Chapter One
The streets of an open-air market bustled with a lot of activity as people bought and sold their wares. It wasn't quiet, but to an extent, beautiful. This market was one of the best in the state as they sold things that would normally be expensive in normal stores at cheaper rates here. While the quality might be slightly lower, its affordability was its true essence.
In the middle of all these activities, stood a young man. His short black hair reflected the light of the sun and his silver-coloured eyes seemed like they could see through anything and everything. His build wasn’t particularly big, but he exuded a bit of a strong aura around him. Jason decided to take a stroll around this market and see if he could get some ingredients for lunch. ‘Those grocery stores be pissing me off. Can’t get a decent lunch without having to spend too much. Tsk… what a drag.’ he thought to himself as he walked through the road between this flea market. He pocketed his hands and strode with a carefree attitude while getting his eyes peeled for the ingredients he needed. “Hey Yo…” Jason heard a familiar voice and he stopped in his tracks. He took a deep breath and dropped his head. ‘Oh crap… what is it now?’ he complained inside before shifting his cold and uninterested gaze towards the owner of the voice behind him. “What is it, Allan? Here to drag me back to the house?” He asked with an exhausted voice. “Huh? C’mon man. That’s no way to greet an old friend.” a man dressed in a black leather jacket and a pair of jeans said. His blonde hair was tied to a small ponytail at the back of his head and his appearance was somewhat appealing. “Old friend huh?” Jason said before looking up at the sky and gazing at the passing clouds, “What do you want? I’m hungry and gotta prepare lunch.” Jason said to him with a nonchalant tone and the latter smiled. “In that case, I know a place...” he replied. ************ Two men sat before each other in an outdoor restaurant. They both had a snack and Jason seemed to have finished his. ‘I’m still hungry…’ he thought to himself and began to imagine himself eating the food he was going to prepare and he almost began to drool. However, Allan’s voice brought him back to reality. “The burgers here are so good, I can’t have enough of them…” he complemented with a smile. Jason sighed before his gaze turned serious. “So… what did you wanna talk about?” He asked and Allan sighed before passing him a newspaper. The latter took it and glanced at its front page. Of all the headlines, a particular one caught his eye. “The Ravenelli Family Crisis.” It read. Despite reading the headline, Jason showed no emotion whatsoever and instead, only glanced through the headline a few more times. “You should already know that the Ravenelli family is now facing its decline. After Lorren took over, things haven’t exactly been smooth enough and the big boss is already nearing his time limit. It won’t take a year before the family and its assets go down the drain.” Allan enumerated with a serious tone. Jason dropped the newspaper on the table and looked coldly at Allan. “So…” he replied indifferently, stunning even Allan. “So? Yo, I’m not sure you understand the situation here, but your family needs you. The old man might not admit it but it’s what the Ravenelli Family needs.” Allan tried to convince him with a loud voice as he got agitated. However, Jason didn’t lose his cold and calm demeanor. “My family huh? Tsk… the family faces decline and now you guys are turning to me…” he uttered to himself as he spaced out while watching the clouds drift. “That must mean you’re here against the will of my old man, am I right?” “I’m doing this for the benefit of the family. Whether he likes it or not, I will not allow the Ravenelli to fall.” Allan said before clenching his fists and pursing his lips. When it came to the Ravenelli family, he usually got emotional, “It has been my duty since I was born to serve this family as that is what my predecessors had done. This family is my home, so I will not sit by and let it fall. Which is why I’m pleading for you to come back. Take the reins and become the head of the family. I and the rest of the servants will still back you up.” he said with a determined face. Jason shot him a glance before picking up the polythene bags beside his chair and getting up. “Sorry bro, but you’re not asking the right person here.” He replied before sighing deeply. “There’s no going back. They kicked me out like an outcast and they face decline and want me back in. Don’t you feel any shame?” He asked while looking coldly at Allan. “What are you talking about, Jason? You are the son of a prestigious family and just because you were forsaken you want to watch your family rot? Do you even enjoy your new life, being the lowest of the low in society, and despite your identity, wish to live a low life for the rest of your life?!” “Yes, Allan. If that’s what you wanna hear then, yes.” Jason snapped back, attracting the attention of the people around them however, he didn’t seem to care much as his pent-up frustrations were finally getting released. “You call them my family now but where were you all when I was being kicked out like a bag of trash, huh? Where the fuck were you? My crazy grandfather cast me out and my mother did nothing but watch. My younger brother was given the reins and now that you’ve seen how stupid your choice was you want to get me back. I’m not going back man.” he yelled and found himself panting heavily before finally becoming aware of his surroundings and calming himself down. “I might just be a lowlife right now, but you know what I enjoy about being a lowlife?” he asked before looking at Allen again, “Peace of mind.” With these words, he left the latter to his wits. He wasn’t going to sit there and bicker with a servant of his old family. He was hungry and his tummy was already asking for more food, despite just eating two hamburgers. Allen looked ahead as he watched Jason disappear among the crowd. “Damn it… why won’t he listen?” he grunted. Jason was the son of a prestigious family called the Ravenellis but he was cast away by his elder brother recently. Ever since he had lived a low-profile life until he was later found by the head of another family named the Marcos. But he was still considered trash in the family. However, Jason seemed to be enjoying his life the way he was and even though he was always getting harassed by the members of his new family, he didn’t care too much about such things. *********** Jason buttoned up his suit and looked at himself in the mirror. ‘I kinda look good.’ He said to himself. He was putting on a suit that was given to him as a gift by a man he respected. Now, he only wears it on very special occasions. He grabbed a parcel he placed on the table. He took out its contents and smiled to himself. ‘It’s not worth much but my feelings will be portrayed with this.’ He thought with a satisfied smile on his face. After this, he came out of his and took a taxi to the Leon Estate. It was all right dusk, and the neon lights from buildings and signboards flickered and sparkled in his eyes as the taxi drove. While staring out the window, all that filled his mind was how he was going to relate to a place where he didn’t belong. After about thirty minutes, the taxi reached the estate and was allowed entry. A few minutes’ drive they reached the huge villa. The driver stopped at the gate and he alighted. After paying the driver, he took a deep breath before going inside the compound. He reached the front door and the servants opened it for him. It was slightly cold and eerie outside, and also very quiet, but inside the large mansion, was an entirely different world. The mansion wasn’t crowded, but there were a lot of people. The chandelier glittered and illuminated the entire hall room. Men in different suits, and women in various alluring and beautiful gowns, all from rich and respectable families were all here. If it weren’t for a bit of an enmity that existed between the Ravenellis and the Marcos, Jason’s family members might be here too. He looked around and walked through the people here. Not many knew him, except from the family members. In order not to create a scene, he avoided them. Finally, he spotted a lady with long white hair covering her entire head and a face filled with wrinkles. Her eyes were blue and deep, giving the vibe of a wise old woman with lots of experience to her name. She wore a bright smile and when she saw Jason, she didn’t bother about the visitors she was speaking with and opened her arms to embrace him. “Jason, my son. Welcome home.” She said. Jason smiled wholeheartedly and went into her embrace. “Hello, mother. Good to see you are in good shape.” He complimented. “Of course, I’m in good shape. I might be old but I ain’t weak.” She said jokingly and they both laughed. She faced her guests. “Please, meet my son. Jason Marco.” She introduced and Jason extended his hand. The guests knew about the Marco family but didn’t know about Jason. However, they didn’t want to be rude by questioning the old woman and they shook his hand. Jason felt highly gratified as he recalled the favor the old man did for him many years ago. After being sent out by his own family, he was found by the late head of the Marco family and adopted. Only that man knew of his true identity as a Ravenelli. Without wasting time, he presented his gift to the old woman, who was the wife of the late head, Mrs. Jamie Marco. “Mother, I have something for you…” he claimed before removing the parcel from inside his suit’s pocket and headed it to her. “Happy Birthday, Mother.” With this, he opened the parcel and it revealed a small pendant. It looked delicate and featured an engraved intertwined heart and lifeline. Mrs. Jamie saw the pendant and her eyes brightened as she looked at the silver-colored pendant. “Awwn… thank you so much.” She said and Jason smiled before wearing the pendant for her. ‘I bought the pendant in an antique shop. It has a meaning to it that shows how grateful I am to this family for taking me in as their child. She admired the pendant and pecked Jason on the cheek. The latter blushed slightly and hugged her. To him, she was his mother. They chatted for a while before Mrs. Jamie decided to attend to some other guests. She was the head of the Marco family since her husband had died so there were still a few things to attend to. At the same time, just when Jason was lounging around, a stunning figure came into his field of view. She wore a long blue backless gown and her alluring figure attracted the men around her. She had a cold expression on her face but it didn’t stop people from being attracted to her. She walked towards Jason with her cold demeanor, but seeing her made him smile. “Hello, sweetheart…” he greeted flirtatiously.Chapter Two“Tsk… you fool. Don’t you dare call me that amongst these people?” She growled with a whisper but Jason didn’t stop. “Why shouldn’t I call my wife sweet names? Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed by it. I can see the redness on your cheeks.” He taunted and Karen could almost not take it anymore. “I am seriously not in the mood for your stupid games. I will not be lumped together with trash like you.” She bellowed and Jason was slightly displeased but didn’t voice it. Seeing this, Karen calmed down before returning to her cold expression, “So, what did you get my grandmother?” She asked. “You don’t want to be lumped with trash yet you speak to trash,” Jason replied with a cold expression too and one would notice a vein appear on Karen’s forehead.“You think you can just speak to me as you wish because I am married to you?! Are you courting death?!” She inched closer to him and squeezed his shirt by the collar. However, Jason remained indifferent.“What sor
Chapter Three “Aaaaah. What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Jared yelled with shock. His heart sank and not just him, even Karen was astounded. ‘I didn’t know he had such a bad temper.’ she thought to herself with a worried look on her face. However, when they all looked at the vase, they noticed something. The vase wasn’t smashed to pieces like they all expected. But it wasn’t undamaged either. “If it’s truly what you claim it to be, and it does come from the Ming Dynasty, then the vase should be in pieces by now.” Jason analyzed before picking up the vase that only seemed to have suffered a small breakage at the edge at which it made contact with the ground. “Also… for a vase made during the Ming dynasty era, don’t you think this vase’s designs are a little too… perfect? The carvings here are very intricate. No human can achieve this sort of precision without the modern tools we have today.” He pointed but the latter glared at him. “You… what… do
Chapter Four “Grandma… what’s going on?” Karen asked worriedly but got no response from her grandmother. Mrs. Jamie sighed after a while. It seemed like she was quite surprised about the authenticity of the vase and upon seeing that it was indeed a fake, she couldn’t help but sigh. ‘How good would it have been if it were the real thing.’ she thought to herself before looking at her granddaughter, who looked worried. “It’s all right my dear Karen. Even though it’s not authentic, it’s still a gift, and gifts aren’t meant to be rejected unless they are harmful,” she claimed and Karen couldn’t help but smile. Indeed, her grandmother’s wisdom left her marveling. She chatted with her before going to meet her brother. However, the latter was still fuming near the pool, thinking about what Jason had done to him that day. The embarrassment was too much for him to take. Not only that, but his father scolded him to a point and his allowances were going to be cut for a few month
Chapter Five Jason placed the breakfast brought by Karen on the kitchen counter before resuming his work. He was preparing breakfast before she came in, so he just had to continue with that. Karen watched him and she was confused. “What are you doing?” she asked and the latter looked at her. “Preparing breakfast,” he replied. “What happened to the one I brought you?” “Well, I was already preparing one before you came. Didn’t expect me to go to work with an empty stomach, did you?” Jason asked but Karen scoffed. “So you’re not going to eat it?” she questioned, her voice colder than normal and her eyes squinted. “Of course not. I don’t want a certain tigress yelling how useless I am.” Jason chortled before pouring the eggs into the frying pan. “What do you mean? Have I ever screamed about how useless you are before?” Karen asked and Jason looked at her with raised brows. He didn’t speak as he expected her to figure it out. ‘Silly
Chapter Six Jason couldn’t begin to fathom the reason for this person coming here but he sighed and regained his calm demeanor. However, the cold look didn’t leave his face and he kept his eyes on the man in a white suit. Mary noticed the sudden change in his expression and wondered what was going on. She traced his eyes and saw the man in a white suit, but she didn’t recognize him.“Hey… you okay man?” She asked but Jason sighed.“I’ll be right back.” He said before shifting the milkshake towards her.“What? Why don’t you just take this with you…” She uttered but the latter didn’t seem bothered. She pouted before grabbing his milkshake and wanted to place it inside the fridge, but she decided to take a sip.“Hmm… this tastes good,” she uttered before deciding against putting the milkshake inside the fridge and drinking it instead. Her mood had also brightened.Meanwhile, the man in the suit walked into the restaurant and took a seat. He ordered a few things from a good-looking w
Chapter SevenIt was a bit early in the morning as Jason was just about to go to work. He did not have breakfast he intended to grab brunch by afternoon. Just as he prepared to put on his shoes, he heard a knock on his door.“A visitor this early? I wonder who that is,” he said before walking towards the door and opening it. However, he saw a familiar but unexpected face looking at him coldly and standing by his front door.“May I come in?” Karen asked and Jason sighed. He wasn’t one to keep grudges, but he was no longer going to remain the same to her. He would normally want to invite her in and have a brief chat with her, even though he was already late for work, but not today.“Nope. I’m just about to go to work.” He said and the latter frowned. She simply groaned inside herself but didn’t complain.“I brought you breakfast again.” She said but Jason sighed.“Well, you’re gonna be eating it on your own because I’m not hungry,” he said before going back inside to pick up his bag and
Chapter Eight It would be an understatement to say that Karen was stunned by those words of his. She was completely caught off guard and suddenly, she couldn’t help but think about him. She looked at his calm but still serious face and a tint of admiration surfaced in her mind, even though it was only for an instant. ‘He considers me a priority to him and my safety matters. Why though? He could simply just let the assassins kill me. After all, they were most likely sent by my brother and I think he knows this too. Yet…’ She thought to herself and pursed her lips.“Keep your eyes sharp, Karen. Don’t act like I’m holding you hostage.” His voice jolted her out of her thoughts. She wanted to flare up and turn this into a small argument but remembering that there were assassins after Jason, she just kept quiet.“I don’t get something though. Since they’re after you, why don’t I just go home while you deal with them… or let them deal with you…” She suggested but Jason shook his head.
Chapter Nine“How…. How did you do that?” Karen inquired but Jason wasn’t really in the mood to answer.“Long story. We need to get out of here.” He replied before pulling her hand and leaving the restaurant while staying crouched down. However, Karen’s mind was a mess. She was completely shocked by Jason’s ability. To her, she was so terrified to the point of seeing Jason as a savior who would get her out of this mess.‘He… he sensed those assassins before anyone could and he even fought three armed men and killed one of them. He’s skilled in combat. It’s almost like he has been trained.’ She thought before taking a glance at Jason’s face. The smooth facial contours and the depth in his eyes made her wonder, ‘Who the hell is this guy? What could he have seriously been through while our entire family was criticizing him?’ these thoughts ran through her mind but she did nothing but obey him. After all, it felt like she could only be saved by this man.They got out of the restaurant and
The air was thick with the scent of jasmine as Karen stood on the veranda of the grand Marco estate, her heart heavy with the burden of her unspoken words. It had been months since Karen and Marco had truly spoken, and even longer since the incident in the train station. The tension between them was palpable, but Karen was ready to tire to adjust things with her husband.Karen had spent the last few weeks trying to reach out to Jason, who had distanced himself, retreating into the solitude of his apartment in the city.She had called, sent messages, even written him letters—each one filled with the hope that he would come back to her, back to the life in the estate.But Jason remained silent, his pain and doubts holding him back from returning to the place that held so many memories, both beautiful and painful.She knew the reasons for his hesitation. The Marco family was not just any family; the fighting, legacy, power, and expectations weighed heavily on Jason’s shoulders.But recen
"Ben, are you okay?" Hilary asked, his voice low and steady.Ben let out a shaky breath. "Not really. I have no idea what's going on. They dragged me out of my own home in front of my family, accusing me of stealing our damn painting. It doesn't make any sense."Hilary leaned forward, his eyes scrutinizing Ben's face. "I need you to be completely honest with me. Is there any possibility that you could be implicated in this? Any dealings, communications, anything that could be misconstrued?"Ben's eyes flashed with indignation. "Of course not! Why would I steal from my own family? That painting means as much to me as anyone else."Hilary nodded, considering. "They're claiming to have evidence—financial records, communication logs. Any idea where that could have come from?"Ben hesitated, thinking hard. "No. Unless... unless someone planted it. I mean, I handle a lot of the family's business dealings, but nothing illegal. Someone must be setting me up."Before Hilary could respond, ther
The atmosphere in the Ravenelli dining room was already tense, but the sudden intrusion of the LAPD turned unease into utter chaos.As the police officers filed into the ornate room, their uniforms starkly contrasting against the opulent decor, the family members froze in shock. The lead detective, a stern-looking woman with sharp features and piercing blue eyes stepped forward, holding up a badge."Good evening. I'm Detective Laura Martinez with the LAPD. We're here for Ben Ravenelli," she announced firmly, her gaze scanning the faces around the table.Ben, who had been nursing a glass of red wine and a wounded ego from the earlier confrontation, looked up incredulously. "What the hell is this about?" he demanded, pushing back his chair and rising to his feet.Detective Martinez's expression remained impassive. "Mr. Ravenelli, you're under arrest for the theft of the Monalisa portrait and conspiracy to commit fraud. Please turn around and place your hands behind your back."Gasps fil
The Ravenelli Estate stood grand and imposing, its vast gardens meticulously maintained, with towering trees casting long shadows over the manicured lawns. Jason Ravenelli walked beside his mother, Mrs. Rose Ravenelli, his wife Karen on his other side, as they took in the sight of the estate. It had been years since Jason had set foot on this land, ever since his grandfather had cast him out. The memories of that day lingered, but today, he felt something different—something almost akin to hope.Mrs. Rose pointed out various parts of the estate as they walked. "The east wing has been completely renovated," she said, her voice tinged with pride. "We added a new library, and the garden has been expanded. You remember how your grandfather loved his roses."Jason nodded, his eyes scanning the familiar yet changed surroundings. "It’s different, but it still feels like home."Karen smiled, squeezing Jason’s hand. "It’s beautiful, Mrs. Ravenelli. I can see why you’re so proud of it."Mrs. Ro
"What's on your mind, Jason?"Karen turned to face him, her expression soft but concernedHe sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's just... everything's different now. Being the Ravenelli heir—it changes everything. I don’t even know where to start."Karen reached out, gently placing a hand on his arm. "You start by facing it head-on. You’ve always been strong, Jason. You can handle this."Jason looked at her, appreciating the calm resolve in her voice. "I haven’t been back to the estate since Grandfather cast me out. It feels like a lifetime ago.""Maybe it’s time to go back," Karen suggested. "You’re the heir now. That estate is yours, along with everything that comes with it."He hesitated, memories of the old man’s harsh words echoing in his mind. "What if they haven’t forgiven me?"Karen smiled gently. "You don’t need their forgiveness. You’ve earned your place. It’s time to claim it."Jason lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the early morning light filtered through the
As the night unfolded, Jason sat on the edge of the bed in their elegantly decorated bedroom, the weight of the evening’s revelations pressing down on him. The room was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, casting flickering shadows on the walls, but the warmth in the air did little to ease the coldness he felt inside.Karen, with her golden hair pulled back into a neat ponytail, moved quietly around the room, her movements graceful and purposeful. She was dressed in a delicate, silky creamy lingerie set that clung to her curves, emphasizing her ethereal beauty. She had chosen it carefully, hoping that tonight, after everything that had happened, she could be the one to soothe Jason’s troubled soul.She approached him slowly, her bare feet barely making a sound on the plush carpet. Jason looked up as she neared, his eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and wariness. He had always been able to read Karen like an open book, and tonight, despite her soft demeanor, he couldn’t shak
A dancer had been entertaining him for a while, her laughter light and flirtatious as she tried to coax a smile out of him. But Ben's thoughts were far away, lost in the storm of emotions that churned within him. As the minutes ticked by, his patience wore thin, and the dancer's attempts at seduction began to grate on his nerves."Come on, Ben," she purred, leaning in close to whisper in his ear. "Why don't you let me take your mind off things?"But instead of responding to her advances, Ben's hand shot out, gripping her wrist tightly. His eyes were dark, filled with a volatile mix of anger and desperation. "Touch me," he demanded, his voice rough and slurred from the alcohol. "Make me forget."The dancer's eyes widened in fear as she tried to pull away, her playful demeanor vanishing in an instant. "I can't," she said, her voice trembling as she looked around for help. "Please, let go."But Ben's grip only tightened, his anger rising like a tidal wave. The events of the night—the rev
The night was growing late, and the revelers in the Marco estate’s grand ballroom were finally beginning to filter out, their excitement over the shocking revelation still buzzing in their conversations. Jason, however, had retreated to his private quarters, away from the eyes of the guests and the burden of his newfound status. The emotions of the evening weighed heavily on him—relief, confusion, and the simmering anger at how his life had been manipulated without his knowledge.As he sat on the edge of his bed, lost in thought, there was a sharp knock on the door. Before he could respond, the door swung open, and Jared Marco, his brother-in-law, strode in with the kind of arrogance that made Jason’s skin crawl. Jared was dressed impeccably in a dark suit, but the sneer on his face ruined whatever charm he might have otherwise possessed.“Jason,” Jared drawled, his tone thick with sarcasm, “or should I say, *Mr. Ravenelli*? Congratulations are in order, aren’t they? You’ve really out
My son, Jason Ravenelli, is the rightful heir to the Ravenelli Empire.”The silence that followed was deafening. Every eye in the room was on Jason, who still hadn’t moved, and still hadn’t fully processed the enormity of what had just been revealed. He had always known he was different, that he didn’t quite belong in the Marco family, but this—this was beyond anything he had ever imagined.Karen, her initial shock giving way to a wave of happiness and pride, grabbed Jason’s hand. “Jason,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “you’re the heir. You’re the Ravenelli heir.”Mrs. Marco, who had been watching from a distance, felt a sense of relief wash over her. For years, she had carried the burden of knowing the truth, of keeping the secret that Jason was not truly her son, but the son of the Ravenelli family. She had grown to love him as her own, but the weight of the deception had taken its toll. Now, at last, the truth was out, and she could finally breathe.As Jason stood there, stil