CHAPTER 8

Max sat in the big wooden chair, holding its arms so tight his hands turned white. 

His grandfather Richard had just told him he would inherit everything, and it felt like too much to handle.

"I... I can't do this," Max said quietly. "It's too much, too fast."

Richard watched his grandson carefully. "It's okay, Max. Take your time. I know it's a lot to take in."

Max thought about his college studies. "Grandfather, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"I've been studying business for three years. We learned about all the big family businesses." Max looked confused. "But I never heard about the Montgomery family. Why is that, if we're so rich?"

Richard smiled, looking proud. "That's a very smart question. You think like a true Montgomery."

He got up and walked to a bookshelf. He pressed something, and the shelf moved to show a hidden room. "Come and look, Max."

Max followed him into a room full of computers and files.

"Look at this," Richard pulled out a thick folder. "These are all the companies our family owns."

Max looked at the papers, surprised. "I know all these companies! But none of them have our name."

"That's right," Richard said proudly. "You know GlobalTech Industries?"

"The really big tech company?"

"We own it. And the Royal Crown hotels?"

"Those are everywhere!"

"Also ours. We even own the rights to mine precious metals in three continents," Richard showed him more papers. "All of this belongs to the Montgomerys."

Max sat down, trying to understand it all. "How do you keep it secret? Why?"

"Because, Max," Richard's eyes sparkled, "real power works best when nobody sees it. We control things from behind the scenes."

"I can't believe it," Max said softly, looking at the list. "I studied these companies in my classes. I wrote reports about them..." He stopped talking as he realized he'd been studying his own family's businesses without knowing it.

"That's how we like it," Richard put his hand on Max's shoulder. "Our family is strongest when people don't know how powerful we really are."

Richard opened another folder, his hands shaking slightly. "Look at these numbers, Max."

Max's eyes grew wide. "Trillions? Per year? That can't be right..."

"It is. We own 90% or more of most big companies you know," Richard explained, turning the pages. "See this one? StreamLife?"

"Wait..." Max jumped up from his chair. "StreamLife? That's where Johnson proposed to Amanda last week! You mean...?"

"Yes," Richard smiled. "Your friend used our platform for his special moment. We own it too."

Max fell back into his chair, feeling dizzy. "This is... this is too much."

Richard's face turned serious. "I'm getting old, Max. It's time for me to step down. All of this should be yours now."

"No, I... I can't..." Max shook his head. "It's too big, too sudden."

"There's something else you need to know," Richard's voice grew heavy. "About the fire that killed your parents."

Max leaned forward. "What about it?"

"They were burned alive, Max," Richard's eyes filled with tears. "It wasn't an accident. Someone wanted all the Montgomery heirs dead."

"What?" Max whispered, his face going pale.

"Our enemies... they tried to make sure no Montgomery successor would live. They almost succeeded." Richard reached across and gripped Max's hand. "But you survived. You're the only one who lived."

"How... how did I survive?"

"I believe it was fate," Richard said firmly. "You were meant to live. Meant to come back and take your place in the family."

"But what am I supposed to do?"

"Take over the family business. Learn everything I can teach you." Richard's eyes burned with intensity. "And help me find out who killed your parents. Who tried to destroy our family."

Max stared at the documents spread before him, thinking of his parents dying in flames, of all the years he spent alone, of the empire waiting for him to claim it.

"The enemies who killed my parents... they're still out there?" he asked quietly.

"Yes. And they might try again if they find out you're alive."

Max stood up slowly, his fear turning to determination. "Then teach me everything, Grandfather. About the business, about our family..." His hands clenched into fists. "I want to know who did this to my parents."

Richard smiled proudly. "You're ready?"

"Yes," Max said firmly. "I want to come home. I want to learn. And I want justice for my parents."

"I am glad you accept it, son," Richard said, standing up. 

Max nodded, looking at the empire spread out before him on paper. 

Soon it would all be his responsibility - the companies, the wealth, and the search for truth about his parents' murder.

The lost heir had finally found his way home.