A couple of minutes earlier.Jessica’s eyes dazzled as she went to the food section. Just from the smells she could tell that there were more than ten different varieties of chicken dishes, and even more fish dishes. The beef roast with salt and pepper sprinkled over just made her drool. Without any shyness or hesitation, she started putting multiple varieties on her plate.Jennifer appeared out of nowhere and hissed, “You think this is your home? Eat only one or two items and leave.”Jessica’s entire mood was spoiled because of those harsh words. She didn’t even want to eat now, but she had already put some items on the plate, so she walked away without adding more items.A fat woman wearing a colorful saree joined Jessica. She was Madison. She lived in the very neighboring build and was very close to Jessica. “You shouldn’t even have let that dark-skinned woman inside. She just spoils my view.”“I would have long slapped her a hundred times, but I’ve been controlling myself because
The cake was cut and distributed to everyone. Not all got to taste more than one flavor. Only Viola and James tasted all seven flavors as they were the ones tasked with distributing the cakes. Actually, the workers were supposed to do it, but the siblings didn’t let the workers sweat and instead took the burden on themselves. And they surely didn’t regret doing it.Viola gave a piece of cake to Jessica. She wanted to put some part of the cake in Russell’s mouth just like Kyra, Viola, and Arnold had. However, she couldn’t find the internal strength to do it anymore.Russell was still talking with Kyra, and she couldn’t bear to see them together. The cake was delicious, but she could hardly savor it. Her whole focus was on observing Russell’s expressions. He seemed happy when talking with Kyra. “Does he like her? More than he likes me?”If there was anything she knew better than most people her age, it was that money could make or break bonds. Her relatives didn’t help her or her brothe
Jessica didn’t stop, or rather, it was her heart that kept her feet in motion.Was being born poor her fault?She had worked hard in school, but she just couldn’t get the grades that would get her scholarship.She couldn’t fold her character to lick the boots of her superiors, and so she didn’t last long at any workplace.Even now, she couldn’t stay until the party finished.And again, nobody asked her to stay.“Maybe, I’m destined for this type of disastrous luck throughout this lifetime,” she told herself amid the sound of her own footsteps. But then the sound of someone else’s footsteps joined her.“Hey,” someone held her hand so strong her whole momentum was halted, and her back ended up hitting the person that just stopped her. “Ah, sorry.”His voice skipped Jessica’s heart. She straight away knew it was Russell. The only guy in the world she would give her everything away for. As she realized that he was still holding her hand, her heart melted. “R-Russell, what are you doing he
Fredrick had been anxious ever since Liam conversed with him. He had kept an eye on Natasha just to make sure she wouldn’t approach Russell. After a long time of observing, it seemed like she wasn’t going to bother Russell, so Fredrick briefly went to the food section. At that time, Natasha came to Russell and threatened him with the pics.Though Russell wasn’t guilty about anything, he was still afraid of how the Lynn family might react after Natasha makes a mountain out of the molehill.Russell still refused to come with her to talk privately right away, but then Natasha walked straight toward Kyra, making Russell’s heart pound. If he weren’t in the middle of a large crowd, he would have easily grabbed her hand and pulled her aside, but he couldn’t do that now. He quickly took out his mobile and typed Natasha’s number because he had deleted her contact.Natasha was about fifteen feet away from Kyra, and her phone vibrated. She stopped and looked at the screen and smiled. She turned
Kyra reached the rooftop in a rush, only to see Natasha in torn clothes and lying unconscious on the floor. It was a scene that surpassed her imagination.Moreover, Russell was holding what looked like a handkerchief.Kyra immediately pieced things together.“W-What the hell are you doing, Russell? Why is she…”Russell stood petrified, not just because of Natasha’s act but also because of Kyra’s timely arrival. “K-Kyra,” he tossed the handkerchief away. “It’s not what it looks like. I have done nothing to her.”Kyra looked at Russell with a disgusted look but then also took her mobile out and typed something. She was probably sending someone a text message, and that quickened Russell’s heartbeat.“K-Kyra, please trust me. I’m innocent. It’s Natasha who’s called me here,” Russell tried to explain himself.“I told you to get revenge, but not in this crooked way,” Kyra seethed. “This is the best you could think? Call her to the rooftop and tear her clothes? And then what are you planning
The beautiful sandal brutishly struck Russell’s face and then harshly fell on the floor. The impact to the nose stunned Russell temporarily.“What the hell are you doing?” Liam controlled Charlotte by squeezing her shoulders. “Let me handle this.”Seeing him grind his teeth, Charlotte frowned and said, “You better make him pay for what he’s done, or I’ll do it myself.”“Just stay put,” Liam growled. “I’ll decide what to do with him. Not you.” His voice was authoritative and packed with power.Even though Charlotte was a woman with great pride, she had to remain silent now. After all, Liam was the head of the Lynn family. He was the one who always had the final say in any important decision.“Except Russell and Kyra, everyone else… leave,” Liam commanded.And so everyone obeyed.Jennifer was literally sweating from tension. When she was walking outside, she couldn’t even look into Charlotte’s eyes. Charlotte controlled herself from slapping Jennifer or scolding Arnold.Arnold just kept
William came to the balcony where Natasha was lying unconscious on the couch. Without hesitation, he pulled the mobile out of her pocket and used her thumb to unlock the mobile.He started checking in the mobile, but seeing Charlotte enter his vision, he swiftly put the mobile in his pocket.“What are you doing, William?” she asked.“Just took her mobile, ma’am,” William hurriedly walked past her and didn’t look back.“Her mobile?” Charlotte saw Natasha lying unconscious on the couch. “It’s not safe for her to be completely vulnerable like this. I should probably call her parents. Her mother, at least.”Just then, Viola walked out of her room tiredly, murmuring to herself, “I didn’t know that my stomach could make so many sounds. I’m so tired. I need a good hydrating drink. Mm?” she saw Charlotte and smiled but then she saw the person on the couch. “Eh? Why is this cunt, ahem, why is she here?”“You…” Charlotte commanded. “Come here.”Viola was naturally the type who didn’t like being
Russell came outside. There were still more than fifty guests spread out. He looked for Kyra and found her sitting alone in a random foldable chair. He could see that she was mad, and he thought this might not be the right time to go and talk to her, but he still felt like he needed to explain to her.If he had a phone, he could have tried calling her, but his mobile was still with Liam. So, he steeled his heart and approached Kyra. Seeing him coming toward her, Kyra folded the chair next to her.Russell’s heart shook. Thinking she might really beat him with the chair, he didn’t close in any further.“I’ll kill you if you come any closer,” Kyra muttered under her breath. She had built a lot of hope on Russell, so she felt really upset and angry now.Russell felt shackled down the depths of his soul. (How can I prove my innocence?) Even if Natasha herself changes her mind and confesses, would Kyra believe her? Would any kind of proof ever fully convince Kyra to believe that Russell was
THANK YOU:: The Secret Successor has found his family as well as his love! There’s no one more lucky in the world than one who has a family that loves them. They don’t say blood is thicker than water for no reason. But I’d say, love is even thicker than blood. So, Russell is lucky to have a loving mom, dad, grandfather, and a childhood girlfriend. How lucky are you in your life in terms of relationships? Do you have people who support you when you are down? I hope so. I started the novel with the thought of finishing it in 500 chapters, but it took this long. To all those who read every chapter and reached this page… you have my humble and grateful thanks. A big thanks to reader Oyewale Gabriel for your immense support. And then to Mickey Ritch for your votes as well as comment support. Next is Ricky, who is one of the earliest readers of this novel. Good to still see you around. To Charlie Mcmillen, who has a silent but strong presence, you have my Mcvery thanks. And then, we hav
A few weeks later.Charlotte was at her home, eating peanuts, which didn’t taste good on her tongue right now. It wasn’t the peanuts that had the issue, but her tongue and her mind.“Even the food isn’t going inside,” Charlotte pitifully said. She called Kyra’s mobile, but Kyra didn’t answer.Seconds later, Kyra sent a text message: Don’t bother me.“Tsk, she’s completely cut herself off,” Charlotte tossed the mobile away at the wall. “But she’s sticking with Liam and Russell when they’re not even related to her by blood. It doesn’t make any sense!”“Do you want me to kidnap her and bring her here?” William asked.“Do you want Liam to kill both of us?” Charlotte asked him back.“N-No.”“Forget about Liam…” Charlotte looked at the file in her hand. “This bastard Russell came up with such a clever contract. If I sign this, I’ll basically be giving up my shares in the company, but in return, I’ll earn in the billions.”“Since he’s going to trouble you anyway, he’s giving you a profitable
Jessica was never gifted so many chocolates by anybody before. She immediately hugged Russell with excitement. “You’re the best!”“Wait, they are not just for you,” Russell said. “You’ll be sharing these with everyone at the table.”“U-Uh, of course,” Jessica couldn’t smile as freely anymore because there weren’t multiples for some types of chocolates, and she didn’t want to give those away to others. “I-I will do it after we finish dinner,” she said. “I mean, if we eat chocolates before, then we won’t be able to eat the meal properly.”“You can just distribute them now,” Russell said.“U-Um,” Jessica reluctantly got up and began to distribute the chocolates to everyone at the table. But when she came to Russell, she didn’t put any chocolate on his plate.“Wait, you forgot me,” Russell said.She leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Didn’t you say that I AM your chocolate?”Russell blushed. “Ahem,” he quickly controlled his expression. “I see.”Jessica sat down. The waiters began to se
A few nights later.At Tuna Waves restaurant.The entire top floor was booked by the Lynn family for the night.A large dining table was arranged in the center of the floor. Kyra was the first to attend, because she was the only one who arranged this dinner and invited the people she believed she should.As she waited a bit nervously, to her shock, Jessica was the first to arrive. She was dressed in her work attire and didn’t even have makeup on. Was she coming straight from work?Jessica sat down at a chair but didn’t speak to Kyra and just waited.There was an awkward atmosphere between these two.“I’m not going to eat you, so you can talk,” Kyra voiced her mind. “You came here early so that you can make sure nothing ‘strange’ happens, right?”“Well, I have to protect my guy,” Jessica replied, putting her mobile down, “so that I won’t lose him again.”“Don’t worry then. I think of Liam as my dad, so Russell becomes my brother now,” Kyra stated. “I can’t marry my brother now, can I?”
Other than Arnold, nobody was told that Liam was Russell’s biological father, as Elora and Liam just didn’t feel the need to do so.They believed that revealing that truth now would only bring unnecessary complications.Elora felt like a lot of burden had been lifted off her heart after she told Arnold the truth.Russell also felt happy that Viola was talking to him. Though James was still clouded by his anger, Russell didn’t feel bad about it as James was known for his impulsive behavior.Russell believed that James would understand with time.Liam and Elora went away in a different car, whereas Russell left in his Boyen Redemption. Driving with an injured hand wasn’t easy, but he somehow managed it and got home.Regan was talking with Gage’s dad and introduced him to Russell. “This is the man I trust the most in the world. He’s your friend Gage’s father. His name is Steven.”Russell saw that Steven’s eyes were completely white. “Nice to meet you, Steven?” he looked at Regan. “Is he b
“I don’t get it. Why do you want to marry her of all people?” Teresa asked quickly. “She’s been sick for decades, and no one knows when she might get sick again and die, not that I’m wishing for it, but I’m just stating the possibility. In addition to that, Russell is already your son-in-law, isn’t he? So, if you marry his mother now, what will the world think of it?”Liam smiled and asked her, “You think I didn’t consider all those things?”“U-Uh…” Teresa didn’t know what to say because he looked calm despite everything she had just said. She looked at Elora. “Are you not going to eat anything?”“No, I’m full,” Elora said, even though the real reason she refused was because she didn’t want to eat what was brought by Jennifer. Elora then glanced at Arnold. “Can we talk privately?”Arnold was not expecting that. Without even looking at Teresa or Jennifer, he said, “Sure. Why not?”Jennifer didn’t want them to talk, but all she could do was stand there and watch as Arnold and Elora walk
Charlotte left the hospital, but on her way home, she received pictures from one of her friends.And these were pictures of Liam and Elora eating at a restaurant.“Stop the car,” Charlotte said.William quickly pressed the brake. He looked back, and Charlotte was fuming.She felt like her body was set on fire. She wasn’t able to stand it.“How can he…”Seeing Liam hold some other woman’s hand, she wasn't able to digest it and pulled her hair with one hand. “Fuck! This isn’t happening. Fuck! Fuck!”“What’s wrong, ma’am?” William quickly asked.“He’s getting away from me,” she said angrily as well as sadly. “He’s really getting away from me.”One mistake cost her everything.Her husband, her daughter, and even her sister, all of them moved away from her.The only person that was still with her was William.“Why won’t you also leave my side?” she asked him.“Does a dog ever leave the side of its master?” he said. “They may be manipulative, abusive, but the dog still loves its master.”Ch
“Fuck off, bitch,” Natasha pressed the trigger.However, nothing happened.Jessica thought she died, but she didn’t. She quickly recovered from the mental shock and slapped Natasha’s hand, making the gun fall out of her hand. “That’s an autoloader. You should manually cock for the first shot for it to be fired.” She kicked Natasha in the gut as hard as she could.Jessica was a very powerful woman, and so her kick sent Natasha crashing back violently.Jessica then sat on Natasha and began to hit her.“W-Wait,” Natasha tried to speak. “That gun wasn’t loaded.”“You expect me to believe that?” Jessica began to punch her face repeatedly, making her lips rupture and bleed. Still, she didn’t stop and kept going.The other employees gathered around. One of them picked up the revolver and checked for the bullets. “Ma’am, this gun really is empty.”Jessica was a bit shocked to hear that. “What?”“I told you…you fucking bitch!” Natasha grabbed Jessica’s throat and squeezed it. “I’ll kill you fo
“Aww,” Elora crashed on the floor and cringed in pain. Liam rushed over to help her and tried to help her get up, but she got up on her own, saying, “I’m not that old yet.”“I never said you were,” Liam put forward the bouquet of lilies.“What the… too white and bright,” she blurted. “Your taste sucks.”Liam was shocked because it was Russell’s suggestion.Elora plucked just one lily from the bouquet and smelled it. “Anyway, what brought the great Liam Lynn here. There’s no child in this house, you know.”Liam’s expression suddenly hardened. Whether she was trying to mock him or was purposely trying to tease him, it felt like a joke that went too far. However, he saw not a ounce of negativity in Elora’s eyes. It was as if she was testing him to see how he’d react. “My child, no, our child is in this house, is he not?” Liam replied.Elora somewhat smiled. “Yeah, he is upstairs. You can go and talk to him.” She sat back on the couch. “If you move out of the way, I’ll watch the TV. The c