The Lost Heir: Trials of an Empire Reclaimed

Chapter 002

Silas’s phone buzzed again. He stood in the dim hallway, glancing at the illuminated screen.

“We need to meet in person. Your legacy cannot wait. Come to the address attached.”

Silas hesitated. His thumb hovered over the screen. Another message followed:

“Do not delay. The Elders chose you for a reason.”

A lump formed in his throat. His instincts screamed at him to ignore it, but curiosity gnawed at him. With a deep breath, he dialed the number.

A man’s voice, calm yet commanding, answered. “Master Silas. The council awaits your arrival.”

The line went silent for a moment before Silas’s voice came in. “I… I think you’ve got the wrong person,” Silas stammered.

“No mistake. You’ll understand everything when we meet. Come alone.”

The line went dead.

Silas slipped the phone back into his pocket, his heart racing. As he turned, he froze.

Lilian stood at the top of the stairs, her arms crossed, her sharp eyes fixed on him.

“What are you sneaking around for?” she asked, her tone icy, her eyes filled with intense suspicion.

“I wasn’t sneaking,” Silas said quickly. “Just a call.”

“From who?” Her suspicion was written all over her.

“No one important. Probably a wrong number.”

Her lips curled into a scornful smile. “No one important? You couldn’t be sneaky if you tried, Mark. What are you up to? Finally found someone to use your sob story to get to love you?”

“Nothing, Lilian. Just drop it.”

Her laugh was cold. “Fine. Do whatever you want. It’s not like I care.” She turned on her heel and walked away, muttering under her breath.

Silas exhaled, relieved. “That was close” he whispered to himself. He couldn’t risk Lilian finding out if it turns out there is even an inch of truth to the whole story.

He didn’t notice the calculating look in her eyes as she disappeared into her room.

---

Upstairs, Lilian dialed her lawyer.

“I want the divorce papers ready by tomorrow,” she said, pacing the room.

“Tomorrow?” the lawyer repeated, surprised. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m done wasting my time on that loser.” Her voice was firm, final. “Get it done.”

She hung up and smiled to herself. It was time to move on. The image of Damien Carter, the young CEO of Carter Industries, crossed her mind.

Tall, confident, and one of the richest men in the city. Unlike Silas, Damien was everything a man should be.

He had been trying to get her attention after all, what better time to give him a chance when she was about to dispose Silas.

With a smirk, Lilian sent Damien a message: Dinner tomorrow night? My place.

---

Silas sat stiffly in the backseat of a sleek black car. The driver, a composed man dressed in a suit, didn’t say a word.

They pulled up to a grand estate, its towering gates adorned with an emblem Silas didn’t recognize.

Inside, a group of distinguished-looking men and women greeted him. Their attire screamed wealth and power.

“Master Silas,” an older man with silver hair said, bowing slightly. “We’ve waited a long time for this moment.”

“You’ve got the wrong person,” Silas said, looking around and seeing how he was so out of place.

“No, sir,” the man replied firmly. “You are the rightful heir to the Lancaster empire.”

“Lancaster?” Silas still couldn’t believe he was being associated with that name.

Around the large hall, members of the clan murmured among themselves, stealing occasional glances at the one man who seemed wholly out of place: Silas.

Dressed in his usual black slacks and a button-down shirt, he looked every bit the outsider, his fingers drumming nervously on the mahogany surface.

“Master Silas” the butler’s voice sliced through the chatter, smooth yet commanding. “I suppose you’re wondering why you’ve been brought here.”

Silas swallowed hard, meeting the butler’s gaze. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”

The butler put his hands around his shoulder. “All will become clear soon enough. For now, let me ask: how much do you know about the Lancaster clan?”

Silas hesitated, the question catching him off guard. “Only what most people know. It’s… legendary. One of the most powerful and biggest empires in the city, if not the country.”

A faint smile played on the butler’s lips, as though he were amused by the simplicity of Silas’s response. “Indeed. But the true weight of this legacy is known only to those who bear it.”

“What are you driving at?” Silas was more confused than ever.

“The true weight rests on you and you alone.” The butler placed his hand on his shoulder, looking into his eyes.

“I’m sorry this is a lot to take in, to be honest I’m finding it easier to believe this is all a mistake than it being real.” Silas confessed as he subconsciously took a few steps back from the butler.

“Maybe this will help further convince you that this is all real.” The butler stepped forward, holding out a small, emerald-green card. “This card is exclusive to the Lancaster family. The password is something only the heir can activate.”

Silas hesitated, staring at the card. “This has to be a mistake.”

“Enter the code,” the butler urged.

With trembling fingers, Silas pressed the numbers they had given him. The screen blinked, then displayed an astronomical balance.

“This… this can’t be real,” Silas whispered.

“It’s very real,” the butler said. “Your personal card is being produced. For now, this is yours. The council has added a significant amount to your account to begin your transition.”

Silas’s head spun. Words failed him.

---

A few hours had gone by, the energetic and radiant sun had given way to the calm and gentle evening sky.

Silas kept playing the events of the Crimson Hall over and over again. The presence of the green card was the only thing that made the whole event real to him.

He decided to test the truth. He walked into a luxury jewelry store, his simple clothes drawing disapproving looks from the staff.

“Can I help you?” a saleswoman asked, her tone dismissive.

“I want to see your most expensive pieces,” Silas said. His focus scanning the luxurious collection in the store, not minding the dismissive tone.

The woman snorted. “Our cheapest pieces start at ten thousand. Are you sure you’re in the right place?”

Silas pulled out the green card. “I’ll take a look anyway.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Is this stolen?”

Silas flushed. “No. It’s mine.”

“Yeah right.” She rolled her eyes. “Let’s verify.” She led him to the payment terminal, skepticism written all over her face.

Silas entered the password. The transaction went through instantly.

The woman’s jaw dropped. “I-I’m so sorry, sir! Please forgive me!” She bowed her head completely covered with shame.

Silas ignored her, clutching the velvet box containing the necklace. He left the store, his emotions a complete whirlwind.

---

That evening, he made his way home, exhausted but determined.

He glanced down at the small, golden emblem embossed on the ribbon—a sign of wealth, sophistication, and love.

The necklace inside had cost a fortune, enough to raise eyebrows even among the wealthy, but he hadn’t cared. It was for Lilian, the woman he had pledged his life to.

Tonight, he hoped, would be the night they found their way back to each other.

He held the gift box tightly, imagining Lilian’s reaction.

As he stepped into the garden, laughter stopped him in his tracks. He followed the sound to the gazebo.

Silas froze, his grip on the box tightening. It wasn’t just Lilian’s laughter—he knew its soft cadence like the back of his hand. There was another voice. A man’s voice. Deep, smooth, and far too familiar for his comfort.

His chest tightened as he stepped into the gazebo, the soft garden lights casting a warm glow over the scene.

Lilian sat across from Damien Carter, her hand lightly touching his.

“You deserve someone better,” Damien was saying. “Someone who sees your worth.”

“You’re right.” Lilian’s smile was soft, genuine—the kind Silas had longed to see.

Silas’s heart shattered.