The Castaway Billionaire

Chapter 4

"Take my grandson to his room, Daniel. Niko surely needs some rest," ordered Surya, Niko's grandfather.

Those who welcomed Niko's arrival readily agreed with Surya's command. However, a few pairs of eyes gave him disdainful looks since Niko's arrival at this house. They seemed even more displeased, thinking that Surya was too hasty in bringing in and allowing a stranger. Despite Niko being part of the family, his position in the house was relatively new.

"Are you sure, Dad? He's just a newcomer; it's not impossible for him to commit some crime in this house," Benny said, representing those who opposed the decision.

"True, Dad. What Mas Benny said isn't wrong. He's just stepped into this house, so he's essentially a stranger to our family," Alma, Benny's wife, chimed in.

Surya's warm gaze, which had welcomed Niko's arrival, began to change, sharpening as it fell on everyone. Surya didn't even hear the detractors mention his grandson's name. They merely used pronouns like 'he,' even though it was clear that his name was Niko.

Meanwhile, Arshad, the man himself, was no less formidable than Surya. According to Arshad, their ill treatment of his son had gone too far. After all, Niko had never set foot in this house, yet they displayed hatred as if they had encountered Niko and his son frequently, and they had committed some wrongdoing.

"Nonsense!" Surya retorted, causing everyone to startle. "Whether you oppose this vehemently or not, Niko is still my blood. So, I suggest you keep your behavior in check to avoid being kicked out of here!" He continued sharply.

Benny and Alma, who had previously asserted themselves, began to shrink. They couldn't believe that Surya would defend the newcomer like this. In their eyes, Niko in this house was like a worthless flea.

It wasn't just Benny and Alma who had been giving Niko disdainful looks since his arrival. On the right side, a woman could be seen vacillating between hatred and disbelief at Niko's presence. Her gaze of hatred wasn't unfounded; if Niko returned to this family, it would mean that the sole inheritance that should have gone to her child would be divided with Niko.

"Oh, Niko, meet Reni, your mother," Arshad said. "And this is Raditya, your little brother," he continued, pointing to the young boy.

Attention everyone turned when they heard Arshad speak up. Arshad even immediately pointed to a woman seated directly to the left of his chair. The woman's gaze clearly conveyed her disapproval of Niko's arrival in this family, and Surya noticed it.

"Hello, Brother Niko," greeted Raditya. Only Raditya, while Reni didn't seem to care about Arshad's gestures urging her to introduce herself to Niko.

Niko offered a smile and nodded his head when Raditya greeted him so warmly. It was different when his eyes met Reni's gaze. Niko looked quite puzzled because, to him, Reni seemed too unfamiliar to be called 'Mom.' Considering he had his biological mother.

'Is she Papa's new wife or something?' Niko wondered. Curious, but he didn't dare to ask directly.

"Radit already tried to welcome you, and you're acting so arrogant," Alma quipped, mocking him.

Startled, Niko immediately glanced at Alma, who still stared at him intensely like a laser, making Niko quickly avert his gaze.

"Hi, Radit."

Raditya seemed to widen his smile even more after getting a response from Niko. In fact, Raditya was already fantasizing about inviting Niko to engage in typical male activities. But Raditya's daydream was cut short when Reni patted his shoulder.

"Don't play with him, Dit," Reni interjected with a very firm voice.

Niko himself didn't pay much attention to Reni's overt disapproval. He thought that Reni's dislike might be because he was new here. Perhaps in the future, Reni wouldn't act that way anymore.

"Daniel, quickly take my grandson to his room," Surya ordered when she realized the situation was getting less conducive.

Daniel obediently bowed and led Niko to his room. As they walked, the maids continued to welcome Niko. They all showed great respect to the 'young master' in this house, which Niko warmly reciprocated. Indeed, Niko was so kind and friendly to everyone, even though they had just met.

"Young master, this is the room that will be your living space," Daniel said after opening the door.

Niko's head extended, observing the opulent room around him. Several times, Niko slapped his own cheek to ensure that what he was seeing was real. After the stinging sensation confirmed it wasn't a dream, he said, "Thank you, Daniel."

"You can rest now, young sir. If you need anything, you can press the button in the room for assistance," Daniel replied before leaving.

Niko was increasingly awestruck by his biological family. He had never imagined they were this wealthy. For him, as long as he had food, it was sufficient. Luxury was unnecessary as long as there was sufficiency.

Niko walked in and closed the door. Instantly, the cold air embraced him as his body entered. He had only slept in modest accommodations before and had never experienced such excess. Even the bathroom was lavish with various amenities inside.

A knock on the door interrupted Niko's observation. He approached the door and found Arshad standing there.

"Fa—father?" It was still somewhat awkward for Niko to address Arshad as his father.

"May I come in?"

Niko moved aside, allowing Arshad to enter and sit on the sofa. Then, Arshad patted the right side, signaling Niko to sit down, as there was something important to discuss.

"Reni earlier—she's Papa's new wife," Arshad began. He had a reason for bringing up Reni's story first. Seeing how Reni glared at Niko with hatred had already shown that she didn't like his presence. Niko was taken aback by this revelation. It explained why Reni seemed so determined to reject him, as if Niko were an unwelcome intruder. She probably thought his presence would disrupt their family.

"Then, what really happened to Mom, Dad?"

It was difficult for Arshad to reveal their dark past, but ultimately, he decided it was a story that couldn't remain hidden forever.

Arshad explained that when Riana was pregnant with Niko, she had a major conflict with her family. She was falsely accused of being pregnant by another man, and this accusation was fueled by Nicholas' family.

Hearing Arshad's story, Niko unconsciously clenched his fists. His heart whispered vengeance for what had happened to his mother, and Niko vowed to repay all the pain she had endured.