2024-09-10 08:20:13Shock rippled through the room as they heard the voice. A guest of the Washington family? Eyes turned to Tedmond, widening in disbelief.
To be a guest of the Washington family meant that Tedmond was a big shot or potentially related to them. Even some of the Washingtons' relatives had tried to get in but were always denied entrance.
How could someone like Tedmond be allowed?
“Are you sure it’s the right person?” Gregory questioned. Despite shivering, he couldn’t help but ask.
“How dare you ask me that?” the person on the other end bellowed. “If I lose my job, you're going to regret it! You’d better let that fellow into the ward, or else!”
Gregory was taken aback by the mention of his boss losing his job. As the call ended, he hurriedly bowed to Tedmond, terrified that he might lose the position he had worked so hard for.
“I’m sorry for not recognizing you, sir,” he apologized. “I’ll walk you to the room,” he added, raising his head to look at Tedmond. “Let’s get—”
“No need,” Tedmond cut him off, disgusted by how quickly Gregory had changed his attitude once he realized Tedmond was a guest. “I can find it myself, just like I intended to do before.”
The phone call had confirmed that everything was real, but Tedmond still needed an explanation for all this.
“Sir!” Gregory called out, but Tedmond ignored him and walked off to find the ward.
The women were equally stunned, unable to speak. They just watched Tedmond leave, clinging to the thin hope that they wouldn’t get fired.
Minutes later, Tedmond’s eyes lingered on the sign above the ward that read Room 509. The door was slightly open, and he could see the window but not the hospital bed. He hesitated, wondering if it was right to enter without knocking.
“You’re here,” a familiar voice said.
Tedmond’s head snapped down to see the little girl he had saved earlier peering up at him. She had changed into different clothes and was holding a teddy bear in her hand.
“My grandpa wants to see you before he…” she trailed off softly. “You have to come in quickly.”
Tedmond nodded and followed her into the ward. The first thing that greeted him was the stare of a middle-aged man in glasses and a frail old man lying on the hospital bed.
“Hello,” Tedmond said, swallowing hard. He had no idea what else to say. “I got a call from you and noticed my account had been credited, and you mentioned I’m the heir of the Washington family. What’s going on?”
The man in glasses bowed slightly. “I’m Thomas, the Washington family’s butler. You’ll get your answers soon.” Gesturing to the old man on the bed, he sighed. “This is Mr. Jeffrey Washington, the head of the family.”
Tedmond stepped closer until he could see the old man clearly, the little girl clutching her grandfather’s hand.
“Hello, Mr. Washington,” Tedmond said politely, controlling his curiosity.
Jeffrey didn’t look well, as if he was about to take his final breath, just as his granddaughter had hinted earlier. Tedmond realized the girl was indeed the Washington family’s granddaughter.
Jeffrey managed a smile. “Ted…” he called weakly. “I’ve finally found my heir. Welcome back, grandson.”
“What’s going on?” Tedmond asked, shooting Thomas a questioning look. “Why is he calling me his grandson?”
His question went unanswered as the life support machine began beeping, and the room filled with tension. The beeping quickened, and Tedmond froze. Thomas immediately sprang into action, pressing a button by the bedside.
“We need a doctor! Now!” Thomas shouted, his voice steady but urgent.
A nurse rushed in moments later, her expression shifting to concern as she assessed the situation. “His condition’s worsening,” she muttered, checking the machines. “We need to stabilize him.”
“Where’s the doctor?” Tedmond asked, glancing between Thomas and the nurse. He felt the weight of the situation crashing down on him—he had no idea what was happening, but it seemed he was now part of something much larger than he had ever expected.
“Dr. Howard is on his way,” the nurse replied quickly, turning back to the patient and adjusting the machines.
Jeffrey’s breathing grew more labored, and the little girl clutched her teddy bear tighter, standing silently by her grandfather's side, her eyes filled with worry.
Moments later, a tall man in a white coat stormed into the room. “Step aside!” he ordered, moving swiftly to the bedside. His hands flew over the equipment, exchanging rapid words with the nurse.
Tedmond stood helpless, watching as the doctor and nurse worked to stabilize Jeffrey. Every second felt like an eternity, and the feeling building in his chest intensified.
Jeffrey’s breathing became increasingly shallow, and the beeping from the machine slowed. Dr. Howard glanced at the nurse, and they exchanged a look that told Tedmond all he needed to know.
Despite their best efforts, it was too late.
The doctor shook his head, his face grim as he checked the old man’s pulse one last time. The room fell silent, except for the soft whimpering of the little girl clutching her grandfather’s hand.
“I’m sorry,” Dr. Howard finally said, his voice low. “He’s gone.”
Tedmond stood there, disbelief washing over him. The man who had just called him his grandson—who had somehow linked him to this mysterious fortune—was now dead.
The little girl let out a soft sob, and Thomas closed his eyes, his expression unreadable as he whispered, “Rest in peace, Mr. Washington.”
Tedmond, unsure of what to feel, watched as the nurse gently covered the old man’s body with a sheet. It was surreal—a few minutes ago, Jeffrey Washington had been calling him “grandson,” and now he was gone. The answers Tedmond had hoped for had died with him.
“What now?” Tedmond whispered, his voice barely audible.
Thomas, though visibly shaken, straightened and turned toward Tedmond. “Mr. Washington made his decision before he passed. You are now the heir to the Washington family’s legacy, Tedmond. It’s up to you to carry it forward.”
Tedmond stared at him in shock, the weight of those words crashing down on him. How could this be happening? Just hours ago, he had nothing—and now he was the heir to a family he didn’t even know.
“What… what does that even mean?” Tedmond stammered, the enormity of the situation closing in on him.
“It means,” Thomas replied solemnly, “that everything Mr. Washington owned now belongs to you. The fortune, the businesses, the responsibilities—it’s all yours.”
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
CHAPTER 800
Silence stretched between them. Daphne’s eyes scanned the gloom, searching for the source of the voice and the spot where he sat."Guests arrive at the front door," the voice crackled. "Assets come through the back."Wiping a smudge of concrete dust from her cheek, Daphne narrowed her eyes against the harsh, artificial glare.She didn’t look like a victim; she looked like a woman who had finally secured the right coordinates."Assets?" A sharp, breathless laugh rang against the metallic walls. "Is that what I am now? After everything I risked to get past Beatrix’s little army?"Rising to her feet, she moved with the fluid, predatory grace of a hunter. She didn't wait for an invitation; instead, she stalked toward the edge of the spotlight’s reach to peer into the velvet blackness of the far corner."Where are you?" Her voice dropped into a low, intimate hum. "The digitized voice was a nice touch, but it’s getting old. I didn’t run through the docks to talk to a speaker."A soft click
CHAPTER 800
Silence stretched between them. Daphne’s eyes scanned the gloom, searching for the source of the voice and the spot where he sat."Guests arrive at the front door," the voice crackled. "Assets come through the back."Wiping a smudge of concrete dust from her cheek, Daphne narrowed her eyes against the harsh, artificial glare.She didn’t look like a victim; she looked like a woman who had finally secured the right coordinates."Assets?" A sharp, breathless laugh rang against the metallic walls. "Is that what I am now? After everything I risked to get past Beatrix’s little army?"Rising to her feet, she moved with the fluid, predatory grace of a hunter. She didn't wait for an invitation; instead, she stalked toward the edge of the spotlight’s reach to peer into the velvet blackness of the far corner."Where are you?" Her voice dropped into a low, intimate hum. "The digitized voice was a nice touch, but it’s getting old. I didn’t run through the docks to talk to a speaker."A soft click
CHAPTER 799
Tedmond’s gaze turned serious, a slight frown touching his face. Though he knew the risks, he wasn't going to let the families walk over his own, begging for mercy. He was beginning to wonder if this entire cycle of violence had been fueled by the lack of a true successor in the past. He was determined to settle the score before Bianca reached adulthood or he had children of his own."I know it’s dangerous, Thomas," Tedmond said, finally meeting the old man’s eyes. A slow, predatory grin spread across his face, a look of pure, unadulterated mischief that didn't belong on a man of his standing."That’s exactly why I’m going. They spent years hiding in the shadows of the Mediterranean, playing God with my mother's life. Now, they’ve invited the devil to their dinner table because they think they can control the seating chart."He let out a short, sharp bark of a laugh. "They think they’ve invited a guest. They don't realize they’ve invited the consequence."Persis stepped forward,
CHAPTER 798
The heavy doors of the dining room creaked open with a groan that echoed the tension still hanging in the air. Thomas stepped inside, his expression unreadable, his gloved hands carrying a silver tray. Upon it sat a single envelope of thick, cream-colored vellum, sealed with deep crimson wax: a stylized waves-and-anchor crest.Tedmond didn’t even look up from the map he had been mentally burning into the table. "I told you I was leaving, Thomas. Unless that tray contains the Architect’s severed head, take it away.""I’m afraid it is a different kind of head, Master Tedmond," Thomas said, his voice as smooth as polished bone. He moved to the side of the table, lowering the tray just enough for the light to catch the gold-embossed lettering. "An invitation. Hand-delivered by a courier who looked far too much like a soldier to be a simple messenger."Tedmond’s hand froze. He reached out, snatching the envelope and tearing it open with a violence that sent the wax seal skittering acr
CHAPTER 797
Daphne didn't flinch. She traced the rim of her gold-edged plate with a long, elegant finger."I think," she said softly, "that we are forgetting that Tedmond isn't the only Washington who has changed. Persis has been in the gym for a week. Maya doesn't train people to be subjects; she trains them to be executioners.”“If we abolish the rules now, we aren't just starting a war. We are removing the only leash that keeps Tedmond from burning the ports to the ground just to see the light.""The rules exist to protect the Architect," Cordelia snapped. "But the Architect hasn't sent a signal in forty-eight hours. We are holding a line for a man who might already be a ghost."Beatrix stood up. The movement was so fluid she seemed to simply lengthen."The rules will be abolished," Beatrix said, and the room went cold. "But not by us. We will let Tedmond do it. We will let him come here, alone, thinking he is the hunter.”“And while he is busy looking for coerced parties and evidence, we wil
CHAPTER 796
Further along sat a woman whose hair occupied the pale edge of red, a color that couldn't quite decide between strawberry and gold, worn long and loose in a way that suggested either effortless informality or a deliberate statement. Beside her, another woman’s hair was darker: nearly burgundy, nearly wine, the kind of red that exists only in certain lights and vanishes in others.Red. All of them. Every woman from one end of the long table to the other.They were eating. The meal was well underway, courses in progress with the quiet, particular business of a formal dinner. Hands reached for glasses and set them down. A woman near the center inclined her head a fraction toward her neighbor. A fork was placed on the rim of a plate with care that made no sound at all.There was no conversation.It wasn't the strained, deliberate silence of people choosing not to speak, the kind of quiet that fills a room with discomfort and makes the air feel pressurized. This was different. Thi
You may also like
I Became A Billionaire Overnight
Sky Runner103.9K viewsTRILLIONAIRE IN DISGUISE
Lyonlee329.1K viewsUnderestimated Son In Law
Raishico308.3K viewsSecretly The Quadrillionaire's Heir
Viki West122.8K viewsHusband Returns home has a Supreme God
Creative Faith720 viewsThey Regretted Betraying The Wrong Man
Precious 829 viewsIN THE WAKE OF THE SILENT TYCOON
Wednesday Adaire528 viewsUndercover High School
Princess Kinan622 views