THE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR

THE NEW RICHMOND

Marvin had just stepped down from his sleek, charcoal-gray Mitsubishi Mirage, with the sun reflecting off its polished surface.

His heart was still racing from the events of the past few days. He had just wrapped up the auctioning of his father’s tech goods, it was a massive success that spanned three intense days. The final tally? What he generated from the auction? Was a staggering four million dollars.

"Father is going to be proud," Marvin thought with a growing sense of accomplishment.

His chest swelled with pride. This was his moment—it was proof that he was ready to take on more responsibility as the heir to Richmond Tech Group.

As the only child, he’d always felt the weight of the family’s expectations. Today, he felt like he’d finally measured up.

As he stepped into the grand Richmond mansion, the cool air and familiar scent of polished wood greeted him.

His legs felt heavy from exhaustion, and without a second thought, he headed straight to his room, collapsing onto his bed, sinking into the plush mattress like a stone into water.

The quiet of the mansion settled around him, and he finally allowed himself to breathe, just for a moment.

"Knock! Knock!"

"Who is it?" Marvin’s voice was weary but curious.

The door creaked open, revealing an elegant woman in her early fifties—his mother, Mrs. Sophia Richmond.

Her eyes sparkled with concern as she entered the room, walking toward him with open arms.

"Marvin, you’re back!" She embraced him warmly, her touch was soft yet filled with maternal strength.

"Yes, Mother." Marvin replied, trying to sound more energetic than he felt.

"You look exhausted." She observed, brushing a hand over his brow. "How was the auction?"

Before Marvin could answer, the door opened again, and Manuel Jonas, Mr. Richmond’s personal assistant, stepped into the room, his expression was as rigid as ever.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Richmond. Good afternoon, Master Marvin," Manuel began, his voice was steady and formal. "Senior Richmond requests your presence immediately in the main hall. There’s a crucial meeting underway."

"A crucial meeting?" Mrs. Richmond’s brows furrowed. "Why wasn’t I informed about this earlier? What’s this meeting about?"

Manuel, who was ever the picture of professionalism, didn’t blink. "I’m sorry for the short notice, ma’am, but Mr. Richmond insists on your immediate attendance."

Without another word, he turned and exited, with the door closing softly behind him.

Mrs. Richmond’s face twisted in frustration. "What is this about? My husband knows better than to summon us like this without explanation."

She muttered, half to herself. Then, with a sharp breath, she said to Marvin, "Get ready and meet me in the living room."

Marvin watched as she left the room, the tension in her shoulders were unmistakable. A sense of unease crept into his mind. Something didn’t feel right.

Forcing himself off the bed, Marvin straightened his clothes and splashed water on his face to shake off the fatigue.

He felt a flicker of curiosity, and maybe even a bit of nervous energy, as he made his way down the hall.

When he entered the living room, the atmosphere was far from normal. Seated around the long mahogany table were the board members of Richmond Tech Group, all of them were dressed in crisp suits, their faces were serious and unreadable.

These were the men and women who helped shape the company, and Marvin knew them well. He offered a polite nod, then took a seat beside his mother, who looked as irritated as ever.

Twelve minutes later, the door opened, and Mr. Richmond entered with Manuel by his side.

His father, who was always the commanding figure, looked more intense than usual today.

But it wasn’t just his presence that caught Marvin’s attention—it was the faint glow on his father’s forehead.

The Synapticore Mark.

A shimmering, intricate symbol that had been passed down through the Richmond family for generations.

It wasn’t just for show—this mark was the source of Mr. Richmond’s brilliance, the key to his near-genius level of intellect and strategic prowess.

It was the very reason Richmond Tech Group had flourished over the years, evolving from a small tech startup to a multi-million-dollar empire.

Marvin had always marveled at the power of the Synapticore Mark, but now, as his father’s stern gaze swept the room, it seemed to glow with an almost ominous light.

"Good afternoon," Mr. Richmond’s voice boomed, silencing any idle murmurs.

"Good afternoon," the room echoed back, though Mrs. Richmond’s voice was noticeably missing from the chorus.

His father’s eyes scanned the room, landing briefly on Marvin before settling on the board. "I know this meeting is sudden," he began, with an authoritative tone. "but I won’t apologize for that. What I have to say cannot wait."

Marvin shifted in his seat. He noticed his mother bristle beside him, she was still irritated at being left in the dark.

"I’m getting older," Mr. Richmond continued. "And as some of you have noticed, I’m not as sharp or as strong as I once was."

The room was silent, but the truth of his words was reflected in the somber expressions around the table. Everyone had seen it—the slight fatigue in Mr. Richmond’s once tireless pace, the subtle signs of age creeping into his movements.

"And because of that," his father’s voice grew firmer, "it’s time I officially introduce you to the next leader of Richmond Tech Group. My heir."

Marvin felt his heart thump hard against his chest. "This was it." This was the moment he had been working toward, the moment that would solidify his place as the future of the company.

But before he could even bask in the anticipation, his mother interrupted. "Darling, was it really necessary to gather everyone here just for this? They already know Marvin is your only child. Wasn’t this overkill?"

Her words hung in the air, and Marvin winced at her casual dismissal of what he considered to be a monumental moment. But Mr. Richmond didn’t flinch. His gaze was hard as steel.

"Quiet, woman," he snapped, his voice was uncharacteristically harsh. "Let me finish."

Marvin’s jaw dropped. His father had never spoken to his mother like that before. Ever. The shock on her face mirrored his own. What was happening?

"As I was saying," Mr. Richmond continued, ignoring the tension his outburst had caused, "it’s time for you to meet my heir… Master Daniel Richmond."

Marvin blinked. "Daniel?"

The door swung open, and in walked a tall, striking young man, dressed in a sharp suit, his jawline was chiseled, his posture was commanding.

But what stunned Marvin wasn’t the man’s presence—it was his face.

The man looked like a younger version of Mr. Richmond. He was "almost" a mirror image. And beside him stood a woman in her late forties, her face was calm but proud, and her arm was linked with his.

Marvin’s mind whirled. "Who was this guy? What was happening?" He thought he was his father’s only son—his only heir.

The room seemed to spin as reality blurred. He had worked tirelessly for years, proving himself, sacrificing everything for the company. And now this?

He shot up from his chair, his voice was trembling with confusion and anger. "Dad, what is going on here? I don’t understand. Who is this?"

Mr. Richmond’s eyes darkened as he turned toward his son, his voice was cold and dismissive. "And who do you think you are to question me, Marvin?"

The chill in his father’s voice hit harder than anything Marvin had ever heard. This was the man who had always been his mentor, his role model.

And now, Marvin’s world was falling apart.

As the room buzzed with tension, Marvin’s mind raced. "Could this Daniel really be my brother? What is my father hiding from me?" A sinking feeling in his chest told him that everything he thought he knew was about to change forever.