The Heir's Revenge

A Twist of Fate

Ethan stood motionless in the dimly lit hallway, staring at his phone. The words echoed in his mind, refusing to settle: "Mr. Langston… We’ve been looking for you for a very long time."

His mind raced as he tried to make sense of the message. "Langston?" That name sounded vaguely familiar, but it was buried deep in the corners of his memory.

Ethan wanted to call the number back, but something stopped him. He wasn’t sure who had just reached out to him, but instinct told him to proceed with caution.

Still, he couldn’t afford to get distracted. He had returned to the penthouse for one reason only, to confront Sarah.

The lights were on inside when Ethan reached the apartment. He slipped his key into the door, the cold metal trembling in his grip. He pushed the door open, the soft creak reverberating in the luxurious foyer.

The sound of voices, laughter, drifted from the living room. Ethan's jaw clenched as his anger flared. Sarah wasn’t even hiding it anymore. She was laughing with Daniel Stone.

He walked down the hallway, each step heavy with the weight of betrayal. The closer he got, the clearer the voices became. Sarah’s musical laughter sent a jolt through his chest, but it was the low rumble of Daniel’s voice that made his blood boil.

“…You’re too good for him,” Daniel was saying, his voice smooth and arrogant. “He’s not even a man, Sarah. You deserve better. You deserve me.”

Ethan stepped into the doorway, his eyes locked on the scene before him. Sarah sat on the plush couch, leaning close to Daniel, her hand resting on his knee. They were inches apart, their faces filled with the kind of intimacy that should have been reserved for a husband and wife.

The shock on their faces when they saw him was almost satisfying.

“Ethan?” Sarah gasped, her hand jerking back as though she’d been caught in the act, which, in a way, she had.

Daniel stood up immediately, smoothing down his suit jacket, as if trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation. His eyes flicked between Ethan and Sarah, gauging the level of threat.

“What the hell is this?” Ethan demanded, his voice cold and steady. “You think I wouldn’t find out?”

Sarah stood as well, her face quickly morphing from surprise to anger.

“What are you doing here, Ethan? I told you not to come home tonight.”

Ethan’s lip curled into a bitter smile.

“I guess I missed the memo. Thought we could have a little chat about your 'friend' here.”

Daniel’s mouth twitched, but he said nothing. He stood his ground, but Ethan could see the flicker of discomfort in his eyes.

Sarah crossed her arms, her attitude shifting to her usual condescending stance.

“You want to talk? Fine. Let’s talk. I’m done pretending, Ethan. This marriage is a joke. You’re a joke.”

Each word was like a slap in the face, but Ethan didn’t flinch. His anger had simmered for too long, and now, it was a controlled blaze.

“I’ve given you everything,” Ethan said, his voice hard. “I’ve worked my ass off for your family, for 'you', and all you’ve done is treat me like garbage.”

Sarah scoffed.

“Oh, spare me the sob story. You were never good enough for me, Ethan. You’re nothing but a stepping stone. A pawn.”

Ethan’s fists clenched at his sides.

“A stepping stone? Is that what you think I am? Well, enjoy your time at the top, because it’s about to come crashing down.”

Daniel took a step forward, his chest puffed out in a display of bravado.

“I think you should leave, Wallace. You’re out of your depth here.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

“This isn’t over, Daniel.”

Daniel smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, I think it is. You should know when you’re beaten.”

For a moment, the tension between the two men was thick enough to cut. Ethan could feel his rage bubbling just beneath the surface, but he forced himself to take a deep breath. Losing control now wouldn’t serve him. No, he had to be smarter than that. More calculating.

He turned his gaze to Sarah, who was still standing with her arms crossed, her expression smug.

“You’re going to regret this,” Ethan said, his voice low and dangerous.

Sarah shrugged. “I doubt it.”

Without another word, Ethan turned on his heel and walked out of the apartment. The sound of laughter, Sarah’s and Daniel’s, followed him as he left, echoing in his ears like a cruel reminder of everything he had lost.

But as the elevator doors slid shut, something clicked inside Ethan. This wasn’t the end. It was the beginning.

Ethan drove aimlessly for a while, the city lights blurring around him as he tried to process everything.

Eventually, he pulled over to the side of the road and parked, resting his head against the steering wheel. His phone buzzed again, and this time, he answered without hesitation.

The same voice greeted him.

“Mr. Langston.”

“Who are you?” Ethan demanded, his voice harsh. “What do you want?”

“We have been looking for you for many years,” the voice said. “Your father would have wanted you to know the truth.”

Ethan’s heart raced. His father? He had never known his real parents, had grown up in foster care with no clue about his origins.

“What truth?” Ethan asked, his voice shaking.

“You are the rightful heir to the Langston fortune,” the voice replied. “Your father was a powerful man, and his enemies tried to erase you from existence. But we found you.”

Ethan’s mind spun. "Rightful heir?" This had to be some kind of joke.

“I don’t understand,” Ethan said, his breath shallow. “Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because you need to know who you are,” the voice replied. “And because those who wronged you will soon learn the consequences of their actions.”

Ethan gripped the steering wheel tightly. This couldn’t be real. It sounded like something out of a bad movie. But there was something in the voice, something calm, assured, that made him believe it.

“Where do I go from here?” Ethan asked, his voice barely a whisper.

“Come to the Langston Estate tomorrow,” the voice instructed. “There, you will learn everything.”

The call ended abruptly, leaving Ethan alone with his thoughts. He stared at the phone in his hand, his mind reeling. His entire life had been a lie. He had been living in the shadow of the Forrester family, enduring their cruelty, when all along, he had belonged to something far greater.

He was Ethan Langston.

The following day, Ethan arrived at the gates of the Langston Estate. It was a sprawling mansion, hidden away in the hills on the outskirts of the city. Tall iron gates, adorned with intricate designs, stood as a barrier between the outside world and the untold wealth that lay beyond.

Ethan had always been a man of modest means. The Forresters’ wealth had been overwhelming, but this, this was something else entirely. The sheer size and grandeur of the estate left him momentarily stunned.

He pressed the intercom at the gate, unsure of what to expect.

A voice came to life.

“Mr. Langston, we’ve been expecting you.”

The gates swung open with a quiet hum, and Ethan drove up the long, winding driveway. The estate loomed ahead, its towering columns and manicured gardens a testament to old money, the kind that had roots stretching back generations.

When he parked and stepped out of the car, he was greeted by a man in a tailored black suit, his face expressionless.

“Welcome, Mr. Langston,” the man said. “Please follow me.”

Ethan followed the man into the mansion, his heart pounding. Everything about this place felt surreal, like he had stepped into another world.

As they walked through grand hallways lined with expensive artwork and marble statues, Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that his life was about to change in ways he couldn’t yet comprehend.

The man led him into a study, where a woman sat behind a large oak desk. She looked to be in her mid-fifties, with sharp features and piercing eyes. She stood as Ethan entered, her gaze appraising him.

“Ethan Langston,” she said, her voice smooth and authoritative. “It’s been a long time.”

Ethan stared at her, his mind racing. “Who are you?”

“I am Victoria Langston,” she said.

Ethan didn't know this, but his life was about to become much more than he bargained for.