Chapter 2

Three hundred million dollars?!

Ric was completely shocked, his eyes wide open and his mouth agape. He knew that his Father was a very wealthy man and the Maximiliano family was a very powerful family in Westmoreland county but as a kid he never really understood the concept of wealth and didn't know his father's net worth.

Now he understood.

If three hundred million dollars was just pocket money, then it meant that the Maximiliano family had a net worth of over three hundred Trillion dollars.

Honestly, at this moment he was slightly moved. However, when he remembered his mother and the suffering she had endured with him when they were thrown out of the mansion, he knew he couldn't forgive his Father so easily.

When Benhardt saw his frustration, he quickly said "Young Master, this money is yours after all, see it as compensation for all the suffering and humiliation you've had to endure."

"Lord Maximiliano has said that if you would accept, he would let you  inherit the Five hundred Trillion dollars family business."

"Also, your father has asked me to inform you that he has also transferred his sitting rights as chairman in the Hemsworth board to you. You can complete all the formalities at the sitting tomorrow."

Ric could barely believe his ears, if this was true then he was a rich man.

It all sounded unbelievable, a unique black card with three hundred million dollars, chairman of the multi billion dollar Hemsworth board, was his father really this generous?

Though Avrilla city was a prestigious city, the Hemsworth board was at the helm of affairs in the city especially the ruling authority and business industry, Every prominent family in the city would bow to their bidding. The Steffanina family and even the Romano family which was his wife's new husband's family were like lowly peasants to them. The Hemsworth board was also responsible for approving the next Mayor of the city.

And he was the chairman of this glorious board, did that mean his signature was required for approval of all businesses and contracts?

Benhardt handed him his business card and said "Young Master, this is my complementary card and it has my call number on it, everyone in this city knows me so you can call me if you need assistance of any sort. I'll excuse myself so you could think about your father's offer, I hope you consider accepting the inheritance."

With that, Benhardt turned and left.

Ric was still assimilating everything, he contemplated if he should accept his father's compensation or not.

However, he remembered the past decade and half which were filled with misery and even the jail term he served unjustly after being mistreated by the Steffanina family, so why shouldn't he accept these gifts?

Also, he still had to pay a balance of five million dollars for his mother's hospital bill and he didn't even have a house to spend the night that night. 

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When Ric was discharged from the hospital, he stopped by the bank and decided to try out the card.

"Hello Sir, how may I be of help to you"  a very beautiful lady behind the counter greeted Ric rather politely when it got to his turn.

Even though there was a trace of contempt in her eyes when she looked at the clothes that Ric wore she was still polite.

She knew that everyone who entered the bank either came to withdraw, deposit or make financial transactions but she didn't understand why Ric would come there. He didn't look like he owned a bank account.

"I would like to make a withdrawal" Ric replied before placing the unique black card on the counter.

The lady who, unknown to Ric, was Alessandro's closest cousin, looked at Ric with disdain and a cold expression. She didn't know Ric but his tattered appearance irritated her.

She looked at the unique black card on the counter and her fury heightened, picking up the card she recognized it because it was not the regular card.

Could it be that this beggarly looking man was one the 10 holder's of this unique black cards in the entire world?

Impossible! She concluded immediately that it was fake and Ric was only trying to pretend to be who he wasn't.

"You! This card is fake, how dare you try to bring it to the bank to deceive us and collect money?" She scolded Ric and flung the card off the counter.

Earlier on she had exuded patience with Ric out of professionalism seeing that he was a customer, she had hoped that at the least he would be one of those who came to withdraw money they were expecting to be sent to their accounts but she never expected that this customer would be so dishonorable to present a fake card to her.

Ric dropped his head in shame and disappointment. He was embarrassed that his father would want to make a fool out of him after leaving him to suffer all these years.

Ric couldn't understand why his father would play such a joke on him, so he buried his head in shame and avoided eye contact with the cashier as she continued to scold him for presenting a fake card.

"Why is he pretending to be rich when he's a fraudster with no money?"

"If you have no money, why not work and make an honest living or better still try to get a loan? Why try to act smart?" A customer on the withdrawal line said.

"Yes, why waste our time standing behind you on the line if you have no money to withdraw."

"He's so shameless, did he think the cashier wouldn't know the difference between a fake and a real card?"

"He even looks so dirty and tattered, how did the security let him into the bank?"

More and more customers started making side comments and Ric felt very uncomfortable, the cashier was also in an awkward situation as many of the customers began to question the credibility, access and safety within the banking premises.

"I'm sorry Sir but I would have to ask the security to escort you out in order to not cause further disruptions in the banking procedures within the premises." She spoke very rudely to Ric at this time.

At the same time a very powerful man entered the banking hall, his presence commanded respect from everyone present, some began to murmur in fear what his reaction would be when he realized the situation.

"Oh no! It's Mr. Lombardi, he'll definitely send this man to jail if he finds out he's a fraudster."

"This man is not just poor, he's very unlucky too that one of the big bosses in Avrilla city had to come to the bank the same day he tried to play a fast one with a fake card."

Amidst the hushed comments, Mr Lombardi noticed the black card by the door and picked it up. His eyes widened in shock when he saw the card.

"This…This Unique black card!" Mr Lombardi looked around for any explanation of why this prestigious rare card was lying carelessly on the floor.

Mr. Lombardi owned the biggest brewery in all of Avrilla city and top restaurants on Vittorio commercial street but he was still not qualified to own such a card.

The cashier immediately rushed from behind the counter to his side in a bid to pacify him. Mr Lombardi was one of the shareholders in the bank as well and the cashier knew that she would be in trouble if she offended Mr. Lombardi.

"I'm sorry Sir, that's just a fake card which some low life brought to the bank." The cashier said in a coquettish manner.

"Fake? Are you blind? This is the Dragon heir Diamond card. There are only 10 of this card in the world." Mr Lombardi was annoyed that the cashier would try to belittle this card.

Everyone in the bank was shocked.

"Is this man a rich man and one of the dragon heirs?"

"Is that really the real Dragon heir diamond card?"

Everyone was staring at Ric with fiery eyes.

"Where's the owner of the card?" Mr Lombardi demanded.