Rise Of The Sole Heir

CHAPTER 4

"I'll answer all your questions, do not worry."

"You were so little when it all happened, one more reason you can't remember anything in your past." Gage said.

"Your father and mother were wealthy people, in fact, they weren't just wealthy but also famous, they were known all over the world."

"Everything was going well until one unfortunate day, your family was betrayed by one of your father's followers." Gage implied with a frown.

His eyes held so much pain and sadness in them, the memories of the past were so vivid it felt like yesterday when it all happened.

"Betrayed! By who?" Derek asked.

Gage  stared deeply into Derek's eyes, he knew his next words would come as a shock to him. Nevertheless, it was a truth he deserved to know.

"By your wife's parents, Mr and Mrs Reid."

"What!" Derek yelled in shock. "Y… you've got to be mistaken, these people raised me like their own child."

"No Derek, your father and mother got involved in an accident which claimed their lives and the Reid's saw this as a favorable opportunity to step up."

"They took you in, pretended to be the good guys, then they illegally snatched the fortune that was yours, they were satisfied with what they have gotten, the money and the property, but little did they know that it was only a tip of the iceberg." 

Gage paused to monitor Derek's expression, his gaze still fluttered as he tried connecting all that Gage revealed.

"Majority of your family's property has been kept safely with me all these years. I've searched for you for many years, because when the Reid's got what they needed, they fled the city with you. I could do nothing to stop them, they only returned back to this city a few years later and I began my search for you once more. It hasn't been easy, but I'm glad you're here now." 

Derek sat quietly, he had a lightbulb moment, he found it hard to believe the Reid's were such dangerous beings.

They took everything away from him and they made him live like a slave for so many years, ruined his life, turned him into a pauper and even hid his true identity from him for so many years.

Despite all they've done to him, they still showered him with so much hate.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he remembered his past.

He's always wanted to know about his parents, what happened to them, he's always wanted to know if he had a family somewhere, and if they had abandoned him, but they never abandoned him.

"This is the time for you to be strong Derek, you're the last surviving heir of the Emerald group. it is time for you to claim your place and take back all that was stolen from you."

The word to take his rightful place could not stop hovering in his head, it felt a bit difficult for him to wrap his head against he fact that he really was a heir to a big conglomerate.

"Emerald group!" That name struck to his hearing a bell, he had heard that name somewhere, he was in a daze while he had his mind flickered around, then he realized his mother in  law had one time chewed on the name.

He bothered less, since it meant nothing to him.

To end his doubts, he asked for the net worth to the Emerald group.

Gage smiled, that alone gave Derek the slight impression of how big the Emerald group was.

Being a pauper hadn't made his brain worse enough to hinder his intelligence, he definitely knew what a conglomerate was.

Meaning the Emerald group was a parent company then several subordinate companies underneath.

Derek guessed that even Reid's company was under Emerald. As though Gage knew his thoughts he spoke up to clear his doubts. "Reid's company was once a subordinate under Emerald. All finances are being monitored but only you, the heir can decide their fate."

"Do we kick them out young master?" Derek raised his face and thought.

Kicking them out, isn't it too early? If it's done that way, their punishment for treating him and his wife badly wouldn't be well pronounced.

"No, not yet… just provide me with the net worth for the Emerald group."

"It's been a while since i last checked, but the net worth of the Emerald group increases every year, it really can't be quantified."

Gage brought out a document, laid it before Derek. "Young master, please take a look." He said politely with a slight bow.

Derek scanned through the documents, then he saw several mineral mills, wealthy districts, globally acclaimed luxury stores and lots more.

He couldn't wait to get his wife informed about it, and help her regain her stand in the family. Although she was being pestered on divorcing Derek, she was regarded as a nobody in the family all because of him.

On a second thought he said to Gage. "I didn't think it's time to reveal my identity, somebody out of somewhere might have me killed." He reminded.

"That's true young master, in the last few years, I've hired a representative in your place, why not let the representative carry out commands issued by you?"

"Nice idea Gage."

"Another one  thing left is this," Gage brought out a gold customized card with a bold letter E. "Young master, you've suffered enough it's earlier you claim your wealth. Stacked up in this card is just the token amount 150, 000, 000$."

"Just! Did I hear you say just? 150, 000 000$." Gage awed. 

"Thats it now young master, you own the wealth."

The final hours Derek spent in the mansion were utilized knowing more about he family wealth and all.

By 8pm, it dawned on Derek that he needed to leave considering the fact that Brenda would be worried about him. 

Speaking of the devil, his phone chimed, her name was wildly displayed on the screen.

"I have to get going now Gage," he couldn't help it, but bade the old butler goodbye while he waited for further instructions.

***

He returned home gladdened and delighted. In a long while, to be truthful to himself, this was the best day he had ever since he was born.

Derek boarded a cab, in the next thirty minutes, he alighted at his house with smiles plastered all over his face.

He was really happy to know his child wouldn't suffer nor would his wife.

While he covered distances towards his house, he suddenly heard Brenda's voice, she was yelling at the top of her voice like she was in a hot argument with another.

Derek almost twisted the door knob before he got a second thought to eavesdrop.