From Darkness to Light: Darwin's Rise

Chapter 0010

9

Darwin sat in stunned silence, gazing at the sleek gold card in his hand as if beholding a miracle. From an orphan with nothing, to heir to a vast fortune - it was almost too miraculous to believe.

Lady Margaret observed his wide-eyed astonishment with a hint of amusement and a mother's pride."Darwin, my dear," Lady Margaret's voice was calm, "you seem quite surprised. It's all yours, my son."

"I... I don't know what to say. Thirty million dollars? I never imagined I'd have access to such a fortune." He stammered still shocked.

Darwin pinched himself hard, wincing at the sharp pain. No, this wasn't a dream - it was all too real. He looked again at the gleaming gold card bearing his name, then up at Lady Margaret with awe and gratitude.

"I know it's difficult to fathom such wealth, my son," Lady Margaret said gently, drawing him from his trance. "But that money is merely a tool. The true inheritance I wish to give you cannot be counted in dollars."

Darwin's newfound wealth lay before him, but before he could fully absorb the enormity of it, his phone rang with a familiar urgency. The caller ID displayed his boss's name, and a knot formed in his stomach.

Darwin then remembered, "Damn ! I was supposed to be at work today."

Hesitant, he answered, "Hello?"

His boss's voice, sharp and impatient, cut through the line. "Darwin, where the hell are you? You were supposed to be at work hours ago!"

Darwin's mind raced as he tried to find the right words. "I... I'm sorry, sir. Something unexpected happened, and I couldn't make it today."

His boss's irritation flared. "Unexpected? Do you think we run a charity here? You can't just skip work whenever you feel like it!"

Darwin winced, attempting to explain. "I was badly injured, sir. I had to go to the hospital."

His boss scoffed dismissively. "Injured? Excuses won't cut it. We have deadlines to meet, and your irresponsible behavior is costing us money."

Mrs. Wettin, overhearing the conversation, felt a surge of anger. Her eyes narrowed as she listened to the disrespectful tone directed at her son.

"Sir," Darwin continued, his voice steadying, "I understand the importance of my work, but this was beyond my control. I'll make up for the lost time, I promise."

But his boss seemed unfazed. "Make up for it? Do you think promises pay the bills? You're fired, Darwin. We can't afford to have unreliable employees."

Shock and disbelief washed over Darwin. "Fired? Sir, please, I've dedicated years to this company. I can't lose my job like this."

His boss remained resolute. "Maybe you should have thought about that before shirking your responsibilities. Goodbye, Darwin."

The line went silent, leaving Darwin holding his phone, the weight of unemployment settling heavily on his shoulders.

Hearing that man's disrespectful voice, Lady Margaret Wettin saw red, she was seething with rage. Her cheeks flushed with anger as she turned to her son.

"Who does he think he is, speaking to my son in such a manner?" she muttered under her breath.

"Do not pay any mind to that vile man, Darwin. You are worth far more than any job."

She stood, pacing back and forth in indignation. "The nerve of speaking to an employee - no, my son - in such a manner. This will not stand."

Lady Margaret prided herself on cultivating a respectful and compassionate work environment. Though a successful businesswoman, she viewed her employees as an extended family.

It was her greatest hope that a culture of kindness and cooperation would flourish under her leadership. So to hear Darwin subjected to such disrespect and cruelty shocked her deeply.

How could one who she entrusted with care of her people behave in such a heartless manner? She could not abide such a toxic presence poisoning the atmosphere of her company.

Lady Margaret pulled out her mobile and dialed a number. Her butler, James, answered on the first ring, sensing her fury.

"James, I need you to come here at once," Lady Margaret said sternly into the phone.

"Right away, ma'am," James replied, sensing her distress. He hurried to the living room and found her pacing back and forth in anger.

"James," she began, her voice icy, "Tell me, why would we ever employ such a mannerless individual in our company? How did he even make it through the interview process?"

James, knowing better than to interrupt Lady Margaret when she was in a mood, waited for her to finish. "I apologize profusely my lady." James said bowing his head in shame.

"I assure you, his behavior does not reflect the values we uphold in our company. I will personally go to the office and investigate the matter." He continued.

Lady Margaret's stern gaze softened a bit. "Good. But I want Darwin to go with you."

James was taken aback. "My lady, are you sure about this? Master Wettin has just been through a traumatic experience."

"I am well aware, James, but Darwin needs to face this head-on, and I believe he is ready. He's been working there for a while, and it's time for a change. Perhaps he could even take on a new position. Maybe even...CEO."

James bowed his head in understanding. "As you wish, my lady."

Meanwhile, Darwin was taking in the events in a daze. From a common staff member to a CEO? It seemed like an impossible dream. But maybe with his mother's support and the newly bestowed fortune, he could actually make it happen.

As they left the mansion, they walked towards the garage. Darwin was still trying to process everything when he saw the rows of luxurious cars parked inside. He stared in awe at the gleaming Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Ferraris.

James noticed Darwin's wide-eyed astonishment and chuckled. "Surprised, Master Wettin? These are just some of the cars at our disposal. Generally, for business outings, we prefer the Rolls Royce Ghost. But if you'd prefer something else, feel free to choose any car you like."

Darwin was speechless. He had always been a fan of luxury cars, but he never imagined he would one day have the chance to drive one. He could barely believe his own reality.