LEGACY OF A BILLIONAIRE SON-IN-LAW

part 012

The next morning, sunlight crept through Leon’s curtains, casting long shadows across the room. He sat at the edge of his bed, staring down at his hands. Clara had been dropped off safely at her apartment the night before, but the echoes of her sobs still lingered in his mind.

The system had gone silent since then.

Leon stood, slipping on a black t-shirt and jeans before heading toward the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee filled the air. As he poured a cup, the system chimed.

“Incoming call – private line.”

Leon set down his cup. “Answer.”

A familiar voice greeted him. It was his old friend, Mason.

“Leon. It’s been a while,” Mason said, his tone cautious.

“I know,” Leon replied. “What is it?”

There was a brief pause. “It’s about the Aldridges".

Leon’s grip tightened around the coffee mug. The Aldridges, his uncle’s family. The people who took everything from him.

“What about them?”

Mason’s voice lowered. “They’re digging into your past. Rumors are spreading. They’re trying to block you from reclaiming your assets.”

Leon’s eyes narrowed. “Let them try.”

“There’s more,” Mason continued. “They’re hosting a gala tonight at the grand estate. Word is, they’re making a public announcement about the company.”

Leon’s expression darkened.

“I’ll be there,” he said coldly.

The Gala of the Aldridges. His late father's property.

That evening, Leon stepped out of his sleek black car, adjusting his cufflinks as he approached the grand Aldridges estate. The mansion loomed under the bright moonlight, its massive doors guarded by security.

Leon walked up the marble steps. As he neared the entrance, he was greeted by none other than his uncle, Victor Aldridges with a smug smile plastered across his face.

“Well, if it isn’t the runaway heir,” Victor said, sipping his glass of champagne. “Come to admire the empire you lost?”

Leon kept his face calm. “I came to make sure you don’t ruin it further.”

Victor laughed, clapping Leon on the shoulder harder than necessary.

“You don’t belong here anymore, boy. The company thrives under my leadership. You? You’re just… what now? A driver?” Victor sneered.

Leon’s gaze didn’t waver.

“I’m whatever I need to be,” Leon replied. “But soon, I’ll be the one sitting at the top. And you’ll be the one looking up.”

Victor’s smile faded slightly, but before he could respond, Leon brushed past him and entered the ballroom.

The grand chandelier sparkled overhead as guests mingled, dressed in their finest attire. Leon scanned the room, catching snippets of conversation. Wealthy businessmen. Socialites. The usual crowd.

But his focus shifted when he noticed someone familiar—Clara.

She stood nervously near the buffet table, wearing a sleek blue dress that hugged her figure. She hadn’t noticed him yet.

Leon approached quietly.

“You clean up well,” he said softly.

Clara spun around, eyes wide. “Leon! What are you doing here?”

He smirked. “I could ask you the same thing.”

She fidgeted. “I… I was invited. One of the guests needed extra staff, so I filled in.”

Leon’s eyes darkened. He knew the Winters well.

“Did Victor say anything to you?” Leon asked, glancing toward his uncle across the room.

Clara shook her head quickly. “No. But… he looked at me strangely.”

Leon’s fists clenched.

Before he could say more, the lights dimmed, and Victor stepped onto the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Victor’s voice echoed through the hall. “Tonight, I’m proud to announce the official merger of Winters Corp with one of the largest international firms.”

The crowd applauded.

Victor smiled smugly. “This will secure our legacy for generations.”

Leon narrowed his eyes.

But then, Victor’s gaze found Leon. His lips curled into a wicked smile.

“I’d also like to recognize someone special in the audience tonight,” Victor continued. “My dear nephew, Leon. A man who thought he could abandon his family and still have a seat at the table.”

Whispers rippled through the crowd. All eyes turned to Leon.

Leon’s calm mask remained.

Victor wasn’t finished. “It’s a shame, really. But I suppose some of us are destined for greater things while others… drive cars.”

Laughter followed.

Clara looked horrified.

Leon exhaled slowly. He could feel Clara’s gaze on him, but he met Victor’s eyes with cold confidence.

“The funny thing about driving,” Leon began, his voice cutting through the crowd, “is that it teaches you how to navigate. And if you know the roads well enough, you can always find your way back to the top.”

The room fell silent.

Victor’s smile twitched.

Leon stepped forward slightly. “You can laugh now, Uncle. But we’ll see who laughs last.”

Later that night, as Leon left the estate, Clara ran after him.

“Leon, wait!” she called.

He stopped by his car, turning to face her.

“Thank you,” Clara said, biting her lip nervously. “For standing up to him.”

Leon’s gaze softened. “You don’t need to thank me.”

Clara hesitated. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

She looked down. “Why do you let him talk to you like that? You could fight back harder.”

Leon leaned against the car, folding his arms.

“Sometimes,” he said slowly, “it’s better to wait. The right moment changes everything.”

Clara nodded, but Leon could tell she didn’t fully understand.

As they stood there, Leon’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. Mason.

“Leon,” Mason’s voice was urgent. “I found something. Meet me at the old warehouse by midnight.”

Leon’s eyes narrowed. “What is it?”

“You’ll want to see for yourself.”

Midnight came quickly. Leon parked outside the abandoned warehouse where he and Mason used to meet in the past. The place looked the same—rusty, cold, and deserted.

As Leon stepped inside, Mason appeared from the shadows.

“I didn’t expect you to call me here,” Leon said.

Mason held up a stack of documents.

“You were right,” Mason said, passing them over. “Victor’s hiding more than just money. He’s tied to something bigger. Illegal deals. Bribes. Enough to take him down.”

Leon flipped through the papers, his eyes scanning each line carefully.

“This… this could work,” Leon muttered.

Mason smirked. “I thought you’d say that.”

Leon tucked the papers into his coat.

“It’s time,” Leon said. “Victor won’t see it coming.”

A week later, Victor stood in his office, sipping whiskey. The company’s success was secure—or so he thought.

Suddenly, his assistant burst in, eyes wide with panic.

“Mr. Aldridges! Leon—he’s downstairs. He’s with the board.”

Victor’s face darkened. “What?”

Victor stormed down to the conference room.

When he entered, Leon stood at the head of the table, documents spread before the board members.

Victor’s eyes narrowed.

“What is this?” Victor growled.

Leon smiled faintly. “It’s your resignation.”

Victor’s face turned pale.

“You lied to everyone,” Leon continued. “But the truth is, your time is up.”

Victor lunged forward, but security intervened, pulling him back.

“You’ll regret this, Leon!” Victor roared.

Leon’s gaze was cold and calm.

“No, Uncle,” Leon said quietly. “The only regret here is yours.”