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.”
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CHAPTER 860
Tedmond didn’t react to the shove. He didn’t even brush off his shirt where Chad’s sweaty palms had left their mark. He simply stood there, letting the silence stretch until the only sounds were the rhythmic crash of the waves and Chad’s ragged, uneven breathing.Slowly, Tedmond tilted his head. It was a predatory movement, graceful, slow, and utterly final."My father?" Tedmond repeated the word, sounding heavy and foreign in the salt air. A sly smile, cold and devoid of mirth, touched the corners of his mouth. "My father hasn't settled a thing for me in a very long time."He took a half-step forward, reclaiming the space Chad had tried to take. His physical presence seemed to double, the sheer gravity of his authority pinning the boy in place."I don't hide behind a name," Tedmond said, his voice dropping into that smooth, dangerous baritone that made the hair on Chad's neck stand up. "I am the name. I don't call the head of my family to settle my debts or fight my battles."Ted
CHAPTER 859
A blotchy, feverish red climbed Chad’s neck.“I’ll see to it that you never draw a paycheck in this state again,” he hissed, his voice cracking. “And I’ll make sure your wife, if that’s even what she is, has to sell the very bikini she’s wearing just to keep you out of a cell.”Tedmond lowered his water bottle and finally turned his head.He locked his gaze onto Chad’s with a weight that made the boy’s next word die in his throat. The patience in Tedmond’s expression was the most frightening thing about him; it was the patience of a man who already knew how the story ended."You’ve been talking for five minutes," Tedmond said, his voice a low, smooth baritone. "And in those five minutes, you’ve made a lot of assumptions. You’ve assumed we’re trespassing. You’ve even assumed you know who my wife is."Tedmond took a slow step forward, forcing Chad to stumble back."So, let’s play a game of logic," Tedmond continued, his tone conversational, almost academic. "If you’re right, security
CHAPTER 858
Tedmond caught the first wave of the set. He popped up with fluid, explosive grace, his silhouette sharp against the churning foam. He wasn't just riding the wave; he was commanding it.A few yards away, Persis caught the shoulder of the same swell, carving a smooth line that brought her right alongside him. For a moment, they were perfectly synchronized: two survivors of a storm finally enjoying the calm."I’m going down there," Chad snapped, his ego finally overriding the last of his common sense. "If security won't do their job, I’ll tell them myself that the police are on the way.""Chad, stay on the boardwalk," Toby warned, grabbing his friend’s shoulder. "You're making a scene. People are starting to stare at us, not them.""Let them stare!" Chad shook him off, his eyes fixed on the couple as they paddled back out, oblivious to the small, angry man on the timber path. "They think they're untouchable. I'm going to show them exactly how touchable they are."Down in the water, th
CHAPTER 857
"I'm not letting it go," Chad snarled, ripping his phone from his pocket. His thumb hovered over a contact labeled Security - Main Office."He ruined my day. He ruined my reputation in front of Coco. I’m going to have security escort them off this island in handcuffs. Let’s see how tough he feels when he’s being dragged past the ferry docks in front of everyone.""Chad, don't be a brat," Toby warned. He could see the wild, petty desperation flickering in his friend's eyes, a dangerous look on a man who had never been told "no."Chad ignored him and pressed the phone to his ear. He paced a tight circle on the boardwalk, his gaze fixed on the distant spot where Tedmond and Persis were sharing a bottle of wine, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing on the timber path."Yeah, this is Chad Meriwether," he said into the receiver. His voice shook with a volatile mix of fear and faux-authority. "I’m at the South Strip. There’s a trespasser here. He attacked one of my guests and destroy
CHAPTER 856
The girl who had thrown the first ball, Coco, wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. Her expression shifted from terror to a sharp, judging skepticism as she tracked the uncontrollable shaking of Chad's hands."We saw, Chad," she said, her voice dropping the playful lilt it had held all morning. She crossed her arms over her damp bikini top. "We also saw you choke. I thought you said your dad basically owned this island? I thought no one talked to a Meriwether like that."Chad’s jaw dropped. "He was a psycho, Coco! Did you see his eyes? He looked like he was about to... to erase us!""He was one guy," said Peston, the one whose wrist Tedmond had nearly rearranged. He was cradling his arm, his face pale, but his eyes were fixed on Chad with simmering resentment. "There were five of us. You’re always talking about how power works, Chad, how money is the ultimate shield. But you stood there and let him snap your property like a toothpick. You apologized. You actually whimpered.""
CHAPTER 855
"The first one was an accident," Tedmond said, taking a single, heavy step forward.The sand didn't shift under his weight; he moved like a predator closing a gap. "The second one was a choice. Now, you have a choice of your own.""Oh yeah?" the blonde youth sneered. He was bolstered by his four friends, who were now scrambling to their feet behind him. "And what choice is that, buddy?""You can apologize to my wife for the dress," Tedmond said, his voice dropping to a whisper that carried further than a shout. "You can pay for the lunch you ruined. Or, I can show you exactly why people like you should stay in the shallow end of the pool."The blonde youth laughed, though the sound was brittle. "You hear this guy? He’s threatening us. Do you have any idea who my father is? My family owns half the—"Tedmond didn't let him finish. He moved so fast the group saw only a blur.In one heartbeat, he was ten feet away; in the next, he was inches from the boy’s face.He didn't strike. He si
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