2024-12-08 16:43:19
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THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE hints and lies
It started with Mrs. Cartwright again.“You’re back,” she said, squinting at Aidan through her thick glasses. “What do you want this time?”“Anything you can tell me about William Cross,” Aidan said, leaning against the doorframe.Mrs. Cartwright pursed her lips. “You’re playing with fire, boy.”“I’ve been told that before,” Aidan replied with a thin smile. “But I’m not stopping until I know the truth.”She sighed heavily, stepping aside to let him in. The scent of lavender and old books filled her living room.“I don’t know much,” she began, settling into her armchair. “But I remember your mother worked for the Cross family years ago. Big house on the hill—fancy, too fancy for folks like us.”“She worked for them?” Aidan repeated, his brow furrowing.Mrs. Cartwright nodded. “Your mother was a maid there. Hardworking, quiet. Then one day, she was gone. Rumors spread, of course.”“What kind of rumors?”She hesitated, eyeing him warily. “That she got involved with William Cross. He was
THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE Clara's diary
Aidan sat at the edge of his bed, the diary trembling in his hands. The quiet hum of the apartment surrounded him, but it did little to calm the storm raging inside. He stared at the worn leather cover, his mother’s initials faintly imprinted on the corner.He had promised himself he wouldn’t invade her privacy again, but the discovery of William Cross had changed everything."Just one entry," Aidan muttered, convincing himself. "Just enough to understand."The first page was dated nearly two decades ago, written in Clara’s neat, deliberate handwriting.“Today was my first day at the Cross estate. The house is enormous—like something out of a dream. The staff seems kind enough, though they keep their distance. I hope I made the right decision coming here.”Aidan’s eyes flicked to the next entry, curiosity pulling him deeper.“Mrs. Cross is strict but fair. I keep my head down and do my work. William… I’ve seen him only once so far. He was in the library, surrounded by books. He didn’t
THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE The confrontation
The room was heavy with silence, broken only by the uneven sound of Clara’s breathing. Aidan sat frozen in his chair, his mother’s words echoing in his head.“He was taken from me.”The raw pain in her voice twisted something deep inside him, but it also fed his determination.“What do you mean, ‘taken’?” Aidan asked quietly, though his voice carried an edge.Clara shook her head, her eyes distant, as though she were looking at a memory too painful to recall.“You wouldn’t understand,” she murmured.“Try me,” Aidan pressed, leaning forward.Her gaze snapped to his, anger flickering to life. “I said you wouldn’t understand, Aidan! You’ve already dug up enough ghosts. Leave it alone!”Aidan slammed his hand on the table, startling her. “No! You don’t get to shut me out, not after everything I’ve found! You owe me the truth, Mom. All of it!”Clara’s lips trembled, but her expression hardened. “Owe you? I owe you? Do you have any idea what I went through to keep you safe? To give you a li
THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE unveiling shadows
The revelation sat heavy in Aidan’s chest like a boulder crushing his ability to think straight. His heart pounded relentlessly, a mix of anger and disbelief coursing through his veins.William Cross was alive.He leaned back in his chair, the faint glow of his laptop screen illuminating the dark room. The online search result stared back at him, mocking his assumptions. William Cross—alive, well, and apparently thriving in the city under the name “Victor Langley.”Aidan whispered the name under his breath, testing how it felt.“Victor Langley,” he said again, louder this time. It tasted bitter, wrong, as if William had erased not only his past but also his family.---The sound of the door creaking open startled him. Clara stood in the doorway, her face pale and eyes rimmed with exhaustion.“You’re still up,” she said, her voice flat.Aidan quickly minimized the screen, guilt flashing across his face. “Couldn’t sleep,” he replied, hoping she wouldn’t press.Clara’s gaze lingered on h
THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE Williams world
The night Aidan spent outside Cross Enterprises was sleepless and cold, but his determination burned brighter than ever. The name “Cross” loomed over the entrance in bold, unmissable letters, a testament to the wealth and power it represented. Aidan’s jaw tightened as he watched people in tailored suits pass through the revolving doors, their badges gleaming under the building’s harsh lights.This wasn’t just any corporate building. It was an empire. His father’s empire.---The next morning, Aidan stood in front of a café near the building, sipping a coffee he didn’t want, his mind churning with questions. He couldn’t shake the image of William—or Victor—standing on that grand staircase in the hotel, his presence commanding, his voice calm but detached.“How does someone just walk away from their own family?” Aidan muttered to himself.The door to the café jingled as an elderly man stepped inside. Aidan’s attention snapped back to the present.“Excuse me,” he said, catching the man b
THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE The encounter
The gala’s shimmering ambiance seemed to fade away as Aidan and William locked eyes, the hum of conversations and clinking glasses reduced to a distant buzz. Aidan’s heart thundered in his chest, each beat screaming with anger, confusion, and a desperate need for answers.William’s face remained impassive, but his sharp eyes betrayed a flicker of recognition. It was as though he had seen a ghost—a ghost from a past he had buried long ago.“Excuse me,” William said, his voice calm but his gaze fixed on Aidan.The crowd around William, sensing the shift in his demeanor, parted slightly. Aidan seized the moment, stepping forward with purposeful strides.“You’re William Cross,” Aidan said, his voice steady but tinged with a restrained fury.William raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “And you are?”Aidan clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms. “Your son.”The words hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. A hushed silence seemed to ripple through the onlookers closest
THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE a Mother's warning
The moment Aidan stepped through the door of their apartment, Clara was waiting for him. Her arms were crossed, and her face was pale but furious, a storm brewing behind her eyes.“You went to see him again, didn’t you?” Clara’s voice was sharp, her hands trembling.Aidan dropped his keys on the counter, trying to avoid her gaze. “I needed answers.”“You had no right!” Clara snapped, her voice breaking. “I told you to leave it alone. Why can’t you just listen to me?”Aidan spun around, his frustration boiling over. “Because you’re not telling me everything! You’ve been keeping secrets my whole life, and I’m sick of it!”Clara took a step back, her face twisting with pain. “You think I did this to hurt you? Everything I’ve done has been to protect you!”“Protect me from what?” Aidan shot back. “The truth? My own father?”Clara’s hands clenched into fists. “He is not the man you think he is. His family—those people—are dangerous, Aidan. They don’t care about you. They never did.”“Then
THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE SECRET
The meeting was arranged at a discreet café on the outskirts of the city, far from prying eyes. Aidan sat at a corner table, his nerves taut as he waited for William Cross. He glanced at the sleek watch he’d worn to appear less out of place in the upscale surroundings, though he felt like an imposter.When William finally arrived, he moved with a confidence that filled the room, his tailored suit and calm demeanor exuding wealth and authority. Aidan straightened in his chair, his pulse quickening.“You came,” William said, his voice calm but firm as he took the seat across from Aidan.“I have questions,” Aidan replied, his tone sharper than intended.William studied him for a moment before nodding. “I figured you would.”Silence stretched between them as a waiter approached to take their orders. William waved him off, his focus solely on Aidan.“Let’s not waste time,” Aidan said, leaning forward. “Why did you leave my mother? And don’t give me some rehearsed excuse. I want the truth.”
Latest Chapter
Revelation
Aidan had no time to adjust to his new reality before the world around him began to change in ways he couldn’t control. He hadn’t even been able to tell his mother yet.But when he finally did, when he stood before her in the dimly lit living room of their small apartment, the weight of his confession hit him like a thousand bricks. The words tumbled out—he was the son of William Cross, the billionaire CEO, and he had inherited his father’s empire. His mother’s face went pale, her hands trembling as the truth settled like a cold stone in her chest.The silence that followed was unbearable. Aidan could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears, waiting for her to say something—anything."You’re lying," she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. "This… this isn’t possible.""I wish I was," Aidan said, his voice strained. "But it's the truth. And now they're coming for me. For us."Her eyes darted around the room as if the walls themselves could hear them. She took a deep breath, tr
Heir
Aidan had no time to adjust to his new reality before the world around him began to change in ways he couldn’t control. He hadn’t even been able to tell his mother yet.The ground beneath him trembled as distant explosions rumbled through the tunnels. Pandora’s mechanical fingers tightened around her weapon as she scanned their surroundings.“We don’t have much time,” she said. “The enemy will regroup. We need to move.”Aidan’s breath was ragged. His body screamed in protest, but the system within him refused to let him collapse. [Directive: Survive. Protect. Eliminate threats.]He clenched his fists. “We’re finishing this.”As they pushed forward through the dimly lit tunnels, gunfire erupted behind them. The mercenaries had found another way in.“Cover me!” Aidan barked, throwing himself into action. His reflexes sharpened, his movements calculated. He ducked under incoming fire, rolling into position before squeezing the trigger. Each shot found its mark.Pandora moved with precisi
final gambit
Aidan’s body burned with an intensity that threatened to consume him. The system’s final directive echoed in his mind like a war drum: Victory or Death.Pandora’s voice crackled through the chaos. “Aidan, we don’t have much time!”He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay upright. The mercenaries advanced, their weapons aimed with deadly precision. Aidan’s enhanced senses picked up their rapid heartbeats, the barely audible clicks of their triggers tightening.“Stay behind me,” he muttered, his voice strained but resolute.Pandora gave him a sharp look but nodded. “I’ll cover you as long as I can.”The first shots rang out, slicing through the narrow tunnel. Aidan reacted instantly, his body moving before his mind could process. He dodged left, rolling into cover as bullets sparked against the metal walls.His mind sharpened. The system fed him data—angles, distances, enemy positions. He fired back with ruthless precision, each shot finding its mark.Pandora used her robotic agili
No way out
The tunnels shook from the explosion, sending dust and debris crashing around Aidan and Pandora. The air was thick with smoke, making it hard to see beyond a few feet. Aidan’s ears rang, his body screaming in pain from the relentless system pushing him forward.[Warning: Severe Fatigue Detected. Recovery Required.]He ignored it. He had no choice.Pandora’s glowing eyes cut through the darkness. “We’re trapped,” she said, scanning the collapsing tunnel behind them. “Reinforcements are closing in fast. We need a plan.”Aidan forced himself upright, gripping his rifle. “How many?”Pandora’s internal systems ran a quick analysis. “At least fifteen. Heavily armed. They know we’re cornered.”Aidan wiped blood from his forehead, breathing hard. “Then we don’t wait. We hit them first.”Pandora tilted her head. “A direct assault would be suicide.”Aidan’s grip tightened around his weapon. “Not if we use the tunnel’s structure against them.”---A Desperate PlanThe sound of approaching footst
The weight of victory
Each success came with a price—a deep, aching pain that pulsed through Aidan’s body, radiating through his very bones. It was as if the system itself was punishing him for every achievement, extracting its toll with brutal precision. His breaths came shallow and quick, his vision blurring as he collapsed against the cold metallic wall of the training room.Pandora’s voice cut through the haze like a lifeline. “Aidan, you need to focus. The system is pushing you beyond human limits, but you must endure. You can’t let it break you.”Aidan groaned, his hands gripping his sides as the whispers in his mind grew louder.[Warning: Overexertion Detected. Recovery Mandatory.]“Shut up!” he snarled at the system, though he knew it couldn’t hear his frustration. “I’m not some damn machine!”The Price of SurvivalVictor stormed into the room, his boots echoing ominously. His face was grim, his jaw set tight as he hauled Aidan to his feet. “This isn’t a game, kid. If you want to survive, you have
The burden of the system
Aidan stumbled back, clutching his head as the unfamiliar voice drilled into his mind. The whispers weren’t audible to anyone else—they were a torment reserved solely for him. It wasn’t just a voice; it was a presence. A relentless, cold, mechanical directive embedded deep within his brain.[System Activated]Objective 1: Survive.Objective 2: Secure the Cross Empire.Failure Condition: Death.The words burned into his thoughts like molten iron, their finality as stark as the void. Aidan gasped for air, gripping the edge of the desk to steady himself.“Make it stop,” he choked, his voice trembling with panic.Pandora’s glowing eyes locked onto him. “Aidan, what’s happening?”“It’s... in my head!” His breaths came in shallow bursts. “The system—it’s not just some inheritance. It’s a curse! It’s trying to control me.”Before anyone could react, the air around them shifted. The warehouse lights flickered, and the whirring sound of machinery grew louder. Panels in the walls slid open, rev
Chaos unleashed
Aidan’s breathing was shallow as he paced the dimly lit room. The air felt heavy, almost electric, as if the walls were alive with the secrets of the Cross empire. He had thought inheriting wealth would bring freedom, but instead, it had shackled him to a labyrinth of danger, manipulation, and greed. His mind raced, his heart pounding as the weight of the situation pressed down on him.Victor broke the silence, his voice calm but firm. “Aidan, sitting here won’t help. If you want to survive this, you need to act—and fast.”Aidan turned to face him, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “Act? How am I supposed to act when I don’t even know what’s happening? I didn’t ask for any of this!”Selena, leaning against the table, crossed her arms. “No one asks for power, Aidan. But now that you have it, you need to decide how to wield it. The Cross empire is more than just wealth. It’s influence, control, and—”“A target,” Aidan interjected bitterly. “It’s a target painted right on my back.
The Reluctant Heir
The room seemed to close in around Aidan as the screen went black. His heart raced, the man’s cold, calculating smile burned into his mind. Whoever he was, he knew Aidan. And worse, he had been waiting for him.Victor’s voice broke the silence. “That was Dominic Voss. He’s not just any enemy of the Cross Empire—he’s the worst of them.”Aidan turned sharply toward Victor, his jaw tightening. “Who is he? And why the hell does he know me?”Victor hesitated, his usually composed face shadowed with worry. “Voss was once your father’s closest ally. He helped build the Cross Empire, but when power and ambition took over, their partnership turned to hatred. Voss believed your father stole something from him—something valuable enough to destroy entire lives.”“And now he thinks I have it?” Aidan’s voice rose, anger and panic twisting together.The woman, who had been monitoring the screens, chimed in, her tone steady but urgent. “Not just thinks. He’s convinced. And he’ll stop at nothing to ge
Pandora's warning
Aidan sat frozen, his breath shallow as the words from the call echoed in his mind: Thirty days to claim the inheritance… or lose everything. The air in the room seemed heavier now, suffocating him under the weight of a legacy he never asked for. The hum of the overhead light buzzed faintly, but even that felt distant, drowned out by the storm raging inside him.The Cross Empire wasn’t just an inheritance. It was a labyrinth of power, corruption, and danger, and now, somehow, he had been thrust to the center of it.It wasn’t loud—just three sharp raps against the metal door of the lab. Aidan’s body tensed. No one visited him here, not unless it was urgent. His eyes darted to the door, his pulse quickening.Another knock, more insistent this time.“Aidan Harper,” a voice called through the door, calm and steady. “We know you’re in there. Open up.”His chest tightened. The voice wasn’t familiar, but the tone carried authority. He stood, backing away from the door instinctively. The phon
