The Last Heir Of The Bastien Empire

Chapter 4.

"Yes sir, the Wilsons did know your family and they were mere followers back then." Explained the old man, and Brad listened wholeheartedly. "Years back when your family were still alive, they supported families such as the Wilsons and others that were low on wealth financially, and made them become better by funding their account with huge amounts of money. They provided good jobs for them, and thus, they became rich. On a condition that they supported them back by becoming one of the shareholders of the company."

"Okay, so they helped the Wilsons and now they too are part of the shareholders?" Brad asked impatiently. 

The old man nodded. "They did, sir, and all was good. Though they withdrew their shares in the company already. After the tragedy that befell your household... the sudden catastrophe that resulted in the death of them all. May their gentle souls rest in peace." Said the family butler, bowing his head slightly in respect for the dead. 

Brad did the same. "But how come I don't remember any of this?" He asked, his brows slightly arched up. 

"Because you were involved in an accident that nearly costed your life." Replied Harry Stewart. "This accident plus the shock you experienced while you received the tragic news of your family led to a memory loss. An amnesia, but it only struck you to forget a lot about your past. But not all entirely." Explained the old man. "The doctor did say that it might be impossible for you to ever remember. But all we can do is hope." 

Brad suddenly felt like a villain. Because of a minor shock, he had thrown away the memories of his past. How selfish had his mind and brain been! "I wish to remember," he confessed to the old man. "Do anything that might help me to?. Please." 

Harry nodded slightly. "We'll begin a new therapy. I'll connect you to a doctor, but not the one that helped years ago. I mean not the family doctor. Your identity must be kept safe now, and so, we mustn't trust anyone. This doctor will be anonymous and I'll be sure it's someone we can trust and someone who won't know much about your past, so you'll attend a session with him or her at a preferable schedule timing. "

Brad sighed." Thank you." The man regarded him with a warm smile. Then Brad thought to ask. "The whole story still isn't clear. So my family helped the Wilsons, why did they take me in?" 

"Perhaps to settle their consciousness I guess. They have done you wrong, young master." 

"They have." Brad found himself agreeing with the old man. "They maltreated me and made me suffer, old man. Then when I married their daughter, things became very stressful and painful for me. I can't seem to get a job in the whole of Maeville. All because of my mother in law!" 

Harry stared at his young master, but was now frowning. "Actually, I don't mean in that manner. You see, years back after your family's wreckage, the Wilsons pretended to actually care and so, they took you in after the accident. Only for me to find out one day that they had run off along with you, and all your money and assets passed down by your parents!"

"Wait what? How can they do that!" Yelled Brad. 

"Because they are not good people. They took you in, pretending to be the good guys, then illegally snatched the fortune that should have belonged to you. They were satisfied with that huge amount of money and property, but little did they know, it was just a tip of the iceberg. The majority of your family’s fortune has been kept safe by me all these years, and thus, I must say that I am so gratified that he finally found you again."

Brad couldn't believe his eyes. "How can they do that to me?" He found himself slowly saying. His face was now a grimace of pain as he lowered his head in shock and disbelief. 

"But all that does not matter now. You are here now and the family business must go on. So I ask now, young master, as the last surviving heir of the richest and most powerful family in New York, do come back and claim your rightful place."

✩★✩

Brad was taken by surprise by the question. "Wait, really?" He asked and the old man nodded in confirmation. Brad sighed. "Well, there must be a reason that I am still alive now and it all points down to the fact that I've been living in secrecy. I feel I should remain alive for our sake." He joked and the old man smirked. "Once I blow my identity, these wicked people will find me and try to harm me again."

"You are right then. Coming out to the public now would be nearly a suicide mission." He agreed. 

"Yes, exactly. But there are still ways this can go on right. May I ask how much the total asset is?" 

"Well sire, it is quite a lot. I shall have all of the documents prepared to you and delivered secretly to your doorstep. But I assure you that they are assets worth billions of dollars." 

Brad's eyes widened in shock. Billions?? So he was a... billionaire?! 

"Okay then," he tried to keep his cool. "Perhaps a little of that money should be sent into a secret account that'll have my name and signature on it. And then, I'll need the information of the company if I'm going to take over. We need a creative way to announce to all of the shareholders that I have returned, but in a secretive manner." He thought, but his thoughts had been said out loud unintentionally. 

"You are absolutely right, sire. I shall have this information prepared for you and I shall do exactly as you have requested. I will await further instructions." Said the old man. 

Brad agreed, then thanked the man and said his goodbyes. "I shall have to bid my goodbye now--wait, that's it!" A plan suddenly flashed before his eyes the moment they stepped outside. 

Brad had already assigned a personal driver for him, and a brand new car from the ones in the compound had been chosen for him. 

"Young master, what is it?" Harry saw the change in his expression and decided to ask. 

"I have a plan, Harry. I have a plan!"