The Hidden Duke Heir

Chap 02

Charles tried to wake up, but his head hurt when he touched it.

“Ugh! It hurts!” Charles grimaced in pain.

“Where am I? Why am I in this place?” Charles saw a room that was painted bright blue and had some basic furniture in it.

“Hey, are you awake?” A person entered the room with a bowl with smoke coming out of it.

“Daniel, where is this? Why are you in this place too?” Charles asked in surprise.

“This is my room. Isabella called me and asked me to pick you up in front of her house. but when I got there, you were hurt and passed out.” Daniel talked a lot about it.

“What exactly is going on, Charl?” asked Daniel.

Charles remembered breaking up with Isabel, which made him sad because he didn’t want to end their relationship.

“You don’t need to cry over a cheap woman like Isabella, Charles. You should be grateful that you don’t have to be trapped in a marriage with a gold digger.” Daniel gave advice.

He gave Charles a bowl of breakfast mush and told him to eat it right away.

“Eat up. After this, I want to take you somewhere.”

“Where?”

“To meet someone.”

***

“Wh-what? You’ve got to be kidding me, Daniel; this is impossible!” Charles looked at Daniel with surprised eyes.

Right now, the two of them were at the door of Charles’ boarding house, and an old man was waiting for him. The old man introduced himself as Charles’ grandfather.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I beg you not to joke. You can’t be my grandfather. I don’t have a grandfather!” Charles stared intently at the old man.

“I am your grandfather, Charles. I’m sorry that I could only find you now. Your Dad hid you so well; I couldn’t find you easily.”

Charles got very surprised and nervous when his grandpa talked about his Dad. When Charles was a kid, he didn’t know his real family. He lived in a special home for kids who didn’t have parents. The lady caring for him there said he was discovered crying outside the door.

“Dad? Do you mean the person who left me alone at the orphanage’s door?” Charles said with a tone of sarcasm.

“I think you misunderstood me, Charles. First, let me introduce my name. My name is Michael Duke, and your father, or my son, is Zacky Duke. When you were born, the Duke family got into big trouble and required us to hide your existence from everyone.”

Michael looked at Charles with sad eyes. “Back then, our family company, which your Dad led at the time, had a dispute with some Mafia members during a business partnership. At that time, many enemies of the Duke family took advantage of the situation and made the situation even more heated. The Mafia was angry and felt cheated by the cooperation your Dad had offered. Unfortunately, I realized everything too late.”

“Then, what happened next? What do you mean by realizing everything too late?” Charles asked, demanding a clear answer from the Duke, his grandfather.

“I was retired then and thought your Dad could handle everything. I was in the village, enjoying retirement, without knowing what was happening in the company until shocking news reached my ears. The news that your Dad was ....”

“What?” asked Charles curiously. His heart was beating faster and faster.

“Your Dad was found dead in his car. He died holding a bottle of formula. At that time, the Mafia, who knew your Dad had a child, started looking for you. I did the same, but I couldn’t find you.”

“At that time, I thought you were dead in their hands too."

Michael told Charles something important, and it made Charles cry. But then Charles felt happy because he found out he wasn’t left alone on purpose and met his real grandpa.

"Charles, you are my grandson. I am very happy to meet you. I hope you will return to the Duke family mansion and run the business left by your father. I want you to be the main heir of the Duke family company. How about it?"

Michael asked for something, and Charles quickly looked at his friend Daniel to see what he thought. Daniel smiled and nodded, which made him feel happy. Daniel also knew Charles had a hard life, so he was touched.

“Alright, Grandpa. I’ll come with you, but not now.”

“Why do you still have business in this city?”

“Yes, Grandpa. There are some things I need to resolve first. I must resign from my old job first and settle all the unfinished business.”

Michael nodded, agreeing to his grandson’s request. “All right. But you have to make a promise to me, Charles. Promise me that once your business is done, you will return to the Duke family and become the heir to our family company.”

“Yes, Grandpa.”

After that, they began to tell each other stories. Charles talked about his life after being found and raised in an orphanage while Michael listened intently.

Occasionally, Michael would also share his life after Zacky died. It turns out that Charles' mother was also found dead in their home after his father died. Almost all members of the Duke family were killed by the Mafia, except Michael, who was in the village, and Charles, who his father had hidden.

At the moment, all that remained of the Duke family were Michael and Charles. That’s why the old man hoped that Charles would be willing to return as soon as possible and continue the company that his father had passed on to him.

“I think my business here is done. Remember, after your business is done, call me quickly, and I’ll pick you up here.”

“Okay, Grandpa.”

Michael got up and gave Charles a huge hug to say goodbye. He was holding on tight and feeling sad because he had missed his grandson for a long time.

“Grandpa goes home first. Don’t forget to call me once in a while. Okay? “

Charles agreed and took his grandpa to a nice car parked nicely outside where they were staying.

“Oh yeah, don’t forget to check your bank account. Grandpa has sent some money for your needs here. I hope you use that money to have fun. I apologize for only being able to help you with your life now.”

“And ... take this too.”

Michael gave Charles a shiny gold card with a picture of a dragon on it. He also gave him a special badge with a pretty zamrud diamond. Charles didn't know what the badge was for, but he was happy to receive it from his grandpa.

“Be careful on the road, Grandpa.”

Michael drove away from Charles' house in his car. Charles was curious about how much money his grandfather had sent him, so he opened a bank account on his phone.

“What?!” Charles was surprised when he saw how much money his grandfather gave him. His hands were shaking because he couldn't believe it.

“Why?” Daniel asked in a curious tone.

“T-this is ....”

Daniel saw how much money was on Charles’ phone and was very surprised.

“100 million dollars?! Am I dreaming, Daniel? Please pinch me!”