CHAPTER 4
Author: R. AUSTINNITE
last update2024-09-10 08:21:14

The shock of the entire event still gripped Tedmond as he was led into the grand mansion, which exudes luxury. He held the little girl in his arms, and she was crying softly, her tears soaking into his shirt.

What was going on? He couldn’t tell. The butler had promised to explain everything once they returned to the mansion, and Tedmond couldn’t wait.

“Have a seat, young master,” the butler said, his gaze sad. “I will get you a cup of tea.”

It was then that Tedmond realized they had arrived in a large living room, with several couches available for him to sit on. Nodding slowly, he walked toward one of the couches.

“Or would you like something to eat?” Thomas asked.

Tedmond glanced at him. Though Thomas was trying to appear composed, the sadness was clearly written on his face. “No need. I’m okay with just the tea.”

Moments later, two mugs of tea were placed on the table in front of them. The little girl had fallen asleep, her teddy bear dropping to the floor.

“I figured it would be better if we discussed this over a cup of tea,” Thomas began, picking up his mug and taking a sip. “I will answer every question you have, so feel free to ask, young master.”

Tedmond glanced at the mug, then back at Thomas. “Who is Jeffrey Washington, and why did he claim to be my grandfather and make me his heir? Why is this little girl clinging to me? What the hell is going on?”

He was both confused and overwhelmed. If things weren’t explained soon, he felt like his head might explode.

“We met this morning,” Thomas said. “When you saved the young lady. By the time we turned to thank you, you had disappeared, but you dropped your identification card. That’s how we were able to locate you.”

Tedmond frowned, realizing his question hadn’t been fully answered. He hadn’t even paid attention to what the man who came to pick up the little girl looked like. He had hurried home to confront his cheating girlfriend, and the memory of it made him sick.

“You are the grandson of Jeffrey Washington, and the little girl in your arms is your cousin, the daughter of your mother’s younger sister,” Thomas explained. “Your mother was the missing daughter of the Washington family. She lost her memory, became a maid in your father’s home to make ends meet, and eventually got pregnant with you.”

“We couldn’t find her for years, but when we did, she was already dead. We learned she had given birth to a son, but we had no idea where she had sent him, as she had given birth on the streets.”

Tedmond flinched.

“We tried searching for you immediately after finding her, but we couldn’t locate you. It’s been 19 years, and we finally found you just before your grandfather’s death.”

Tedmond couldn’t believe it. His mother had been the daughter of such a wealthy man, yet she had lived her life as a maid, poorly treated by the Griffin family. His fists clenched. He, too, had been treated unfairly, but now he couldn’t help but wonder what his mother had endured.

“Since you have been tossed out from your previous family, you will no longer hold their last name. You will now be the young master of the Washington family—Tedmond Julius Washington,” Thomas announced. “Have all of my explanations satisfied you?”

Gulping, Tedmond thought for a while. He had come to realize that Jeffrey was his grandfather, and the little girl was his cousin. What else did he need to know?

“Why am I the heir?” he simply asked.

“Because you are the direct relative of Jeffrey Washington,” Thomas answered.

“What’s my cousin’s name, and where are her parents?”

“Her name is Bianca, and she has no parents. Her parents got into an accident when she was two years old. She’s currently five.”

Tedmond glanced at Bianca, a concerned look on his face. She was no different from him, losing a family member at such a young age.

“Who are the Washingtons, and why are they feared?”

His question stunned Thomas, whose eyes widened in surprise. “You don’t know who the Washingtons are?”

Tedmond shook his head. “I didn’t pay attention to news about business empires and high privileges,” he replied honestly.

He hadn’t been interested in knowing about them when all people did was bully him and remind him of his rightful place. Those people had made his life a living hell.

“The Washington family is the wealthiest in the country, if not the world. I don’t mean to brag,” Thomas said, clearing his throat. “We own multiple businesses across various industries—real estate, technology, banking, pharmaceuticals, and more. The Washington name commands respect, and their influence runs deep in both business and political spheres,” Thomas explained, his tone measured but proud.

Tedmond processed the information silently. The wealthiest family in the country, possibly the world, and he was suddenly at the center of it all. It felt surreal.

"You mean to say... I’m now a part of all that?" Tedmond asked, still trying to wrap his mind around the enormity of what was happening.

Thomas nodded. "Yes, young master. As the heir, you’ll inherit not only the wealth but the responsibilities that come with it. People will look to you to lead the family and its businesses. This is a legacy that has been passed down for generations."

Tedmond frowned. "But I know nothing about running businesses. I’ve spent my life being tossed aside, and now I’m supposed to step into the shoes of someone who built an empire?"

"That's why we’re here to support you," Thomas said reassuringly. "You won’t be alone. There are advisors, lawyers, and managers in place to guide you through the process. And, of course, I will be by your side to help you adjust to this new life."

Tedmond sighed and glanced down at Bianca, who was still asleep in his arms, her tiny body curled against him. He couldn’t help but feel a protective instinct toward her. "What happens to Bianca now?"

"As the young master, you will be her guardian," Thomas replied softly. "She’s part of the family, and it will be your responsibility to take care of her."

The weight of it all suddenly pressed down on Tedmond. In less than 24 hours, his life had gone from being abandoned by his family to inheriting a massive fortune and becoming the guardian of a young girl who had lost her parents. It felt overwhelming, but at the same time, something inside him stirred—a sense of purpose that had never been there before.

Tedmond sighed again. "I don't know if I’m ready for all this."

"No one ever is," Thomas said with a small smile. "But I have faith in you, young master. You have the strength to face whatever comes your way."

Tedmond nodded, unsure if he believed it himself. But for Bianca's sake, and perhaps for his own, he knew he had to try.

“Why don’t you go shopping with the pocket change you received and clear your mind from all that has happened?” Thomas suggested, his gaze urging Tedmond to take some time for himself. “You should get some clothes for yourself.”

Related Chapters

  • From Illegitimate To A Zillionaire Heir   CHAPTER 5

    Getting out of the car, Tedmond frowned. Although he had told Thomas he was fine with his belongings, Thomas had intentionally tossed them into the trash for him to get new ones.“I’ll be waiting here for you,” the driver said. “Take as much time as you need.”Tedmond glanced back and nodded before walking into the store. He knew Thomas had sent him shopping to give him time to think and make up his mind.He understood he had to accept his inheritance. After all, he had promised the Griffin family he would make them pay, and the only way to do that was by accepting his fortune. Why would he refuse something like this after all he had been through?It wasn’t possible.Scanning the store, he looked for the men’s section. As his eyes roamed the place, they landed on a rabbit doll with emerald eyes and a gem dangling from it.‘Is that a diamond?’ he wondered.The emerald reminded him of Bianca’s eyes, and he thought she might like it. He decided to get it for her. Just as he was about to

  • From Illegitimate To A Zillionaire Heir   CHAPTER 6

    Those words sent shockwaves through everyone who had heard them. They couldn’t believe it, but the person who was most in disbelief was the first saleswoman. She snatched the phone from her colleague and dialed the number.“Are you sure it was $500,000 received?” she yelled, her voice sharp with frustration.Her tone was so rude that the person on the other end snapped back. “Why are you asking me an obvious question?!” he demanded. “$500,000 has been received! Is there some hotshot there or something?”The saleswoman's words stuck in her throat as the confirmation hit her. The others who had belittled Tedmond earlier now remained silent, lips tightly sealed.“Did you do something?” the voice on the phone asked, but the saleswoman quickly hung up, lowering her head.She turned to Tedmond, bowing slightly. “I am extremely sorry for doubting you,” she stammered. “Can I get you a cup of tea as an apology while your things are packed?”Tedmond glared down at her in silence. As she raised

  • From Illegitimate To A Zillionaire Heir   CHAPTER 7

    The next day, Tedmond got ready for school with a newfound confidence. For the first time, he felt a sense of self-assurance heading to university, knowing it was better than the oppressive environment of home.“When will you be back, brother?” Bianca asked, tugging at his trousers and clutching the rabbit doll he had bought for her.He glanced down at her. “I’ll be back before 7,” he replied, squatting to smooth her hair. “I can’t pick you up from kindergarten today.”She nodded slowly. “The nanny will pick me up,” she said.“Okay.”He stood up, grabbed his bag, and looked back at Thomas, who was watching him with concern. “Do you need a driver to take you?” Thomas asked. “You can choose any car from the garage if you’d like.”Tedmond considered it for a moment before shaking his head. “No need. I can get there on my own like I used to.”“By taking the bus?” Thomas asked, clearly worried.“Yes.”“No way!” Thomas exclaimed. “Not only did you take a taxi home yesterday, but now you’re

  • From Illegitimate To A Zillionaire Heir   CHAPTER 8

    Before lunch, news of Tedmond accepting Kyle’s challenge had spread throughout the school. Everyone was talking about it, and it even reached the ears of his ex-girlfriend. She and his former siblings were eagerly anticipating the event.They were seated in the cafeteria since it was lunchtime but not yet 2 PM.“That bastard is going to show us how useless he is again,” Max sneered, gesturing with his hand and smirking. “He doesn’t even have great stamina, let alone the ability to win.”Maxine chuckled. “He’s always been stupid. I’ll make another video of his embarrassment for my vlog.”Lisa had the brightest smile on her face. “I’m so glad I chose you, Max,” she purred. “He was such a pain in the ass.”Just then, Tedmond walked past them, catching the attention of many, including Lisa. The moment she saw him, a disgusted look appeared on her face.‘Why is he so neatly dressed?’ she thought, scanning him from head to toe and noticing his new clothes and shoes. ‘Where did he get the mo

  • From Illegitimate To A Zillionaire Heir   CHAPTER 9

    Kyle stood grinning on the court, his teammates gathered behind him. A crowd had gathered to watch the game, eager to see how it would play out. Kyle could hardly wait for the moment he would crush Tedmond.“Isn’t he coming?” Kyle asked impatiently. Tedmond was two minutes late. “Don’t tell me he backed out at the last minute. Maybe he couldn’t find a team.”His teammates snickered.“He must’ve run home,” one of them said, shaking his head. “Oh wait, he doesn’t even have a home to run to.”The others burst out laughing.“He better not have backed out,” Kyle stated. “We should find him.”Just as one of Kyle’s teammates offered to search for Tedmond, he appeared with his four friends. They were dressed in matching uniforms, their hair slicked back, looking like college heartbreakers. Tedmond wore an expressionless look as he stood a few feet away from Kyle.“Here I am,” Tedmond said. “What made you think I fled?”Kyle’s lips curled. “Eager to be a slave, aren’t you?”“Not really. I coul

  • From Illegitimate To A Zillionaire Heir   CHAPTER 10

    The crowd went silent when they heard Tedmond’s words. Who would have thought the arrogant Kyle would lose to the so-called loser of college and have to become his slave?“We made a deal,” Tedmond muttered. “You can’t go back on it. From now on, you’ll listen to me and do whatever I want.”Kyle’s teeth gritted. He had never been this humiliated in his entire life.“Do it!” the crowd yelled."A deal’s a deal—it must be upheld!""Don’t back out now!"Kyle’s eyes darted to Max, who shook his head, before turning back to Tedmond.“Master,” Kyle said, forcing the words out in a barely audible whisper.“I can’t hear you,” Tedmond taunted.“Master!” Kyle yelled, his body trembling slightly as embarrassment overwhelmed him.Tedmond’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Now that you’ve called me master and have become my slave, go get me a milkshake,” he ordered.Kyle’s teammates looked on in surprise, but Kyle turned to one of them.“Go get the milkshake like he asked,” he ordered.The teamm

  • From Illegitimate To A Zillionaire Heir   CHAPTER 11

    “How dare you talk about my mother like that?” Tedmond demanded, pinning Max against the table.No matter how much they had talked about him, he hadn’t retaliated, but today they had gone too far. No one could talk about his mother now. That might have been possible in the past, but not anymore.“What are you doing?” Maxine questioned. “How dare you hit your elder brother?”Glaring back at her, Tedmond snarled, “You think of him as my elder brother now, don’t you? Why didn’t you say something when I was being insulted?” He released Max and stepped closer to Maxine.Maxine trembled but stood her ground. ‘How can that bastard get so strong in just a day?’ she wondered. However, she quickly regained her composure.“Why are you doing this to him when he just asked if you could afford to eat at the restaurant?!” Maxine yelled, switching the topic as fast as she could to make herself look less bad. “We all know you’ve been kicked out of the family without a penny! How can you afford to eat

  • From Illegitimate To A Zillionaire Heir   CHAPTER 12

    As soon as Tedmond finished counting, the others hadn't had time to react when the door of the restaurant swung open. A man in a tailored creamy suit hurried in, followed by three others, with sweat dripping down his forehead.Everyone’s gaze turned to the man who had just walked in, and the security guards froze in their tracks.“What is going on?” Max demanded, glaring at the manager. “Throw him out!”Blood drained from the manager’s face as he stared at the man. “He really came!” he yelled. “The owner of the restaurant is really here! How is that possible? I messed up!”Max and Maxine’s eyes widened in disbelief. Even when their father had tried to speak to the owner of the restaurant, he was told to book an appointment. Yet Tedmond had managed to call him with a single phone call.Lisa glanced at Tedmond and noticed the smile on his lips.“He really came?” murmurs began to spread.“The owner arrived in ten minutes, just like he said.”“Who the hell is that guy?”“How can he call t

Latest Chapter

  • CHAPTER 215

    Looking at the manager, Tedmond smirked, tilting his head slightly to glance at the employee who had been mocking him moments ago.Her face had gone pale. She had been the one to make it seem like he didn’t have the money to be in the VIP room, even though he had clearly stated that his friend was waiting for him.“Didn’t you say you’d quit if I was telling the truth?” Tedmond asked smoothly.The employee immediately panicked, scrambling to think of what to say. If she made a mistake and slipped up, she was going to lose her job.“I made a mistake,” she blurted out. “Your shirt made me think you wouldn’t be able to afford the VIP section. There have been tons of people who came in here claiming they could afford it, but they couldn’t.”The manager turned to her, but Tedmond stopped him with a raise of his hand.“You said you would quit if my shirt wasn’t cheap, like you claimed,” Tedmond muttered.She nodded, starting to feel relieved. She had only mentioned quitting if his shirt was

  • CHAPTER 214

    Hearing them, Tedmond sighed. He hadn't expected it to take so long to be allowed into the restaurant's VIP section. It wasn’t as if checking the list of guests in the VIP room and confirming who had invited him was a big deal.The employee, emboldened by the others’ reactions, smirked. “I was just telling him that the VIP section is for important guests only.”Tedmond remained unfazed, his expression blank. He had dealt with worse before. If they thought they could embarrass him, they were mistaken. Casually, he took his phone from his pocket and scrolled through his messages.“I don’t need to prove anything to you,” he said smoothly, not sparing them a glance. “My friend is already inside the VIP room.”Walsh raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Oh? And who might that be?”As soon as the question left Walsh's mouth, the employee was about to speak when Tedmond cut her off.“Kyle Krishin,” he replied, finally meeting Walsh’s gaze, his lips curling into a smirk.The moment the nam

  • CHAPTER 213

    Realizing that Tedmond had recorded the entire conversation, they all began to panic again. They had just managed to convince Duncan to let them off, and now Tedmond had another piece of evidence to use against them—one that could involve the cops, as it contained proof of their kidnapping attempt.“We didn’t mean it that way!” Adeline yelled, completely panicked since she had also agreed to it. “We were just talking. Of course, there was no way we would actually kidnap your daughter—she’s our family.”“Adeline is right,” Harold immediately added. “We only wanted to meet her since you wouldn’t allow us to.”Tedmond tilted his head to the side. “Really?” he asked, his eyes softening as if he were considering their words.Adeline and the others nodded quickly, desperately hoping he would buy their excuse, even though it was so weak that no one would believe it.“Do you all think I’m dumb?” Tedmond demanded, his eyes darkening. His sharp tone made them flinch. “I don’t care how you come

  • CHAPTER 212

    Everyone in the room froze as they saw Tedmond. His presence alone was enough to make them panic. They hadn’t expected him to be in the house at that moment, and now, he hadn’t just overheard them talking about him—he had heard all of their plans.Adeline began to panic, certain that he wouldn’t let them off now that he knew everything.“What are you doing here?” Harold asked, his brows rising in confusion.He had changed the combination code at the front door and was sure that no one had told Tedmond what the code was. How had he gotten in?Tedmond’s gaze swept over the room, his expression unreadable. Then, in a voice so calm it sent chills down their spines, he said, “Say that again.”His voice, though soft, carried a quiet menace that thickened the air with tension. No one spoke. His eyes landed on Adeline, who immediately looked away. Then on Harold, who shifted uncomfortably. His patience thinned.“Did you not hear me?” he asked, his tone still even. “I said, repeat what you jus

  • CHAPTER 211

    As soon as the words rolled out of Richard’s lips, everyone present turned their heads to glare at him. Although he spoke about himself, his words sounded more like he was defending Tedmond, and they couldn’t stand hearing such a thing.“What do you mean you wouldn’t give it back?” Adeline demanded, her face twitching with anger.The others also wanted to hear Richard’s answer. How dare he say that when they were trying to figure out how to force Tedmond to let go of the shares and return them?“Like I said,” Richard began. “We’ve always told him how useless he was and made sure he felt worthless. Now that he has the shares—something even his father doesn’t have—he will never give them up, no matter what we do. So, it’s all a waste anyway. We should give up right here.”The others tried to speak, but Richard cut them off, unwilling to let them interrupt before he finished. He had already thought it through and was sure of his conclusion.From Tedmond’s behavior earlier, it was clear t

  • CHAPTER 210

    At the Griffin Mansion the next morning…The Griffin family slowly gathered in the living room. Harold, on the other hand, looked at each of them in confusion. He had no idea why they had all shown up at his house.They had arrived at midnight, leaving him no chance to ask them their reason for coming.This time, Max was home, but he would soon be heading out for his lectures.“So, tell me why you’re all here,” Harold said once everyone had settled in. “Did something happen?”With a frown on her face, Adeline parted her lips.“Well, we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that bastard son of yours!”At the mention of Tedmond, Max’s brows furrowed.‘Tedmond again?’Max hated whenever Tedmond was the topic of discussion. It was either them mocking Tedmond or comparing the two of them.“You mean Tedmond?” Harold asked, his brows knitting together.“Which other bastard son do you have?” Evelyn questioned.Harold glanced at her. “I had to ask since there was no way you would have run into Ted

  • CHAPTER 209

    Looking at Persis, Tedmond couldn’t help but wonder what she was talking about. She had just mentioned his father's company, and he had no idea what might be wrong with it.Since Duncan's silence had been bought with shares and the other external family members had intervened, the company was safe.For now.Tedmond still had a debt in the company’s name, and the interest would keep rising to the point where they wouldn’t be able to pay it back.When that time came, he would claim the company like it was the natural thing to do.On second thought, he realized he should have gone to the family home to see the expression on his father’s face. But it was better for him not to go while the others were there.That would be too much noise and trouble. He didn’t think he could stand all of them at once.“What interesting thing is about to happen?” Tedmond asked Persis, his brows furrowing in curiosity.“Harold is trying to make Max and Kyle friends again,” Persis replied, the look on her face

  • CHAPTER 208

    “Did you just mention my mother?” Tedmond demanded, glaring at them with sharp intensity.He had considered ignoring them and walking away, but he hadn’t expected them to bring his mother into the conversation. It wasn’t the first time, yet it never failed to make his blood boil. How dare they bring her up after everything they had done to her?And why was it that he and his mother were the ones blamed for his existence, while Harold got to walk around free, untouched by their judgment?The look on Tedmond’s face made Frank and the others flinch. It was the first time they had seen him like this. In the past, he would have been the one looking terrified, avoiding their gaze.Feeling annoyed that she had flinched at Tedmond’s glare, Adeline opened her mouth to speak, but he didn’t give her the chance.“Did you just bring my mother into this discussion?” Tedmond repeated, stepping forward, his glare unwavering. “Didn’t Max tell you what happened the last time he mentioned my mother?”

  • CHAPTER 207

    Duncan’s gaze shifted to Tedmond, a silent question in his eyes. Was he going to back down, or was he finally going to stand his ground? He had no idea why Mr. Washington had asked him to hand the shares to the members of the Griffin family.To Duncan, the first time he had heard about Tedmond was when Mr. Washington mentioned him. When he went to meet the Tedmond in question, he was surprised to find how similar they looked. The first thing he noticed was the familiar blue eyes and height.For a moment, he wondered if Mr. Washington was affiliated with the Griffin family. But on second thought, he dismissed the idea—he didn’t want to doubt Mr. Washington. If Mr. Washington had wanted his help, he would have told him.Tedmond met Tina’s gaze, then slowly stood up. “You’re right. I don’t have a place in this family,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “But I do have these shares now. And whether you like it or not, that makes me a part of this company.”A tense silence filled the room.

Scan code to read on App