The Castaway Billionaire

Chapter 6

"Wow! Who is this?"

Footsteps echoed as they entered the previously quiet dining area, capturing the attention of everyone present.

Niko's body tensed for a moment. Out of all the times and places, why did Alexa's affair partner have to show up now? In a completely unexpected location, no less. Niko had hoped to never cross paths with that cunning individual, let alone have any dealings with them. It seemed fate enjoyed playing games with him.

"What are you doing here, Scumbag? Are you looking for a new murder target? Which one of my family members are you targeting?" Justin inquired, his gaze sweeping across the room.

The word "murderer" made Niko the center of attention. Almost everyone present appeared shocked and shifted uncomfortably in their seats. They swallowed Justin's words without filter. Some of them began to feel fearful, believing what Justin had said might be true.

Murmurs spread through the crowd like a swarm of bees, assaulting Niko's ears. They united in blaming Niko and his presence, which was considered a harbinger of disaster rather than luck. Who in their right mind would introduce a murderer as a new family member?

"Why so silent? Afraid I'll expose your dirty secrets here?" Justin taunted, tilting his head with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm not a murderer! Get that straight!"

Even though he knew he was innocent, Niko stood up and confronted Justin head-on. The saying "silence is golden" no longer applied when his self-respect was at stake. He struggled to control the urge to raise his hand. He stared directly into Justin's eyes, which now glared back arrogantly. His dignity was on the line in front of everyone.

"Not a murderer? Have you forgotten what landed you in prison? The gruesome murder case in the apartment," Justin paused for a moment, examining Niko from head to toe. "Tell me, who released you and brought you here so foolishly, huh?"

Another set of footsteps entered the room, this time from the rear, blending with the sounds of the kitchen.

"I'm the one who released him and brought him here," Daniel, the newcomer, gently touched Justin's shoulder to move him away from the young master. Then, he stood in front of Justin, acting as a shield.

"You, Daniel? How dare you! What plans are you concocting that you brought that scumbag here?" Justin pointed his index finger alternately at Niko and Daniel, then snorted derisively. "I understand now. It must be wealth you're after, isn't it? Murderers and losers like you deserve each other. Just watch, I won't let you destroy this family."

"Please mind your words, Mr. Justin. It's time for dinner now. It's not appropriate to keep provoking conflicts. Your accusations earlier were completely baseless and could be considered slander," Daniel tried to remain patient and speak as calmly as possible. He understood Justin's not-so-good behavior quite well.

"Fresh out of prison on a murder charge, and you're claiming my accusation was baseless? Are you utterly clueless or what?" Daniel leaned in toward Justin and whispered quietly, too faint for anyone else to hear. But Justin's expression quickly shifted. His clenched fists revealed his agitation. Niko watched with curiosity. What could have caused Justin's drastic change? Was it a threat? Or did Daniel already know the facts of the case?

Justin adjusted his shirt collar and cleared his throat, clearly concealing something. But it wasn't in Justin's nature to back down easily.

"So, what's this scoundrel doing here? Applying for a new henchman position? Does he even have the qualifications? This family isn't just any ordinary family, you know!" Justin smirked, confident that Niko's presence wasn't more important than his own.

Niko could sense Justin underestimating him. Little did he know Niko's true identity. However, Niko chose not to boast and kept his mouth shut.

"Watch your mouth, Justin! Grandfather has been restraining himself all this time to show respect for everyone here. But it seems you still lack self-awareness."

Silence fell. No one dared to speak after hearing Surya's anger. Even Justin remained quiet, his head bowed. His attack on Niko had backfired as he faced the same treatment from Surya.

"Let me announce this to all of you now. Niko Nikholas, the son of my son, Arshad, will officially become the heir to the Centra Group and will be appointed CEO in the near future. I, Surya Nikholas, have granted him this authority."

Niko opened his mouth in disbelief. What more surprises were there? Heir to the company? CEO? He had never dared to imagine such a thing, not even in his wildest dreams.

"Grandfather must be joking, right? Justin is still here, isn't he? It can't possibly be this newbie," protested Justin, clearly not accepting this decision.

"Yes, Dad. We still have Justin, whom we know better. We know nothing about Niko, his track record in the business world before this. What if he can't handle the company?" Benny chimed in. He was clearly unwilling for the inheritance to fall into his son's hands.

"Arshad, my eldest son, and Niko, my eldest grandson. Watching Justin's recent behavior only makes me doubt him more. He shows no signs of maturity, only disrupting the atmosphere with his irrational outbursts. Meanwhile, I've instructed Daniel to teach Niko everything he needs to know. I'm confident he'll learn quickly. I don't want to hear any more objections after this."

Niko could only remain silent in utter astonishment. Wealth and luxury showered upon him. On one hand, he felt joy, but on the other, he seethed with anger to discover that he was cousins with Justin. The cunning betrayer who had caused Alexa to betray him.

"Niko, Justin. Please, take a seat!" Arshad took charge and asked Niko and Justin to sit down. His gaze remained fixed on his son, a glimmer of pride in his chest.

"Congratulations, my dear. You did it!"

Raditya, sitting next to Niko, gave him a double thumbs-up, also feeling proud and entirely in agreement with Surya's decision.

Niko no longer paid any mind to the envious and cynical looks from the rest of his family members. The trust that Surya and Arshad had placed in him would be upheld steadfastly.