Rise Of The Forsaken Son In Law

Chapter 8

After the small victory of clearing the inspection, Adam’s optimism grew. He’d faced Lawson’s interference and had come out on top, at least for now. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to imagine the café finally growing into something bigger, and his vision for the building finally coming to life.

That afternoon, he met with Evelyn to go over the next steps for the renovations. She spread out blueprints and estimates on one of the empty tables in the café, her pen gliding over the papers as she explained the stages of work in detail.

“So, the electrical rewiring should start in a week,” she said, tapping on a particular section of the blueprint. “But we’ll need a few more permits for the more intensive structural work. I’m working on expediting that process, but it could still take a little time.”

Adam nodded, taking it all in. “I trust you, Evelyn. Just keep me updated on anything that needs my approval or signature.”

She offered him a small smile, her eyes bright. “Of course. And by the way, I’m impressed by how well you handled the inspection. Not everyone can stand their ground against a guy like Lawson.”

Adam shrugged, trying to downplay his unease. “I don’t have much choice, do I?”

Evelyn chuckled, but before she could respond, the café door opened, and a young man in a delivery uniform stepped inside, holding a small package. His gaze darted around the café, looking for Adam.

“Adam Reed?” the delivery man asked, holding out the package.

Adam frowned. He hadn’t ordered anything, and he wasn’t expecting any shipments. “That’s me,” he said, taking the package.

Without another word, the delivery man left, leaving Adam and Evelyn staring curiously at the box in his hands.

“What’s that?” Evelyn asked, leaning in to look.

Adam shrugged, inspecting the box. There was no return address, just his name scrawled in tight, blocky letters. Unease crept over him, but he pushed it aside as he opened the package.

Inside, wrapped in a layer of tissue paper, was a small, single object: an old, tarnished key. The kind you’d see for an antique lock. Puzzled, Adam lifted it from the box, examining it closely. It looked worn, its edges dull and scraped. But there was something faintly familiar about it.

Evelyn looked at him, her brow furrowed. “What do you think it’s for?”

“I have no idea,” Adam murmured, feeling a strange chill creep down his spine.

There was a folded note at the bottom of the box. He opened it, squinting at the cramped handwriting. The note read: “Sometimes, the things we bury come back to haunt us. Thought you’d need a reminder.”

A shiver of dread washed over him as he read the words. His mind raced, trying to understand who could have sent 

Adam clenched the note, his pulse quickening as memories from years ago stirred in his mind. The handwriting was familiar, but it had been so long since he’d seen it that he couldn’t place it immediately. He ran his thumb over the tarnished key, wondering who would send him something like this—and why.

Evelyn noticed the change in his look. “Adam, are you okay?”

He forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, just… caught off guard, that’s all. It’s probably a prank.”

Her gaze lingered on him, doubtful, but she didn’t press further. “Well, if it’s anything serious, you know I’m here if you need help.”

Adam nodded, grateful for her support. But deep down, he knew this wasn’t something he could easily brush off. Whoever sent the key and the note knew about his past, something he’d spent years trying to leave behind. He slipped the key into his pocket, deciding it was best not to dwell on it now. He’d figure it out later.

That night, Adam couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. The unease that had taken root earlier stayed with him, and his eyes kept drifting to the dark windows as he paced around his small apartment. He poured himself a glass of water, trying to calm his racing mind, but his thoughts kept returning to the note’s words: sometimes, the things we bury come back to haunt us.

Just as he took a sip, a loud knock at his door startled him, causing him to nearly drop the glass. His heart pounded as he approached the door, half-expecting another ominous message. But when he opened it, he found no one in the hallway. The only thing there was a single, black envelope on his doorstep.

He picked it up cautiously, feeling a strange weight inside. It was sealed with wax, an old-fashioned touch that made him feel even more on edge. He glanced around the hallway one more time, confirming he was alone, and then shut the door.

With trembling fingers, Adam broke the seal and opened the envelope. Inside, he found a short letter and a faded photograph. The letter read:

" You can try to build your empire, Adam. But remember, everything you have can be taken away just as easily. Meet me at midnight, at the old docks. Come alone.”

Adam’s stomach twisted as he unfolded the photograph. It was an old picture of him, from when he was a teenager, standing outside the shabby apartment complex he grew up in. His mother stood beside him, looking weary but proud, her hand resting on his shoulder. The sight of her face brought a lump to his throat—she had passed away years ago. How did someone get a hold of this?

A flood of emotions hit him. Anger, confusion, dread. The timing of this threat felt deliberate, as if someone knew he was finally trying to rebuild his life and wanted to remind him of everything he’d tried to leave behind.

The clock on his wall showed it was already past eleven. If he went to the docks now, he’d barely make it in time. His instinct told him it was a trap, but the photograph, the key, the note—all of it gnawed at him. Whoever was orchestrating this knew too much about him, and he needed answers.

Gritting his teeth, Adam grabbed his coat and slipped the key and photo into his pocket. As he left his apartment, he had a grim resolve. If someone thought they could scare him off his path, they were wrong. He would face whoever was behind this head-on.

The old docks were shrouded in darkness, with only the dim glow of distant streetlights reflecting off the still water. Adam stepped carefully, the sounds of his footsteps echoing off the worn wood as he scanned the empty pier. He was alone, or so it seemed.

Suddenly, a shadow emerged from behind a stack of crates, and Adam’s muscles tensed. The figure moved into the faint light, revealing a man with a hood drawn over his face. Adam couldn’t see his eyes, but he could feel the intensity of his gaze.

“Adam Reed,” the man said in a low, gravelly voice, almost like a whisper carried by the wind. “You’ve come a long way from the boy you once were.”

Adam clenched his fists. “Who are you? Why are you sending me these messages?”

The man chuckled, a cold sound that made Adam’s skin crawl. “You’ve been digging too deep, asking the wrong questions. You’re not meant to be in this game, Adam. Walk away before it’s too late.”

“Is this about Lawson? Or is it someone else?” Adam demanded, trying to keep his voice steady. “If you have something to say, then say it.”

The man’s smile faded, replaced by a look of deadly seriousness. “You’ve made powerful enemies, Adam. Enemies who know everything about you. Where you come from, what you did, and what you still owe. Do you think you can just erase the past and become someone new?”

Adam’s heart pounded as the man’s words sank in. “What are you talking about?”

The man reached into his pocket, pulling out a small vial filled with a dark, viscous liquid. He held it up, letting the faint light glint off the glass. “This is a warning. Take this and leave the city. Forget the café, the building—forget everything. Or next time, it won’t be a warning.”

Adam stared at the vial, a sick feeling settling in his stomach. He didn’t know what the liquid was, but he knew better than to underestimate a threat like this.

“You don’t scare me,” he said, his voice steady despite the fear creeping through him. “I’m not running.”

The man’s expression twisted into something almost pitying. “Stubborn, just like your mother was.”

Adam’s eyes widened. “What did you just say?”

The man didn’t answer. Instead, he turned and melted back into the shadows, leaving Adam alone on the pier, heart racing, mind spinning with questions. How did this man know about his mother? About his past?

Just as Adam turned to leave, he noticed something glinting on the ground where the man had stood. He knelt down, finding a silver pendant, engraved with the initials *L.R.*

He picked it up, the metal cold against his palm, and a disturbing realization washed over him. Those were his mother’s initials.

Adam’s blood ran cold as he clenched the pendant tightly, a horrible thought clawing at the edges of his mind. If they knew about his mother, about his past… who else did they know about? Who else would they target to get to him?

As he stood there, alone on the pier, he felt a heavy sense of dread. He wasn’t just up against a rival businessman—he was up against something far darker, something that could destroy everything he cared about. And he had no idea how far they were willing to go.