Rise Of The Orphaned Student: Eddie Is An Aviatux!

Chapter 8: Reunion

Eddie froze, his mind struggling to process what he'd just heard.

The realization of Damien's words seemed to echo in the silence that followed.

"My… my father?" Eddie managed to whisper, his voice trembling.

He instinctively pulled back slightly, searching Damien’s face for any sign of deceit. "No… that can’t be true. I’ve never… I don’t even know who my parents are."

Damien adjusted his cufflinks, his expression somber but still focused. "I’ve spent 22 years searching for you, Eddie. I thought I lost you when our car fell off that bridge… on Uphalene Bridge. The night your mother and I had a tragic accident which, unfortunately... took her life."

Eddie’s breath hitched, his heart pounding in his chest. "No… no, this has to be some kind of mistake. I’m just… I’m just an orphan from the orphanage. How can I be…?"

Damien cut him off gently, his voice firm. "Eddie, look at the bracelet on your wrist. It’s no ordinary piece of jewelry. It’s a family tradition, one that only the Aviatux bloodline wears. That bracelet was given to you the day you were born."

Eddie’s trembling hands instinctively moved to the bracelet on his wrist, his mind racing.

The intricate design, the green gemstones... it had always been a part of him, but he’d never questioned its origin.

"Every Aviatux child receives one," Damien continued. "It’s a mark of who we are. And it’s how I knew you were my son the moment I saw you."

Eddie shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. "But… Why didn’t you find me sooner? Why did I grow up alone, thinking no one wanted me?"

Damien’s face contorted with pain. "Because I failed, Eddie. The height at which the car fell on that fateful day made me innocently conclude that you didn't make it. But I’m here now, and I’m not letting you go again."

As if being pushed by a force, Damien swiftly embraced his son as tears streamed down his cheeks.

His voice cracked, and for a brief moment, the powerful, stoic man before Eddie seemed vulnerable.

Eddie stared at him, a storm of emotions churning within him…confusion, anger, disbelief, and a faint glimmer of hope.

"I… I don’t know what to believe or what to say," Eddie whispered, his voice breaking.

"You don’t have to say anything now, my dear son," Damien said, his voice softer. "Just give me a chance to prove it to you. To make things right."

Eddie's body shivered slightly with shock mixed with happiness. His Dad was actually the richest man in the country who owned the biggest hotel in Aveston, moreover, he was no longer going to be poor.

"You have more of this?" Eddie asked, looking around the room in astonishment.

Damien nodded with a smile and replied,

"Of course, son. I have millions of businesses and companies both here and in the United States. I've been working hard, tirelessly for the past 22 years just to make all this wealth. I’m very happy to reunite with you, Eddie and I'm relocating to the United States tomorrow by sunset." He explained. "You're going to be the one to run everything, son. You're going to be the one at the top!"

Eddie had always thought he had no one to call his parents and now his father's here but he's leaving soon again.

He shook his head, trying to clear up the confusion. "Wait, what? You're leaving all your business empire in my care? What if we didn't get to meet, Dad? I don't know anything about running a business." He spoke, his voice thick with disbelief.

"Actually, I initially planned to entrust my business empire in the care of my oldest employee, San Roman. He should be at my mansion by this time tomorrow to confirm if he will still be taking over." Damien sighed before continuing,

"Now that you're here, learning shouldn't be a problem. You will learn as time goes on. And you’ll have Skarr to help you when you need help." Damien replied.

Eddie slightly shrugged at the mention of San Roman and thought his father didn't notice. "I want to meet that man who didn't teach his son's manners. So I would stop Dad from making him come to his mansion, tomorrow." he thought to himself.

Damien chuckled lightly at Eddie’s reaction, his stern expression softening. "Don’t worry about San Roman, son. He’s loyal and capable, but you’re my blood, and that makes all the difference."

Eddie looked down at the bracelet on his wrist, the intricately designed silver glinting under the room’s soft lighting. "You’re serious about tomorrow, aren’t you? You want me to come to the mansion and… take over everything?"

Damien stepped closer, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yes, Eddie. I’ve already arranged for my lawyer to meet us at the mansion. There are documents you need to sign to formally inherit what is rightfully yours. This is your right."

Eddie swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what was being handed to him. "I… I’ll come," he said after a moment of hesitation, his voice steady. "I’ll do it. Thank you very much, Dad."

Damien reached for his wrist and unhooked his bracelet, handing it to Eddie. "This is yours too," he said, holding it out. "The Aviatux heir can have anything he wants. These bracelets aren’t just symbols…they’re your keys to the world. They’re the ultimate transaction cards. Scan them, and you can pay for anything, anywhere."

Eddie stared at the bracelet, then at Damien, his jaw slack with disbelief. "Anything? Are you saying these bracelets can pay for… I don’t know… a million-dollar purchase at once?"

Damien laughed at Eddie's innocence, a deep, hearty sound that filled the room. "Son, my net worth is close to a trillion dollars. Each of these bracelets could handle a billion-dollar transaction without breaking a sweat."

Eddie blinked, astonished. "That’s… insane, man," he muttered, his fingers closing around the second bracelet.

He slid it onto his other wrist, the weight of it feeling both surreal and empowering.

He looked down at his wrists, adorned with matching symbols of wealth and power, and a smile spread across his face.

"Thank you, Dad," Eddie said, his voice filled with emotion. He stepped forward and embraced Damien tightly. "I don’t even know how to begin repaying you for this."

"You don’t have to repay me, Eddie," Damien said, his voice warm. "Just live up to the name. That’s all I ask."

As they pulled apart, Eddie’s stomach growled audibly, and he let out an embarrassed laugh. "Sorry… I haven’t eaten since daybreak."

Damien waved off his apology with a grin. "Go to the hotel’s exclusive lounge. Order whatever you want…anything, as much as you’d like. It’s all yours."

Eddie hugged his father again, his excitement barely contained. "Thank you, Dad. I’ll see you tomorrow."

As Eddie reached the door, Damien called out, his tone suddenly sharp. "Eddie, one last thing… the chancellor at your school. Did he mess with you?"

Eddie froze, the realization dawning on him. "Wait… was it you? Were you the reason the chancellor adjourned my suspension?"

Damien smirked. "Of course. That’s the most they could do. They wouldn’t dare suspend you…not when I've threatened the chancellor. And your father has never made an empty threat."

Eddie couldn’t help but smile at his father’s power and influence. "Thanks, Dad. I owe you one."

With that, he opened the door and stepped out, his mind racing about what he could achieve with this new life that had just been given to him.