RISE OF THE HEIRS: Getting Rid of The Traitor

04

"I'm serious, Mr Tom." Pete admitted.

Tom was silent. This was truly a shocking fact. "Wh-what?"

"Yes! You are the first descendant of Mr James Fischer! The heir apparent of the worldwide JF Group! You are the heir who was eliminated!"

Tom gaped as he released his grip. He rubbed his nose for a moment, then laughed while clapping his hands. "Wow! That was good, Mr Pete. Your acting is even better than any other actor! Now please stop the car and drop me off here. I need to get back before I'm completely fooled by this crazy charade! What kind of humiliation is your employer planning this time, Mr Pete?"

Pete took Tom's hand, then mentioned some birthmarks that he still recognised. "Two round birthmarks on the right buttock cleft with a greenish colour certainly wouldn't surprise you, would they?"

Tom widened his eyes. He withdrew his hand and moved away from Pete quickly. "How did you find out? No one knows about this birthmark except—"

"Yes, I know. Because I was the one who took care of you as a baby, Mr Fischer. Your name is not Tom Cobb, but Aland Fischer. At the age of seven, your dad married a woman with a nine-year-old son. Your dad tried hard to give everything to you, to your stepbrother. But apparently, your stepbrother didn't quite receive half. He manipulated your death, Mr Fischer. When the school organised a camp, he took you so far away! He hit you on the head with a brain injury and he put a fake name on your hand!"

"How do you know that? Did my brother admit what he did?"

Hearing Tom's innocent question, Pete laughed sadly. He patted Tom's shoulder gently but firmly. "A week ago, he got really drunk when the engagement party was announced. In a roundabout way, he said everything. He even laughed when he saw your dad's expression drowning in disappointment."

Still curious, Tom continued to ask. "Is he in jail now?"

Pete shook his head slowly. "If my lord Fischer imprisons the only son the world knows, it's not just his business that will be ruined, Mr Fischer. Believe me, knowing the truth after twenty-one years has already left him shackled in infinite regret. He fell ill and even wrote his will before I was sent here."

"Wait! Then, what is the connection between the fire, Mrs Jill, and the JF Group? I still don't understand."

Mr Pete immediately showed him an old recording. "I saw this first. I got this footage from the lifeguard. He said that by chance 21 years ago, a rich man had a surveillance camera and all the files had moved into their hands. From there, I recognised you. When you were brought into the orphanage by a young woman after being found on the side of the road."

"Then why was I abandoned, Mr Pete? Why did the orphanage that did me a favour, as well as the slaughterhouse, have to be burnt down? Wasn't I found?"

Mr Pete cleared his throat. He looked out of the window. "I don't think Mrs Jill wants to change the decision."

"What decision? Isn't she just a stranger? Is she my stepmother, or is she the woman my dad is going to marry?"

"She is your future in-law, Mr—"

"Just call me Tom. I prefer to be called that."

Pete looked over, then nodded in agreement. "She's the future mum-in-law of the woman you were supposed to marry. And sure enough, she has paid everyone to leave here, in order to kill those who would stand in her way."

At the word kill, Tom shook his head quickly. "What do you mean by kill, Mr Pete? Who exactly is he trying to kill?"

Before Pete could answer Tom's question, Tom remembered what Jill Reynolds had said just after getting some of his hair. "Oh, my! Don't tell me that my two comrades-in-arms are still trapped in the orphanage, Mr Pete! Can you save those two? Where are they?"

Unfortunately, Pete's headshake made Tom even crazier. He shouted in the car while grabbing his hair violently.

"Has she gone mad? Do people's lives don't matter enough to be taken so easily? No, I don't want to go! Take me back! She killed me before she even recognised me, Mr Pete!"

Pete was not out of ideas. He grabbed Tom by the shoulders and gave him a quick slap. "That's why I came here and brought you back, Mr Tom! Those lunatics must be punished! They must be punished for trying to remove you from your rightful power! Those lunatics must be taught a lesson, that only you deserve everything! Not them! Now tell me, Mr Tom! Will you return to reclaim all the rights that have been stolen from you?"

Six days later, at James Fischer's luxurious residence, there was a lively party. There were many guests in elegant and expensive suits.

Not only was an engagement ceremony organised that night, but also important announcements were to be made by Arthur. One of them was about his idea of merging with Reynolds Industries.

In the absence of the ailing James Fischer, they were trying to get ahead for the sake of gluttony. No one felt reluctant even though the host could not be present in the crowd even to say hello.

It was all done for the sake of the face. They did not really come to congratulate. Rather, they were looking for the best spot to get around a stock index that might have risen with the joyous news of two of Britain's biggest industries.

Shannon, clad in a long dress with a pretty slit, came with her mum and sister. Her beautiful face looked distressed. And Tom, who was also at the party, recognised it.

"She's beautiful, Mr Pete."

Pete gave a small nod, then nudged Tom's arm to look down, hiding his face. "Mrs Jill could have seen you, Mr Tom."

Tom looked down just as Jill was staring at Pete. He quickly took a step back, then whispered after leaning towards Pete in front of him.

"She almost saw me."

Mr Pete, who was over fifty years old, could only let out a long sigh. "I should have introduced you upon arrival, Mr Tom."

Tom smiled. He looked at Jill Reynolds, who was laughing happily as she introduced her second child to Arthur. "Oh, come on, Mr Pete. You forbid me to call you Mr Pete, but you keep calling me Mr Tom. It's not fair. After all, if I'd been introduced straight after being found, I couldn't have given Mrs Jill a good slap back, Mr Pete."

Pete nodded, confirming. "At least your plan does make sense, Mr Tom. I should have called you Aland. But since you're more comfortable with your old name, so what?"

"Let's see, Mr Pete. What that impostor heir will do after this."

In the next second, Arthur was standing right beside the beautiful Shannon. With a sly laugh, he began to greet all the guests.

"I had no idea that this engagement party would attract so much of your attention. I'm grateful for that," Arthur said, which was paused by a loud round of applause. "It turns out that besides me, there are many people who are looking forward to this engagement."

Arthur laughed, then picked up a medium-sized velvet box from the table. He showed them a large diamond ring, complete with earrings and a stunning necklace. Seeing that, of course, everyone clapped even more loudly to congratulate him.

Instead of being flattered to be given jewellery with beautiful diamonds, Shannon looked disgusted. But with the encouragement of her mum and sister, she had no choice. Her hand reluctantly inched forward, trying to welcome Arthur's hand, that was ready to pin on the diamond ring.

Unfortunately, Tom soon walked up to the couple confidently and laughed. As if laughing at the shock of Jill Reynolds, who recognised him instantly.

"H-how come he's still alive and come here?"

“Have you forgotten that you infected me to become rich, Mrs Reynolds?”