THE RETURN OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S LOST HEIR

Chapter 4

As the dark jeep drove through the driveway of a huge mansion, Leonardo was struck with awe at the sheer size and grandeur of the mansion. 

There were several cars parked out front, including a Lamborghini, a Rolls Royce and a Porsche. It was clear that this home of immense wealth and luxury was owned by no ordinary man but a multi millionaire. 

As Leonardo, the dark suited men and the woman alighted from the car, they were joined by a young lady who walked out of the mansion towards them. 

Her long strawberry blonde hair was curled and flipped to a shoulder and she was wearing an ankle length, silk dress. 

She had a beautiful smile on her face as she kept her eyes on Leonardo and unexpectedly wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Leonardo's body stiffened and his eyes darted from left to right, in his confused state. 

The young lady disentangled herself from him again, the smile on her face never unwavering even for a second. 

“Long time no see, lost brother.”

A look of confusion flickered across Leonardo's face again. Long lost brother? What did she mean by that?

“Uhm…I think you must've got the wrong person. I am not your brother. Matter of fact, I have no siblings and my parents died when I was little…”

“Oh, dearest brother.” The young lady gave him a small pitiable smile. “Those were the lies that you were made to believe all those years. Come with me. Let me show you to the truth.”

She held him by the hand and led him inside the mansion. Although skeptical, Leonardo followed her. He was curious as to why these people were mistaking him for someone else. 

Maybe there was an ounce of truth in their assumptions. He needed to feed his curiosity.

He followed her into the grand foyer of the mansion and as his eyes took in the sight of the crystal chandeliers, the sweeping staircase and the expensive furnishing of the elaborate room, he felt out of place and as though he was stepping into a world he did not belong in. 

The urge to turn his back and leave overcame him but at that moment, the young lady spoke again.

“My name is Estella, by the way. You're Leonardo, I reckon.” 

Leonardo nodded his head. “Yes, ma'am.”

Estella laughed and shook her head ridiculously at him. “Did you just call me ma'am? I am your little sister, brother.”

She gestured to an expensive looking leather cushion. “Please, have a seat. I'll be back in a minute.”

The next second, she hurried upstairs, leaving Leonardo all to himself. Cautiously, he sat on the cushion, as if scared that his unworthy body would stain the cushion. Five minutes later, Estella reappeared with some files and a photo album in her hand. 

“Oops. Did I keep you waiting for long? Forgive my manners, brother.” She sat herself beside him on the cushion and Leonardo adjusted himself a little, sparing some decent amount of space between the both of them. 

“Here is our family's photo album.” She opened the first page of the album and handed it to him. Leonardo hesitated for a couple of seconds before he turned the page over. In the first album was the photo of a woman with a newborn child in her arms. 

“That was you when you were just newly born. You were the cutest little thing.” She said with a quiet chuckle and helped him turn over to the next page. 

The next photo was of a little child standing in front of a birthday cake. There were two other boys who looked a few years older than him, standing side by side, beside him. 

“You were three years old here, and celebrating your birthday. Those are Antonio and Luca. We lost Luca a few years ago in a car crash, may his gentle soul rest in peace. He used to be the most amazing big brother.” Leonardo could hear the faint sadness in Estella's tone and he raised his gaze to her. 

“I'm sorry for your loss.”

She did not reply to him. Instead, she gave him what appeared to be a fake smile before turning their attention back to the photo album again. She opened the next page.

“You were five here. Also, the little girl was me when I just clicked three.” She pointed to the picture of the little boy, laughing and playing in the snow with a little girl. Leonardo frowned subtly now. 

He could see a bit of resemblance between him and the little boy, but he didn't let himself think far. Perhaps it was just a lookalike coincidence.

Again, Estella turned to another page. And then, to the next, and then to the next, and with every flip, Leonardo's frown deepened and a look of disbelief crossed his eyes. 

“You were ten years old here. And that was the last time we'd seen you.” She said to him as they stared at a photo of the boy, a little grown. 

It was a class group photo and Leonardo could no longer deny the uncanny resemblance between himself and the little boy anymore. 

There was a small mole on the boy's face, at the same spot where Leonardo's mole was too. The little boy was exactly the younger carbon copy of Leonardo. 

He raised his eyes to Estella again and listened attentively this time. His heart beat loudly against his chest as he did so. All the smiles on Estella's face were gone and her countenance was a serious one now. 

“You went missing when you were nine and we couldn't find you, no matter how hard we tried. Mom and dad curbed the entire country and beyond, in search of you but you couldn't be found.” She continued to explain. 

“But mom and dad never believed you were dead. They felt you were still alive. Turns out they were not just being delusional after all.”

Leonardo blinked slowly and his hands fidgeted with his trouser. None of what she was saying made any sense to him. She was obviously only trying to mess with his brain. 

But then again, why did the little boy in the photos look exactly just like him? And why did they have the exact mole at the same spot on their face?

“I understand that all of these may be overwhelming to you but we need you, Leonardo. 

Dad died a month ago and when his will was read, we were all shocked to realize that he had willed almost all of his properties to you, including the family's company. Luckily, it was the same time we found a trail that led us back to you.”

“I…I don't understand.” Leonardo shook his head and his lips parted in uncertainty. “How can any of this be true? I was raised by my poor parents until they died…”

“Those were not your real parents, Leo. You were kidnapped and you lost your memories in the process. That is why you cannot remember anything about your past.”

“I lost my memories?” Leonardo laughed this time. He had had enough of the games and it was now obvious that this lady, whoever she was, was only trying to mess with him. With a tired sigh, Leonardo rose up from the cushion and shook his head at Estella.

“I don't believe any of that bullshit. I have to go now. Thank you for wasting my time.” He said and turned on his heels to leave but Estella's words stopped him when he was only a few feet away from her. 

“On your eighth birthday, you and dad went fishing at a private lake. And while you fished, you fell into the water. Dad was so scared that you were going to die but after he managed to revive you, you told him that you were only pulling his legs and that even in your next life, you would never forget the fear in his eyes when he thought that he had lost you.” Estella narrated to him. “Do you still remember the fear in his eyes?”

All of a sudden, Leonardo's head plummeted into a tunnel of memories that he never thought he had. The smiling face of a man, holding his fishing rod. 

A woman, packing up rice cakes in a lunch box and waving at him. A little girl laughing and throwing snowballs at him. The man, diving into water to fetch him and helping him get on the safe shores, his eyes filled with fear. 

Leonardo breathed heavily as he was drawn back into reality. Suddenly, he could remember the interiors of the mansion as though he had lived here all his life. 

He slowly turned his back to face Estella again. In place of her adult face, was the vision of the little girl, laughing and throwing snowballs at him. His now teary eyes widened in realization.

“Estella…I remember everything now. I remember who I am.”

“Do you?” Estella gasped sharply and up immediately. There was disbelief evident

in her eyes. 

“Yes.”

“Then, tell me who you are.”

“Jayden Romano. My name is Jayden Romano.”