THE ANCESTRAl HEIR SYSTEM

Chapter:6 Falsely accusations

"What!"

Old Ms. Mimi's body quivered with shock at Maya's accusation. Thankfully, Klein reacted swiftly, moving to offer support and comfort to the distressed elderly woman.

Old Ms. Mimi erupted in a fit of rage. "He's a despicable beast! We provided him with a luxurious apartment and a fancy car for three years, and yet he couldn't even show loyalty and devotion to you. How dare he engage in such deceitful behavior!?"

Maya cunningly played the blame game, falsely accusing Ethan of infidelity to manipulate the situation and win Old Ms. Mimi's trust effortlessly.

Maya's adeptness at concealing her true nature allowed her to maintain a facade of innocence and goodness in front of her family.

Had Ethan not stumbled upon Maya in the hotel room and witnessed the truth firsthand, he would have continued to believe in Maya's facade of purity and kindness, despite her underlying arrogance.

Maya's parents, who had also fallen victim to their daughter's deception, directed their anger towards Ethan, expressing their disappointment and frustration.

In contrast, Klein and his children had a different response to the situation.

Sophie, a rising star in Hollywood, couldn't resist but taunt Maya. "Maya, known as the top beauty in Los Angeles, with your stunning figure and beautiful face, why would you feel inadequate compared to other women?"

Sophie has gained fame with her acting talent and social media presence, amassing millions of likes and thousands of fans with her captivating performances and engaging content on a popular short video-sharing platform.

Despite her success, Sophie harbored feelings of envy towards Maya, constantly comparing herself to the renowned beauty and influencer on I*******m.

Alexander smirked and added his unsolicited opinion, "Maya, I'm not excusing his actions, but you played a role in this too. By withholding intimacy from him for a whole year of your marriage, you pushed him away. Looks can only get you so far if he can't have you. No wonder he strayed. Haha."

Maya's mother, Ms. Julia swiftly defended her daughter, asserting, "Alexander, that's your narrow-minded perspective. Maya's worth is far above Ethan's. If she had given herself that good-for-nothing, it would have been a disgrace to her. It's about dignity!"

Alexander scoffed dismissively, retorting, "You all just want to preserve her purity to marry her off to some wealthy man once you get rid of Ethan, don't you?"

Old Ms. Mimi intervened, cutting through the escalating tension. "That's enough, Alexander. Mind your tongue."

"You..." Ms. Julia, undeterred, added.

"Regardless of Maya's actions, there's no justification for his infidelity! Who does he think we are? Summon that scoundrel here at once. I must discipline him for defying our family's rules!" Old Ms. Mimi declared.

The repercussions for violating the Reynolds' rules were severe. From a mere board beating to being kept in a cold room and unable to see the sunlight for some days, the consequences escalated to the most extreme: a broken finger.

Maya wasted no time and called Ethan immediately.

"What's the matter?" Ethan answered.

"Grandma needs you here," Maya said.

"No way!" Ethan hung up abruptly.

Maya was taken aback by Ethan's firm refusal.

She hung up and turned to her grandmother.

"He's not coming."

Realizing the tension, Ms. Julia exclaimed, "It's my 50th birthday! Let's focus on celebrating and ignore that good-for-nothing."

But Old Ms. Mimi remained adamant, "If it's the Reynolds' affair, he must be here, whether he's human or a ghost."

Turning to Alexander, she commanded, "Alex, bring him over!"

"Sure thing!" Alexander cracked his knuckles, relishing the opportunity to torment Ethan once again in a way he usually did.

As Alexander exited, Old Ms. Mimi beckoned urgently to one of her maids, demanding her medication.

After swallowing the pills, her gaze fixated on a nondescript brown envelope that rested beside her.

"Before it slips my mind!"

"I summoned you all here early for a reason. I have news," she announced.

Klein, Sophie, and the rest of the group straightened their seats, hanging on Old Ms. Mimi's every word.

"I received this yesterday," Old Ms. Mimi continued, waving the envelope.

"Someone, a stranger, has been named the new CEO of The Walt Disney Company. No one knows his name or where he comes from."

"As you all know, Lucasfilm Ltd and The Walt Disney Company have been in a close partnership and are currently in talks for a crucial $90 million financial agreement. The deal is still pending, and our priority now is to establish a strong rapport with the new CEO of Walt Disney!"

Lucasfilm Ltd is owned by the Reynolds family, the developers of the prestigious Citywide, East L. A residential estate where Maya resides.

However, Lucasfilm Ltd has recently encountered financial setbacks and is in urgent need of the Walt Disney Company's new CEO to invest $90 million in their company.

After Old Ms. Mimi's announcement, it became evident that whoever successfully negotiated the $90 million investment with the newly appointed CEO of Walt Disney would receive substantial rewards.

These rewards could range from a promotion within the family business to gaining final authority over certain aspects of the business or even a significant portion of the inheritance.

Sophie wasted no time in seizing the opportunity. "Grandma, entrust this task to me. I'll spare no effort in cultivating a strong relationship with the new CEO of Walt Disney. As you're well aware, my background as an actress equips me with the necessary skills for such negotiations."

Klein scoffed. "Who says you get to call the shots? I've always handled the finances around here. Alex and I have got this covered!"

Old Ms. Mimi couldn't help but smile at their determination.

"It's my daughter's 50th birthday bash. I summoned my esteemed circle of friends, all with prestigious status and influence in Los Angeles. Strike up conversations about the new president while keeping them entertained. I'll entrust this mission to the first person who uncovers the information!"

"Consider it done, Grandma!" Sophie exclaimed eagerly.

**********

As Ethan was driving his taxi passenger, his phone suddenly rang out, interrupting the tranquility of the car.

Without missing a beat, he reached for his specialized headset that enabled him to effortlessly answer calls with a simple touch, ensuring seamless communication without any distractions from the road.

"Who's on the line?" Ethan inquired sharply.

As Alexander heard Ethan's voice, he chuckled before responding, "Haha, Ethan, Maya spilled the beans about your little drama. Didn't you think you had the nerve?"

Ethan was taken aback by the revelation. "Maya told you guys everything?"

"Yep, she spilled her heart out, sobbing like there's no tomorrow," Alexander confirmed, his tone tinged with disdain.

"Honestly, I think the blame's on her. Why is she playing the innocent card? She's just another pretty face, right? Not even at Sophie's level. What's the harm in spending a night with you?"

Ethan, believing Maya's tears stemmed from guilt, sighed deeply. "Let's just forget about it, okay?"

Suddenly, Alexander interjected, his tone urgent. "Where are you? Let's meet and talk."

"Brentwood, first ride," Ethan muttered, glancing at the passenger in his rearview mirror.

"Okay, just wait there, I'll be quick", Alexander sighed.

A putrid stench filled the car, making him wrinkle his nose.

His eyes darted to the source - a behemoth of an Afghan hound spewing forth a noxious mess on the plush leather seat.

Disgust turned to frustration. "Damn it, Alexander, I'll call you back later!" He slammed the phone shut.

"Ma'am," he gritted out, "I can't condone this. We need to pull over, and I refuse to clean it myself."

Ethan pulled over, stepping out into the relentless Los Angeles sunlight. A wave of dizziness washed over him, blurring the world around him. He stumbled, his hand reaching for support.

"Are you alright?" The young lady's voice, laced with concern, barely sliced through the haze.

"Just… need rest," he managed, his vision blurring.

Suddenly, the holographic screen blazed to life before his eyes.

"Strength: 0%

"Skills: 0%"

"Fearlessness: 9%"

"Speed: 25"

"WARNING: Level drop detected. Consume 1.5 liters of water immediately. The timer begins now."

The countdown flickered on the screen, a stark reminder of his precarious situation. Panic clawed at his throat. He had to act fast, or his body would betray him before he even knew what hit him.

He approached the passenger and explained, "I'm terribly sorry, but I'm unable to continue the ride. I'm experiencing a sudden medical issue."

The woman, understandably concerned, asked, "Do you need help?"

Ethan, eager to avoid further complications, declined and watched as she booked another cab.

Back in the driver's seat, he remembered that his boss that he carried from the previous day had left behind a large bottle of water in the back.

He found the bottle, unfortunately, stained and dusty. Without access to cleaning supplies, he was forced to improvise. He secured a clean towel from his cab's emergency kit and wiped the bottle as best he could before consuming the water.

Minutes later, the familiar holographic screen flickered back to life, displaying his stats.

"Mission Accomplished!" it declared.

"Strength: 100% Skills: 89% Fearlessness: 80% Speed: 100"

Ethan felt his body surge back to life, his fatigue vanishing. He quickly changed out of his soiled clothing, utilizing a spare shirt he kept in the cab for emergencies.