blackburn family had once pinned all its hopes on the shining star that was Paladin.

They had funneled all their resources into him.

As for the younger son, Milo, they had allowed him to do as he pleased, not forcing him into any competition with Paladin for resources.

This had, in part, been the reason why they had turned a blind eye to Milo’s development as a wayward young man.

But now that Paladin was gone, and the Blackburn family’s future depended on the next generation, there was no choice but to reconsider Milo’s role.

As Joseph spoke about Milo, John felt a twinge of pain.

But after thinking it through, it became clear that Milo was the only remaining hope for the Blackburn family.

It was Paladin’s untimely death that had led to this predicament.

John hesitated before speaking again, "Milo..."

Seeing John’s hesitation, Brian Roscoe spoke up, "Although... although Milo doesn’t have the best reputation, he does have one thing going for him—everyone knows he was very close to Paladin."

"Maybe we can use the good will Paladin built up to pave a way for Milo?"

"We could say they were like brothers, that Milo is willing to turn his life around to fulfill Paladin’s unfinished business?"

This was a reasonable proposal, and both John and Joseph agreed it was worth trying.

After all, Paladin—the perfect grandson and firstborn—was no longer around.

And as much as Milo might be seen as a disappointment, he was the only heir the family had left.

Maybe with a little push, he could rise to the occasion?

Even George Bush, the dull-witted Texas governor, had been elevated to his position.

There was no reason Milo couldn’t do the same.

At least Milo’s image was far better than George’s.

With some packaging, Milo could likely attract a large number of female voters who might blindly vote for him.

Seeing John nod slightly, Brian Roscoe pressed on, "Milo spent six years in California. I think we should consider supporting him there. If we succeed, the benefits could be substantial."

The more he spoke, the more convinced Brian became. He gave an example:

"Look at the Bush family. Even though Jeb Bush lost last year, had he succeeded, the Bush family would have had two governors, each in a different state!"

"I think Brian’s suggestion is a good one," said Jeff Mark Hughes. "Even better, Milo has no political identity right now, so he could easily join their ranks in California."

Seeing that his advisers were on board with supporting his younger son, Joseph smiled and was about to speak when suddenly, a knock came at the door.

The room fell silent, and John gestured for Brian to answer the door.

Brian opened the door and saw a white-haired old man standing there.

It was Kim Aris, one of the Blackburn family’s butlers.

Kim looked anxious, and he addressed John and Joseph.

"Gentlemen, something’s happened outside, and I’m afraid I have to interrupt your meeting."

"What’s going on?" Joseph asked calmly.

"Milo. Our dear Milo... he’s been fighting!"

*(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 3: The Widow Sister-in-Law

*Half an hour ago.*

After returning from the family cemetery, Milo had been zoning out at the cold buffet.

He sat in the corner, his eyes aimlessly scanning the entire event space.

To those who didn’t know, they assumed he was still grieving his brother’s death.

Because everyone knew the relationship between the Blackburn brothers had been very close.

The older brother had risked being mauled by a protective mother bear to shield his younger brother and help him escape.

This incident even made local news in Massachusetts at the time.

When Paladin ran for office, this story earned him a lot of public support.

Everyone wanted an older brother who would risk his life to protect them.

As for the younger brother, he had made no effort to consult with his family before doing something reckless to help his brother win— a sixteen-year-old hothead, full of youthful passion, who drove his car into the rival faction in their party.

He hadn’t even considered that if such moves were easy to make, the Blackburn family would never have allowed him— an important family member— to take such risks…

This story also made the news, though it was quickly suppressed afterward.

The two brothers:

One was bright and shining, with an unlimited future.

The other was a wild, reckless type, willing to go to jail for his brother.

This kind of brotherly bond, this kind of loyalty, had once made many elders in the circle envy them.

At that time, everyone thought the Blackburn family would rise to power in their generation, with the two brothers leading the way.

It was also why Harrison, much more powerful than Blackburn, had chosen Paladin as his son-in-law.

And now, Paladin was gone.

On the surface, many people had come to mourn. But little did they know, how many were secretly applauding Paladin’s death.

If Blackburn’s last male heir also fell into ruin, turning into a true playboy, that would be even better!

Besides the Blackburn family itself, there were those who depended on the Blackburns.

No one would really mourn Paladin’s passing.

Such is the reality.

“Milo…”

A large, overweight man walked up to Milo, his face full of concern.

The fat man was so large, he blocked Milo’s line of sight.

Milo’s gaze shifted to him. “What is it, Wendy?”

Wendy Aris, on the surface, was a lawyer, a celebrity agent, and the general manager of a small Hollywood company.

But in reality, he was also the youngest son of Kim Aris.

He had been Paladin’s childhood friend and grew up to become Milo’s assistant.

The Hollywood company where he served as general manager was owned by none other than Milo Blackburn.

This was one of the reasons why Milo was looked down upon by others in the same social circles.

A descendant of a political family from New England, he went to California to mix in Hollywood, mainly for the convenience of playing around with women.

Who else could be considered a playboy if not him?

Looking at Milo’s handsome face, Wendy Aris spoke quietly.

“The thing you asked me to do the other day— it’s done. But we didn’t buy much. Even if we spent twenty dollars per share, we only got 200,000 shares, and that drained all our liquid funds.”

After hearing this, Milo nodded. “Two hundred thousand shares? That’s pretty good. Wendy, you did well.”

“But we don’t have much left in our accounts. MiraMax is pushing for our follow-up investment…”

Milo’s gaze tightened as he stared ahead, but he waved his hand dismissively. “Forget about them.”

Wendy: “But if we don’t keep investing, according to the contract, all the money we’ve put in will be lost.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve already been with the lead actress and supporting actress of those two movies. That money can be considered as payment for their services…”

Wendy: “…”

Three hundred thousand dollars just for a couple of women? That’s pretty expensive.

But since Milo insisted, Wendy had no choice.

“By the way, Wendy.”

Wendy Aris suddenly noticed Milo’s finger pointing to the left.

Milo spoke softly. “The guy who’s bothering Hailey— that’s Craig from Beaird, right?”

Wendy quickly looked over.

The fat man saw a man talking to Paladin’s widow.

Wendy nodded. “That’s Craig Beaird. He’s here today on behalf of Beaird to attend Paladin’s memorial.”

“I heard he was one of Hailey’s most obsessed suitors?”

As Paladin’s childhood friend, Wendy knew a lot about Paladin’s life, even though he had been working with Milo for years.

Wendy hesitated and nodded. “That’s true. He also pursued Hailey after she married Paladin. Paladin hated him…”

“You’re not lying. Paladin told me about it. He said he hated Beaird.”

Milo spoke softly.

“That’s right. That guy even competed with Paladin for the position of Attorney General. But he’s from the Elephant Party, so he didn’t stand a chance in Massachusetts.”

Wendy added.

“Good. Then I have nothing to worry about.”

When Milo said that, and Wendy saw the somewhat hostile look in Milo’s eyes as he stared at Craig, Wendy suddenly felt his scalp tingle.

“What are you planning to do? Milo, today is Paladin’s memorial. Craig represents Beaird!” Wendy whispered urgently.

“What do I plan to do?”

Milo sneered. “I just watched my brother’s funeral, and now I see his former rival harassing his widow. What do you think I’m going to do?”

“Huh?”

Wendy wanted to tell him that things weren’t as extreme as he thought.

But the fat man saw that Milo, who had been slouching on the couch, had already stood up and was striding towards Hailey and Craig.

Wendy didn’t know what Milo was planning.

But he knew that anything outrageous Milo did right now would be bad.

This was Paladin’s memorial!

And Craig Beaird was no one like the small Hollywood characters who dared not retaliate after being bullied by Milo.

Wendy hurried to follow, but he couldn’t keep up with Milo, especially since he was out of shape.

By the time Milo reached Hailey and Craig, Wendy was still far behind.

“Hi, Milo. My condolences. I’m so sorry Paladin left us so suddenly.”

As soon as Milo walked up to the two of them, Craig smiled and greeted him.

Milo ignored him and instead looked at his sister-in-law Hailey.

Hailey was stunning, with a slim waist and a black dress that accentuated her figure. Her chest appeared fuller under the dress, and her face showed sorrow from losing her husband.

She was six years younger than Paladin, but only four years older than Milo.

“Is he bothering you, Hailey?”

Milo didn’t even glance at Craig and asked Hailey.

Hailey paused at the question, her expression clearly surprised.

Actually, no.

Craig might have some intentions, but he wouldn’t be foolish enough to do anything inappropriate at Paladin’s memorial.

Craig was just comforting Hailey. After all, he had been one of Hailey’s suitors before she married Paladin.

“No…”

Hailey started to speak, but Milo moved faster.

He grabbed a martini glass nearby that was filled with the drink typically served at memorial buffets.

Without hesitation, he poured the entire glass of alcohol over Craig’s head.

He shouted angrily:

“You filthy cockroach! Fuck off, and stay away from Hailey! You think I don’t know what you’re up to? Paladin just got buried, and you think you can do whatever you want?! Fuck off! I’ll say it again— stay the hell away from Hailey!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 4: Milo Wasn't Wrong*

"F*ck! Are you an idiot?"

"This is your brother's memorial! You’ve ruined everything!"

"Paladin loved you so much, and you messed up his funeral! God, how did I end up with such a stupid child!"

"......"

An hour later.

The funeral of Paladin Blackburn ended in a rather anticlimactic fashion.

Milo’s actions at the gathering—specifically what he did to Craig Bayard—infuriated Joseph beyond measure. When the farce finally ended and the outsiders had left, leaving only family behind, Joseph couldn’t hold back any longer.

Furious beyond belief, Joseph began to lash out at his youngest son.

Especially when he saw Milo’s indifferent expression while being scolded, Joseph’s anger only grew.

If it weren’t for the presence of others—family aides still hanging around—and the Blackburn family’s general disapproval of corporal punishment, Joseph would’ve gladly beaten the rebellious child.

At this moment, Joseph was fuming so much that his throat was dry from yelling.

He turned to his aides, but no one dared to speak up.

Joseph had no choice but to look to his father. After all, Milo only listened to his older brother, and he only feared his grandfather.

Milo had never really feared Joseph as a father.

Joseph hadn’t expected that after Milo’s public outburst, his father would still remain so calm.

The elderly man’s expression hadn’t even changed as much as it did earlier when they were discussing who should take over Paladin's position.

"Father…"

Seeing his father’s expression, the congressman couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going to say anything to him? This little bastard!”

Old John nodded, looking at his tall, handsome grandson.

He could see the contours of Paladin's face in Milo’s, as the two brothers looked strikingly similar.

Milo was even more imposing than Paladin and taller too.

"Can you tell me why you did that?"

Old John asked with a smile, eyeing Milo. "Why make Craig Bayard look so foolish?"

Milo had always been able to ignore his father, but he knew his grandfather was the true head of the family.

After a moment’s thought, Milo replied, “He was harassing Hailey.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s because he was harassing Hailey.”

“Ah, I see,” the elderly man nodded. “Milo, go on. Comfort your mother, and also, your uncle is about to leave. Go see him off.”

“Okay.”

Milo quickly made his exit. Joseph had intended to stop him, wanting to continue his rant, but the look in his father’s eyes made him hold back.

Once Milo was gone, Joseph couldn’t help but vent, “Father, even if what the boy says is true, he shouldn’t have done that…”

“Why shouldn’t he have?”

Old John shot back. “Now that Paladin is gone, are we supposed to just stand by while his widow is harassed? Does the Blackburn family look so easy to bully?”

“No, Father, that’s not what I meant…”

Joseph quickly corrected himself.

Old John shook his head, thinking his son wasn’t much better than his dim-witted brother-in-law.

And the family wealth wasn’t as solid as Herbert’s.

Now that Paladin was gone, he really didn’t know how the Blackburn family was going to move forward.

Looking at Milo’s earlier behavior, Old John could only comfort himself inwardly.

Perhaps, Milo’s actions were exactly what he had assumed.

"Brian, what do you think?"

Old John now called on the family’s top aide, the chief strategist, Brian Roscoe.

Brian nodded and spoke softly, “Maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem…”

“Let’s think about the possible repercussions here.”

“We all know Milo’s reputation, but Craig Bayard is a different matter.”

“He’s a rising star in the state, one of Paladin’s biggest competitors in the past.”

“If this news gets out, the one who suffers the most will be Craig himself.”

“I’m sure the voters won’t want to cast their ballots for someone who harasses the widow of the deceased.”

“I think Bayard’s camp would rather this whole thing stay under wraps.”

Joseph paused, surprised by this unexpected perspective.

He thought about it, and Brian’s reasoning did seem pretty sound.

It was just like Mark Twain’s The Governor's Election—normally, things like this wouldn’t matter, but when the stakes were high, especially in a campaign, personal character flaws could be weaponized by political opponents.

For someone like Craig, a rising political star, it could be quite damaging.

"…Milo’s actions could actually benefit our relationship with Harrison too," Brian continued, analyzing the situation.

“Harrison had invested in Paladin, but now that Paladin is gone, our only remaining link to Harrison is Hailey.”

“Milo’s actions show that Hailey is still part of the Blackburn family, and that might make the Harrison family think twice.”

“And as for the losses—we really haven’t lost anything.”

“Milo’s reputation is already well-known. His actions here won’t change public perception of the Blackburn family; it’ll only affect how people view him personally.”

“Actually, if this whole thing gets publicized, it could even work in Milo’s favor.”

“Really? How?” Joseph couldn’t help but interrupt.

"Does it somehow improve the public’s opinion of Milo as a reckless, unruly troublemaker?"

Brian shook his head and smiled.

Old John cut in, his voice steady, “Joseph, let Brian continue.”

Joseph reluctantly fell silent as Brian continued.

“If we want to push Milo to take over Paladin’s unfinished business, we can easily spin this situation.”

“We can use Craig as a comparison.”

“One is a young man with the impulsive desire to protect his late brother’s widow, a man who truly loves his family.”

“The other is someone who harasses widows and acts despicably toward his political rivals…”

"Everyone will know who to vote for, right?"

Joseph opened his mouth, but no words came out.

The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like Brian Roscoe had a point.

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

So, his son had thrown wine on someone at the party and nearly beaten him up, but it turned out that it might have some unexpected benefits?

“However, it’s not without its flaws,” Brian added quickly.

“The key is Hailey. Her stance is what matters most.”

“Brian’s right,” Old John approved.

Joseph thought for a moment and then quickly understood what Brian meant.

The whole issue was built on the premise that Craig had been harassing Hailey.

If Hailey confirmed that Craig had, in fact, been harassing her, then Milo’s actions wouldn’t be wrong.

But if Hailey said Craig hadn’t harassed her, then it would mean Milo and the Blackburn family were in the wrong.

On the other hand, if Hailey sided with Milo, it could ruin Craig’s reputation entirely.

“Hailey…”

Thinking of his daughter-in-law, Joseph went quiet for a moment before speaking:

“Hailey was so close to Paladin. She’ll probably stand by Milo. After all, he’s her late husband’s beloved brother…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 5: I Am Sick*

While the core figures of Blackburn were still discussing the subsequent impacts, Milo had already seen off his uncle, who, before leaving, had encouraged him not to be afraid, assuring him that he had done well.

Milo had always had a good impression of this uncle.

He was a very family-oriented person, always willing to care for his loved ones.

As children, he and his brother Paladin would always have a great time whenever they visited Texas, thanks to their uncles, who made sure they enjoyed themselves to the fullest.

As someone who had been reborn, Milo also knew that this uncle would become someone extraordinary in the future.

If nothing unexpected happened, this uncle, whom the circle regarded as a bit of a fool, would rise to the top in five years and begin a new American dynasty, the "Bush Dynasty"...

"My uncle is going to be the President of the United States. What do I have to be afraid of?"

With that thought in mind, the pressure on Milo faded even more.

When he got back home, he asked the servant where his mother, Robin, was. The servant informed him that she was with his sister-in-law, Haley.

Milo walked toward Paladin's room.

Inside, his mother, Robin, and his sister-in-law, Haley, were sorting through Paladin's belongings.

When Haley saw her brother-in-law walk in, her eyes were filled with sadness, yet her expression was complicated. She softly said, "Thank you, Milo. Thank you for defending me earlier..."

Milo immediately relaxed. "I... I didn't want to upset Paladin. Haley, I hope you understand..."

"I understand," Haley smiled. "I loved Paladin, and now I am Haley Blackburn."

"Oh... Haley."

Robin, whose eyes were still slightly red, put down Paladin’s belongings when she heard Haley’s words. She embraced her daughter-in-law and whispered, "You're such a good girl. It's Paladin’s fault for leaving you..."

As she spoke, Robin was on the verge of tears again, and Haley’s eyes were also red. Milo quickly comforted both his mother and sister-in-law, which helped ease the somber atmosphere.

After about ten minutes, his sister-in-law and mother had calmed down. Milo left his brother’s room.

Just as he walked into the hallway, he saw his father and grandfather looking at him from the end of the corridor.

Not seeing any staff or other family members around, it seemed they had all left.

Milo walked toward them, stopping in front of his father and grandfather. "Haley just said she is Haley Blackburn."

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Joseph visibly relaxed.

But Old John smiled and said, "Good boy, how about we have a private chat?"

Milo hesitated for a moment, and then Joseph immediately stepped away, leaving space for his father and younger son, as if it had been planned.

"Grandfather..."

"Come with me."

The old man led the way, and Milo had no choice but to follow.

Massachusetts has a temperate continental climate, with distinct seasons, short summers, and long winters.

It was June now, and after a rainstorm yesterday, today was a bit chilly.

At four in the afternoon, the temperature was only about 16°C (61°F).

The Blackburn estate, located on the eastern edge of the Atlantic, was in the coastal region of Plymouth.

The garden was situated on a high hill, where one could look down over the Atlantic coastline, which was covered with sea eroded and glacial landforms.

There were no special decorations in the garden—just a beautiful lawn.

Grandfather and grandson walked across it, the cold sea breeze blowing.

Milo stepped forward to help his grandfather adjust the coat that Kim Aris had just put on him, to keep the old man from getting too cold.

"Did you do that on purpose?"

Milo hesitated for a moment but still nodded lightly. "Yes, but I really don't like Craig being around Haley. Paladin hated him, and so do I."

"You did the right thing," Old John said with a rebellious tone. "Blackburn is not to be bullied! Our ancestors were pirates, and they only bullied others; we don’t let anyone bully us!"

Uh, saying your ancestors were pirates isn’t exactly something you'd boast about, is it?

It’s like how, in today’s elite circles in America, nearly 99% of people have ancestors who were slave owners and enslaved Black people.

But can you imagine anyone publicly mentioning that today?

The most it would get is a few media jabs, and then it would quickly be forgotten.

"But now..."

The old man’s tone softened. "But Paladin is dead. Do you understand what that means?"

Milo didn’t answer but just kept walking alongside his grandfather.

John, with a sigh, continued, "This means that in a few years, when I go meet the Lord, and after some more years when Joseph also meets the Lord... Blackburn will only have you left, my dear Milo. Do you understand what that means?"

The old man made the implication so clear that Milo had no choice but to speak up, a bit awkwardly. "Grandfather, I don't know if you've seen the diagnosis from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center?"

"Huh?"

Now it was Old John’s turn to be caught off guard. He didn’t know about this.

After all, until now, Paladin had been the favorite son of both the old man and the family.

As long as Milo didn’t cause a huge scandal, or die in some way outside, it was only Paladin and his mother, Robin, who would care about him.

"At Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, they diagnosed me with sex addiction..."

Milo said quietly.

"What? Sex addiction? What’s that?"

The old man was confused, frowning. "Is that a disease?"

"Yes, according to the DSM-III-R standard set in 1987, it’s categorized as a disorder, so yes, it is a condition."

Milo tactfully added, "Having this issue means it’s very difficult for me to follow in Paladin’s footsteps. From both a cost and benefit perspective, I’m not suited for it."

John Blackburn had expected Milo to reject the family’s plans. He had also anticipated many possible reasons for Milo’s refusal.

But this reason, he hadn’t anticipated.

"And Haley is Paladin’s wife."

Milo continued, "She’s now the Chief Judge of the Federal First Circuit, and she's a Harrison. She can go much higher and achieve more. We should invest our resources in her."

The old man frowned. "But she’s not really a Blackburn."

"As long as she’s still a Blackburn by marriage, she can, to some extent, represent us. At least that's how the outside world will see it."

"And my father is still young, not even sixty, and hasn’t even become a senator."

"After Paladin’s death, I think all of our resources should go to my father."

"And there’s also that matter from six years ago... that’s also my stain."

The old man frowned but chose to skip over that topic.

He looked at Milo with a hint of pride.

"Although it still disappoints me a bit, I’m happy to see that after Paladin’s death, you’re starting to care about the family’s future."

John continued, "The question is, if you don’t want to go into politics, what do you want to do in the future? Don’t tell me you still want to stay in Los Angeles just because it's better for managing your... your sex addiction?"

That was indeed a problem.

If it had been three days ago, Milo wouldn't have known how to answer that question.

But now, after three days of thinking since his rebirth, he was able to answer his grandfather’s question with confidence.

Robin Bush died early, but in this parallel world, she hadn’t passed away yet and had remarried.

(End of Chapter)