Elijah hesitated for a moment, staring at the foreign number on the screen. Something about it felt off, but curiosity got the better of him. Slowly, he pressed the "answer" button and brought the phone to his ear. "Hello?" he said, his voice wary. Almost immediately, a deep voice on the other end responded. "Hello, Elijah." Elijah frowned. "Who’s this?" he asked, a mix of confusion and irritation in his tone. There was a brief silence, just a few seconds, but it felt much longer. Then the voice spoke again, calm and deliberate. "Happy Birthday, Elijah." Elijah froze, his heart skipping a beat. "Happy Birthday?" he echoed, shock washing over him. "How do you know my name?" His mind raced—what birthday? He hadn’t celebrated his birthday in years, not since everything fell apart. The voice on the other end continued, as if it hadn't heard his confusion. "Happy 21st birthday, son. Daddy and Mommy wish you the best in life.” The voice on the other end continued, as if it hadn't heard his confusion. "Happy 21st birthday, son. Daddy and Mommy wish you the best in life." Gasp! Elijah’s entire body tensed, his mind reeling. His dad? His mom? How was this possible? He had grown up as an orphan, believing his parents were dead. His head started spinning, and he had to steady himself on a nearby lamppost as the rain pattered softly around him. His pulse quickened, and his breathing grew shallow. Anger flared in his chest, his confusion giving way to suspicion. This has to be a scam, he thought, tightening his grip on the phone. "Whoever you are," Elijah said, his voice shaking, "this is not my birthday. And my parents are dead. Don’t call me again with your scam!" His heart pounded, and he clenched his jaw, ready to hang up as anger surged through him. “Hold on, hold on, son,” the voice said urgently, cutting through Elijah’s anger. “I know you must be mad at me, but please, just hold on.” Elijah’s heart was racing, his grip on the phone tightening as he struggled to make sense of what was happening. “Who are you? Which son?” He demanded, his voice sharp. His head was still spinning, and the rain wasn’t helping. This had to be some cruel trick, a sick joke. “I called to wish you a birthday, Elijah,” the voice said calmly, almost as if explaining something simple. “The limit we set for you is finally up since you’re now 21. Is your birthday not on the 5th of October? Kindly confirm the date and month.” Elijah’s throat tightened, and he found himself swallowing hard. What the hell is going on? His thoughts were a mess, but his chest tightened as the man’s words sank in. That date... it was indeed his birthdate. But how could this stranger know? His pulse quickened as he croaked out, “Yes… it’s my birthdate. So what?” His voice was edged with frustration, but beneath it all, a creeping fear was settling in. How could someone know something so personal? "I understand," the voice continued, calm and certain. "Check your date. It’s probably still the 4th there, a few hours more to the 5th. But you know, in the United States, with the different time zone, it’s already the 5th here—12 a.m. It’s your birthday, Elijah." Elijah’s heart skipped a beat as he quickly pulled out his phone, checking the date. Sure enough, it was still the 4th, only a few hours until midnight. He hadn’t even realized he was that close to turning 21. For a moment, he stood frozen in disbelief. "You... yo... you, who are you?" Elijah’s voice wavered as the question tumbled out. "I’m your dad, son," the voice replied, deep and steady. "My... my dad?" Elijah stammered, his heart racing. "You must be joking, right? What’s your name?" "Marcus Steel," the voice replied, this time deeper, more resonant. Elijah frowned. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place it right away. His eyes wandered, trying to remember why the name sounded familiar, until they landed back on the posters he had just seen moments earlier. His breath caught in his throat as he stared at the name again: General Marcus Steel. His body trembled slightly as the realization began to settle in. "Which Marcus Steel?" Elijah asked, his voice now quieter, more fearful. "There's only one Marcus Steel, and it's me, your dad, son. General Marcus Steel." Boom!” It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck him. Elijah’s body weakened instantly, his knees nearly giving out as he clung to the nearby pole for support. His mind raced, spinning in a whirlwind of disbelief and confusion. General Marcus Steel? The name echoed in his head, louder and louder. Even though Elijah had never personally known much about General Marcus Steel, he had always heard the stories. Everyone had. Marcus Steel was not just a general—he was one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the United States. His influence stretched far, his name carried weight, and here Elijah was, receiving a call from someone claiming to be him—claiming to be his father. Elijah felt dizzy and overwhelmed. His breath quickened. He had spent his life thinking he was an orphan, barely scraping by, saluting this powerful man’s picture out of respect. And now? Now, this stranger claimed that they were blood? It felt impossible. Unbelievable. He gripped the phone tightly, his mind still reeling, but he managed to compose himself. “Hey, which fraud are you?” His voice was sharper now, laced with anger. “Which General Marcus Steel are you claiming to be?” There was a brief pause before the voice responded, calm and unbothered. “Look around you, Elijah. Are there no posters of me around, son? That’s me.” Elijah’s heart raced as he glanced again at the posters, but the absurdity of it all hit him. Despite the shock, he let out a bitter laugh. “Do you think I’m a fool? You guessed my birthday, lied about being my dad when I’m an orphan, and now you’re claiming to be General Marcus Steel? The well-known general? The richest man in the U.S.? Haha! If you were him, then I’m also God,” he spat out angrily, his voice trembling with emotion. There was a long sigh on the other end of the line, and the voice softened. “I knew it was going to be hard for you to believe, Elijah. What do you want me to do, son? Tell me.” “Switch to FaceTime,” Elijah shot back, his frustration boiling over. “Let me see your fraud face.” A moment later, the call switched; it was on FaceTime.
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The screen came to life. Gasp!Elijah’s breath caught. There he was—a man in his late forties, maybe early fifties, sitting in a luxurious steady room. His sharp features were unmistakable. The room behind Marcus Steel was lined with bookshelves filled with leather-bound books. A golden desk sat in the background, papers neatly stacked—everything about him screamed authority and control. And yet, there was something gentle in the way he smiled, as though he held the entire world at his fingertips.The high cheekbones, the piercing green eyes, and the streaks of silver in his neatly combed hair matched every image Elijah had seen in magazines and on TV. But there was something more personal in the way he looked at Elijah now—something almost... familiar.Seeing that the man on his screen was actually the same as General Marcus Steel he had always saluted, his heart raced, and he felt his entire body tense up. A million thoughts swirled in his head: Was this real? Could he actually be
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 6
“Of course,” the General replied, his tone earnest. “You’re my son, and I want to make sure you have everything you need. It’s time you lived a life free of worry. Just let me know how you’d like it transferred.” Elijah’s breath caught in his throat. "Can I mention my account number to you then?" he asked quickly, his heart pounding with anticipation. The General chuckled lightly. "Your bank account will freeze if you get such a large sum at once. I assume you have a crypto USDT account, right?" Elijah nodded immediately. He had one, though it was empty—something he’d never really given much thought to. "Yes, I do," he replied, his voice shaky. "Good. Now, give me the details," the General instructed. Elijah fumbled with his phone, his hands trembling as he went through the app to find his USDT wallet address. His mind raced, barely believing what was happening. Once he had the long string of numbers, he carefully typed it out, gulping as he hit send. He stared at his screen, w
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 7
As the car began moving, Elijah pulled out his phone, excitement coursing through his veins. He opened his app and quickly transferred $100,000 from his USDT wallet into his bank account. As soon as the transaction was completed, he saw the balance update on his banking app. His bank account had never felt this heavy before. The sight of six figures sitting comfortably in his account made his heart race. The driver glanced through the rearview mirror, his brow furrowing as he studied Elijah. “Young man, which hotel exactly do you want me to send you to?” he asked Elijah leaned forward slightly. “Just send me to any. Something of luxury,” he said, his tone casual. The driver gave a soft chuckle, eyeing Elijah’s appearance again. “Luxury, huh? Why’re you heading to a place like that? No offense, kid, but you don’t look like someone who can afford a night in one of those places.” Elijah’s lips curled into a small smile, the weight of his recent fortune settling in. “I want
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 8
Without even glancing at Elijah, Jay turned to the guard, his voice sharp. "What’s going on here? Why are you holding him like that?” The guard straightened, scrambling to justify himself. "Sir, this young man here... he's a thief! I caught him trying to break into one of the parked cars." Elijah’s mouth opened in protest, but he held back, curious to see how Jay would respond. Jason’s gaze narrowed as he looked Elijah over, his expression of doubt and curiosity. “Young man, who are you? You dare to walk into a hotel like this, trying to steal?” His eyes trailed over Elijah’s worn, wet clothes, lingering on the muddy shoes. Elijah met Jason’s gaze, sensing the respect he had for this man and pushing him to respond calmly. “I’m here to book a room and spend the night, sir. I was only admiring the cars, and then he ran over with his accusations.” He nodded toward the security guard. “Ask him if I was actually doing anything suspicious.” Jason paused, studying Elijah, then a
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 9
Elijah glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed he had just about 25 minutes left before his birthday, just as his dad had mentioned. The realization sent a surge of excitement through him as he turned back to the receptionist. "Yes, that’s right. I’ve heard great things about it—stunning views, a private jacuzzi, a private terrace,” he repeated confidently, refusing to let anyone doubt him.The receptionist’s face tightened as she glanced at the well-dressed couple nearby, who were watching the interaction with growing interest. Clearly annoyed, she forced herself to stay calm. "Um, sir, the penthouse suite is quite expensive," she said, raising an eyebrow, as though challenging him.The young lady beside the man turned to him with a slight pout, wrapping her arm around his neck. “Darling, why not book the penthouse for us?” she suggested sweetly, casting a dismissive glance at Elijah.The man hesitated, eyeing Elijah skeptically. "Hmm, why not another room, since he says he wa
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 10
As Elijah stepped into the elevator, he felt a rush of excitement. It had been ages since he'd even ridden in an elevator, let alone one this sleek and polished, lined with mirrors and soft lighting. The feeling of luxury surrounded him as he pressed the button for the top floor. The doors closed with a quiet hum, and he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face.This was his first real taste of what having money and freedom felt like. No more being looked down on or treated like he didn’t belong. For the first time, he had control over his life, and tonight was just the beginning.Soon, the elevator glided to a smooth stop at the top floor, and with a soft ding, the doors slid open. Elijah stepped out into a quiet, dimly lit hallway lined with luxurious carpeting and framed artwork. Taking a deep breath, he walked down the hall, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. Finally, he reached his suite door. With a quick swipe of the key card, the door unlocked with a satis
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 11
As the app loaded, he spotted a live video that immediately caught his eye. He clicked on it, and in an instant, the face and voice of Sierra Lane filled his screen. Her voice, rich and velvety, seemed to pour out of the phone, captivating him entirely.Sierra Lane, the TikTok sensation with a voice like no other. In her early twenties, she’d already gathered millions of followers who couldn’t get enough of her soulful performances. Sierra herself was striking, with long, wavy hair cascading down her shoulders, framing her expressive face. Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she sang, and she wore a comfortable yet stylish outfit, perfect for her laid-back yet engaging vibe. Her talent wasn’t just in the smoothness of her voice but the warmth she brought with each note, making every live session feel like an intimate, personal concert. The walls were adorned with a few colorful posters of her favorite artists, and various musical instruments were scattered around—a guitar leaned c
Rise Of The General's Forgotten Son Chapter 12
As Sierra finished her song, she glanced down at the comments, hoping to see another message from FlibbityBoo. Her smile faltered just slightly when she noticed that he was no longer watching the live. A small pang of disappointment hit her—she had hoped he would stay long enough for her to thank him properly or maybe chat a bit more. Still, she couldn’t help but beam with joy over the incredible support he had shown.Turning back to the screen, she spoke to her audience, her voice full of excitement. “Wow, I honestly can’t believe tonight! FlibbityBoo, if you’re still watching somehow, thank you again. You really made my night—no, you made my whole week!”….Elijah checked the time on his phone—it had already been 25 minutes, and he was starting to feel his stomach rumble. He was just about to lay down on the bed to wait a little longer when the doorbell suddenly rang."They’re here already?" he murmured, pleasantly surprised. He quickly walked over to the door, expecting to see a t
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Chapter 153
He quickly answered the call, and Celestine's voice came through.“Elijah, sorry for the late call. Had a meeting. Are you ready for the event?”Elijah nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “Yes, been waiting for your call.”“Where do you stay so we can pick you up?”Elijah shook his head slightly. “No, no. Tell me where I should meet you guys.”Celestine gave him the location, and Elijah replied, “Alright.” He then ended the call and stepped out of his room.The moment he got out, he spotted Felix standing near the door, already dressed and waiting. His suit was perfectly in place, and he carried himself with newfound confidence.“You look good, brother,” Felix said with a nod of approval.Elijah thanked him with a small smirk. “You too.” Then, after a brief pause, he asked, “Can you drive?”Felix nodded. “Yes, very well.”Elijah gave a short nod. “Good. Here’s what will happen. I’m meeting Ms. Valencia, and I can’t take you along right now. So we’ll drive to the location she men
Chapter 152
Betty leaned toward Sierra, whispering, “This is next-level treatment.”Sierra just smiled, glancing out the tinted window as the city lights passed by.Sierra took out her phone, casually checking her post, but the moment she saw the numbers, her eyes widened in shock."Seventy thousand likes already?!" she muttered, scrolling down. The post had exploded with engagement—over fourteen thousand comments in just a short time.She clicked on the comments, skimming through them."Omg, you’re so beautiful, Sierra!""See you at the event, queen!""On my way right now! Can’t wait to see you perform!”"That dress is FIRE! You’re gonna shut it down tonight."Betty, noticing Sierra’s expression, leaned over. "What’s up?"Sierra turned the screen toward her. "Look at this! I didn’t think it would blow up this fast."Betty grinned. "Girl, you're a star. The whole city is waiting for you tonight!"Sierra exhaled, feeling the weight of the excitement settle in. Tonight was going to be huge.By 7:30
Chapter 151
At the Dominion Group headquarters, the atmosphere was abuzz with excited chatter about the upcoming party. In one corner of the bustling office, groups of workers gathered around water coolers and in break rooms, discussing every detail of the event."I heard all the big shots have been invited," one worker said, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Even the top executives are expected to show up, not to mention some major names from the business world."Another employee nodded vigorously. "Yeah, the tickets sold out within minutes. I even heard that a hundred extra invitations were given to our staff and key partners. It's going to be huge!”A third worker, adjusting his tie, added, "I heard the Valencia family is involved, too. Their sponsorship is massive—almost like a stamp of approval for the whole event."The excitement was palpable, and as more details were exchanged—about the luxurious venue, the celebrity performances, and the charity angle for the orphanage donation—the wo
Chapter 150
"I promise I'm not selling," Betty said, raising her hands in defense. "I'm giving them to that lady and her boyfriend who sit behind us in class. They asked me for them."Sierra nodded. "Okay, you can take them."Betty smiled. "Thank you."As she tucked the invitations into her bag, Sierra leaned back with a thoughtful expression. "After the event, I'm planning to buy a car.”"A car?" Betty's interest piqued instantly.Sierra nodded. "Yeah. I talked to Elijah about it. I was supposed to go with him to check out options, but now... our conversation has kind of limited. I think he's still mad at me."Betty sighed. "Give him a bit of time. Maybe tomorrow at the event, you could talk to him or something."Sierra nodded. "I will."And just like that, time moved forward, and soon, the next day arrived—the day of the grand event.After waking up, Elijah checked his time before grabbing his phone, scrolling through it for a while. Eventually, he got down from his bed and headed to the washro
Chapter 149
"Brother… this is your car?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper.Elijah nodded casually. "Yes. Get in.”Felix swallowed hard, staring at the expensive SUV once more before finally opening the door and slipping inside. The interior was just as breathtaking—plush leather seats, a state-of-the-art dashboard, and the scent of pure luxury.Elijah got into the driver’s seat, adjusting himself as Felix sat stiffly beside him."Brother, I swear if you carry me along and help me out, I'll be loyal forever and ever," Felix said, his voice filled with raw sincerity. "I promise."Elijah smirked, glancing at him. "We'll see."Then, as he started the engine, he asked, "Have you eaten anything?"Felix shook his head quickly. "No, I'm even hungry.”After leaving the store, Elijah drove the car to a high-end restaurant. Once they arrived, he parked the vehicle and led Felix inside. As they settled into a comfortable booth, Elijah turned to his friend and asked, “What are you going to eat today?”Fel
Chapter 148
Felix stared at Elijah in disbelief. "You'll help me?" His voice was barely above a whisper, as if he couldn’t believe his own ears.Elijah nodded. "So far as you'll be loyal."Felix’s eyes lit up instantly. "Ah! I swear, I'll be loyal to you. If you say stand, I'll stand. If you say sit, I'll sit. Even if you ask me to kill, I'll kill."Elijah chuckled, shaking his head. "No killing. Just loyalty." He gave Felix a once-over and sighed. "You know what? Your clothes aren’t looking good. Pick some nice ones, then let’s get some shoes too. After that, I’ll take you to my place so you can shower.”Felix’s face broke into a huge grin, his hands clasped together as he nodded. "Thank you, brother. Thank you so much!"Elijah gave a small nod, then asked, "Where do you stay?"At that, Felix scratched his head awkwardly, avoiding Elijah’s gaze. "I don’t really have a place… I just sleep in uncompleted buildings, wherever I can find."Elijah's expression shifted. He couldn't help but feel a twin
Chapter 147
After a moment of thoughtful silence, Elijah continued, “Convey the message about the orphanage giveaway to the attendees and ask for their support. Even if they contribute little by little until it exceeds a million dollars, that will be good. I’ll personally add a million dollars to ensure that the donation is expanded even further.”Isla nodded, making notes on her tablet. “Understood, Master. I’ll draft the message and ensure that our communications highlight both the charity aspect and the need for community support.”Elijah leaned back, his gaze steady. “Good. Let’s make this event not only a success for our company but also a significant contribution to those in need.”Isla replied, “Yes, Master. I’ll see to it immediately.”Meanwhile, at Chris' place,he leaned back in his chair as he flicked the ashes from his cigarette, the smoke swirling lazily in the air as his eyes studied the invitation card Sierra had sent him. He wasn’t one for sentiment, but this one had his attention.
Chapter 146
Sierra refreshed herself and emerged looking absolutely radiant—her hair perfectly styled and her makeup flawlessly done. She headed straight into her personal studio room. Inside, soft ambient lighting set a calm mood. On a small desk sat her microphone and the sound system, ready to play the backing beat for her practice session. Her friend Betty settled into a comfy chair nearby, watching intently as Sierra prepared.Sierra took a deep breath, adjusted the mic, and started to set up her headphones. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind.“Oh damn,” she muttered, glancing at her phone.Betty looked up, concerned. “What’s wrong?”Sierra sighed, a mix of regret and exasperation in her voice. “I promised to go live days ago—I even forgot about it. I have 3 million followers now; I really should have gone live to interact with them.”Betty raised an eyebrow. “So, you want to do it now?”Shaking her head, Sierra replied, “For now, it’s time for my practice. Maybe after my event—wit
Chapter 145
Isadora and Emelia exchanged uneasy glances, but quickly fell silent, their eyes dropping to their plates as the awkwardness filled the air. Marcellus, sensing the tension, sighed softly but said nothing, his gaze drifting back to his meal. The rest of dinner was eaten in quiet, the earlier lightness now replaced with an unspoken tension between mother and daughters. for 7 seconds.After the meal ended, the girls gathered their things and gave their father a light, affectionate hug before heading off. Marcellus smiled and said, “I’ll go out with you tomorrow to buy you everything you need. Take care, kids.” With warm farewells, the daughters departed, leaving Marcellus and his wife to finish their evening.Helena, ever the efficient hostess of their household, called out to a nearby maid. “Please come and tidy up the dining area,” she instructed softly before she herself got up and started walking upstairs.Marcellus, still lingering in the hall, followed her quietly. As they reached