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THE RETURN HEIR Chapter 09
As Max held the sleek black card in his hand, his grandfather extended another envelope toward him. “There’s also a transfer to your regular bank account,” Mark said, his gaze steady.“Consider it some pocket money. It should cover your immediate expenses and allow you to… adjust to acting like the head of the consortium.”Max opened the envelope, revealing a card with his usual bank’s logo and a printed balance receipt. His eyes widened at the amount. Pocket money, his grandfather had called it, but to Max, it was an unfathomable sum—more than enough to settle his debt to his friends, buy clothes, and support himself for years if needed.This was a different world, a world where “pocket money” carried more zeros than his lifetime of savings combined.He took a deep breath, a mixture of excitement and anxiety churning within him. “Thank you, Grandfather. I’ll… I’ll do my best to manage everything responsibly.”Mark’s gaze softened, pride evident in his expression. “I know you will, M
THE RETURN HEIR Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10Max pushed open the door to his dorm room, a surge of warmth flooding him as he was greeted by his friends. Rudd, Greg, and Marcus instantly sprang to their feet, bombarding him with a mix of hugs, playful punches, and shouts of relief.“Max! Where the hell have you been, man?” Rudd exclaimed, clapping him on the shoulder. “We’ve been freaking out since you left.”“Yeah,” Marcus chimed in, grinning as he grabbed Max in a bear hug. “You had us thinking you were gone for good or something!”Max couldn’t help but laugh, his heart swelling with gratitude. It was comforting to return to familiar faces, the friends who had been his family through thick and thin. For a moment, he forgot all about the grandeur of the mansion, the Bugatti, the millions of dollars—these were the people who’d stood by him long before he’d known the truth of his heritage.“We even got you something,” Greg added, gesturing toward the small table in the corner, where a box of Tasty Fried Chicken sat, fil
THE RETURN HEIR Chapter 01
The dorm room was filled with laughter and jokes, the four friends sprawled across the couches, unwinding after a grueling week of classes. Max Reid sat on the edge of his bunk, his mind elsewhere, though he offered the occasional nod and smile.“You guys see that Porsche in the parking lot this morning?” Dan asked, his eyes widening. “That’s David Lesley’s new car—the Carrera GT. Man, two million dollars. Can you even imagine?”“Lesley’s living the life we all wish we had, huh?” muttered Jake, shaking his head in disbelief.Just then, their dormmate, Ethan, burst into the room, panting with excitement. “Guys! David Lesley is proposing to Lily Ginn right now—on live stream!” He held up his phone triumphantly, opening the Groove app, where the proposal was indeed trending.“Are you serious?” Dan leaned in, his eyes glued to the screen. “This guy doesn’t waste time.”Max, however, remained seated, his expression neutral. Lily wouldn’t say yes, he told himself. She’s with me. She told me
THE RETURN HEIR Chapter 02
Max stood outside the Sky Golden Hotel, the grandeur of the place pressing down on him like a weight. Gleaming marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and a valet line filled with luxury cars—it was a world far removed from his. He’d come here for answers, but just standing in front of the hotel made him feel as if he didn’t belong, like an intruder in a place meant for people who had everything he didn’t.As he stood, taking in the sight, his heart clenched at the sight of David Lesley stepping out of the hotel lobby with Lily on his arm. David was laughing, whispering something that made Lily giggle—a carefree, dazzling smile lighting up her face. Max couldn’t remember her looking like that with him. She’d always seemed happy, but this… this was different.Was I never enough for her? he thought, the question heavy in his chest.Gathering his resolve, Max moved forward, his eyes focused on Lily. She froze as she spotted him, the smile slipping from her face, replaced by a look of panic.
THE RETURN HEIR Chapter 03
Max stood outside the Sky Golden Hotel, every word Lily had spoken replaying painfully in his mind. Her cold, indifferent voice cut deeper than he’d ever imagined possible. The woman he had poured his heart into had ended their relationship publicly, dismissing him as easily as a stranger."Lily… why would you do this to me?" he asked, his voice breaking.Lily sighed, her gaze flat and uncaring. “Max, I’ve made it clear. I need a life that you could never give me. David can. I’m with him now, and it’s for the best.” Her words dripped with finality, her disinterest a knife twisting in Max’s chest. She met his gaze one last time, her voice as cold as her stare. “Goodbye, Max.”Max felt the weight of her rejection, his chest tight and breaths shallow as he struggled to process the betrayal. But before he could even respond, David stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Lily, a smirk on his face.“Looks like you’ve been dumped, Max,” David sneered, folding his arms.
THE RETURN HEIR Chapter 04
Max sat in the back of the police car, staring blankly out the window as the city lights blurred past him. The events of the night replayed in his mind, each memory piercing like a fresh wound. Lily’s cold, dismissive voice. David’s taunts. The betrayal, public humiliation, and the stinging slap from the security guard. It all left him feeling hollow, his heart shattered beyond repair.The silence in the car was heavy, punctuated only by the crackle of the police radio. The reality of what he’d done was beginning to settle, but he didn’t have the energy to regret it. The pain and anger had taken over, leaving him with nothing but a numb sense of loss.When they arrived at the police station, Max barely registered the officers as they led him inside, processing him with a detached efficiency. After a brief wait, an officer sat him down and placed a form in front of him.“Max Reid,” the officer said, looking down at the paper, “you’re being charged with assault, battery, disruption of b
THE RETURN HEIR Chapter 05
Max wandered the empty streets, his mind adrift, every step heavy with exhaustion. The day’s events weighed on him, each memory sharp and unrelenting. Lily’s betrayal replayed in his mind like a cruel joke, her words lingering, hollow and cold. David’s smug expression, the laughter of onlookers, the sting of the police slap—they all reminded him of his limitations, his lack of status, and the poverty that defined his life.He soon found himself in a quiet park, a sliver of peace amid the chaos. The moon cast a gentle glow over the trees and empty benches, giving the place a sense of calm he hadn’t felt in ages. Max sank onto one of the benches, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees as he buried his face in his hands.What if things were different? he wondered, a fleeting, desperate thought. If he had the wealth that people like David flaunted, would Lily have stayed? Would he be sitting here now, alone and humiliated? In his mind, he pictured a life of luxury, a life where he never
THE RETURN HEIR Chapter 06
Max sat in the plush leather seat of the Rolls-Royce, the hum of the engine barely audible as they glided along the highway. He stole glances around the car’s interior, marveling at the intricate details, the polished wood panels, and the soft ambient lighting. This was wealth beyond anything he’d ever imagined, beyond even the flashiness of David’s Porsche. Still, his mind was a swirl of questions and disbelief. Who was this “master” Kevin kept mentioning, and why did they want to meet him?Kevin, seated across from Max, maintained a respectful silence, sensing Max’s hesitation. After the initial few questions, Max had stopped asking anything altogether, still half-convinced he was part of some elaborate joke or, worse, a setup. But Kevin’s sincerity and unwavering politeness had left him curious enough to follow through.After what felt like an eternity, the car slowed, pulling through massive, ornate golden gates with the word “Reid” crafted in elegant letters across the top. Max s