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The rise of the lost heir Chapter 112: Standing His Ground
After several minutes had passed, Joe had leaned forward stopping his little avoidance game. His eyes had returned to Hannah and Alfred, who happened to still be engrossed in a conversation. As Joe’s gaze on them intensified, at first he noticed their interaction seemed casual enough—Hannah’s easy smile had hinted that Alfred was saying something nice. But something shifted. Their smiles faded, and their expressions grew tense. Joe’s fists clenched involuntarily. He couldn’t hear their conversation from this distance, but the body language was unmistakable. Alfred was leaning closer, speaking rapidly, his gestures sharp and pointed. Hannah folded her arms, her head tilted. She was about to walk away when Alfred pulled her back roughly. His grip on her tightened, and Joe watched as Hannah struggled to pull away. Joe had seen enough. He pushed himself off wall he was leaning against and strode toward them, weaving through the group of partygoers. As he approached, snipp
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 113: Morning confrontation
The next morning, the restaurant buzzed with the pleasant breakfast service. The scent of fresh coffee, sizzling bacon, and baked pastries filled the air. Joe and Hannah sat across from each other, their table near the window offering a view of the sunlit resort grounds. Joe held a mug filled black coffee while Hannah happily buttered her toast. “I still can’t believe how good this place is,” Hannah said, taking a bite. “The pancakes are next-level.” Joe smirked faintly, stirring his coffee. “You’ve mentioned that three times now. Starting to think they’re paying you for endorsements.” Hannah laughed, her smile brightening the morning. For a moment, things felt light and uncomplicated. But just as Joe started to relax, the familiar and unwelcome figure of Alfred appeared at the restaurant's entrance. Joe’s expression darkened immediately, and Hannah followed his gaze. Her own face fell when she saw Alfred heading straight for their table. “Hannah,” Alfred began as he ap
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 114: Timothy again
“Timothy again?” she said as Joe flashed his phone in her direction. Joe nodded before responding. “He called me this morning. I hate the fact that he can’t understand why I’m doing this. No one does.” “Well, I do.” Hannah placed her hands on his. “It’s not enough.” Joe said hoping his words didn’t sound offensive. “I didn’t mean you not understanding is not…” Joe tried to find the right words as he spoke in a quick tone and Hannah squeezed his hands. “I understand what you mean.” Hannah said slowly. “I know what it means to want other people that matter to understand why you are doing certain things, but you can’t change their perspective Joe.” Joe nodded, tossing his phone onto the nightstand. “I wish I could.” “You know, Timothy should get it. It sucks seeing him act this way but I don’t blame him.” Joe added. Hannah smiled knowingly. “Let me guess. I’m sure it’s because of lady Penelope, Timothy is acting this way.” Joe sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yes. T
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 115: Lips merge
The night was growing more enchanting by the second, with the gentle sway of the boat and the cool breeze carrying the scent of the ocean. Joe and Hannah had moved to the bar, sipping their cocktails. The light chatter of other guests blended with the distant sound of the waves. “I’m glad Alfred didn’t show up.” Joe said breaking the silence between them. “Me too,” Hannah said, spinning around slightly with her glass in hand. Her eyes sparkled as they met Joe’s. “For a second, I was having a feeling I was going to watch a showdown between the both of you.” Joe chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. “It would have been the talk of the resort if it had happened. People would refer to me as the best fighter after it does.” Hannah shook her head. “Don’t be over your head Joe.” “Trust me.” Joe said. “I would have become a celebrity—kids would want autographs, single Mom’s would be hovering close to me.” “See here you go saying something silly once again.” Hannah pointed out
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 116: Encounter with Mr. Adam
The last few days of Joe and Hannah’s vacation were filled with joy. They spent their mornings lounging by the pool, and their evenings sharing quiet dinners under the stars. One night, as they sat on the balcony of their suite, Joe looked out at the ocean, the moonlight reflecting off the waves. "You know," he began, in a low voice. "this is probably the first time in years I’ve felt... normal." Hannah turned to him. She flashed him a soft gaze. "What do you mean?" Joe leaned closer his gaze not leaving Hannah’s "There’s no drama, no stress, no dealing with things I didn’t sign up for. Just... peace. It’s like I can breathe again." Hannah reached out, taking his hand in hers. "I remember you not being onboard with the trip from the start.” Joe’s tilted his eyes away. “Do you have to bring that up?” “I’m going to rub it in your face forever“ Hannah pointed out. “I still can’t get over the fact that you claimed you were on a mini vacation.” “I take back what I said, now c
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 117: Lost
The minute they got inside John turned to face lady Penelope. He didn’t waste anytime repeating his question. "How did he get out?" He asked again, in a bolder tone. Lady Penelope, who was already visibly irritated, crossed her arms and glared at him. "I brought Mr. Adam out on bail," she said matter-of-factly, her tone was cold as she spoke. “This is what you were meant to do!” She pointed out. “But instead you decided to run away from the situation.” Joe’s jaw tightened, and his voice rose slightly. "I don’t care about any of that. What I care about is this: I don’t want him here. He’s not welcome in my house." Lady Penelope scoffed, her anger simmering. "You can’t possibly mean that, Joe." "I mean every word," Joe retorted firmly, his voice unwavering. "I can’t trust him, and I won’t have him under my roof. That’s final." Timothy, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. "Joe, come on. You’re not supposed to act like this. At least hear him out." Joe shook his
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 118: Lunch date
Joe stepped into the office building early Monday morning. He wasn’t feeling like himself, and the last place he wanted to be was here but he knew he couldn’t avoid the office forever. As he walked toward his office, he was greeted by Jeremy who looked both surprised and relieved. "Mr. Whitmore!" Jeremy called out, hurrying to catch up with Joe. "I’m glad you’re back." Joe gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Jeremy. I needed that break, but it’s good to be back." Jeremy nodded enthusiastically as they walked down the hallway. "It’s been busy here, but manageable. The team’s been holding things together." As they entered Joe’s office, he gestured for Jeremy to sit. "I have something important I want to discuss with you," Joe said, his tone serious. Jeremy grabbed a notepad, ready to take notes. "Of course. What’s on your mind?" Joe leaned back in his chair, his mind briefly drifting to his encounter with Mr. Creed during his vacation. "I want you to set up a meeting with a n
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 119: Her warmth
Tuesday arrived, and Joe found himself waiting in his office, adjusting his tie and mentally preparing for his meeting with Mr. Creed. At precisely 12:00 PM, Cherry stepped into announce that Mr. Creed had arrived. “Let him in.” Joe informed her. Without hesitation cherry left his office. Moments later, Mr creed walked through the door. Joe noticed that he was wearing a casual outfit that seemed to highlight his tall frame perfectly. "Joe," Mr. Creed greeted warmly, extending his hand. "It’s good to see you. I have to say, I’m impressed with what you’ve done for this company. It’s like a new era." Joe shook his hand, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thanks, Creed. That means a lot coming from you. I couldn’t have done it without a solid team." They exchanged pleasantries for a few moments before Joe gestured toward his office. "Let’s head in. We’ve got a lot to discuss." Once inside, they settled into the comfortable chairs opposite Joe’s desk. The conversation quickly
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Chapter 184: Rise to the top
The dim light of the early morning filtered through the broken windows of Edgar’s mansion. Joe stood in the center of the abandoned estate, the weight of the situation settling heavily on his shoulders. Joe’s heart pounded in his chest as he made his way through the mansion’s dark hallways. Edgar had told him the document was hidden in a secure room—a secret vault that only Edgar knew how to access. It was a good thing, Edgar had directed him on how to go about it. As he walked through the old mansion, his eyes landed on old portraits of Mitford family. They looked so happy, huddled together and Joe couldn’t believe that the Sanchez gang had whipped out all of them—The three brothers and their parents. Joe wondered how Edgar could have felt striving through the walls of their mansion all alone. It must have been sad moment for him. Joe snapped off out of his thoughts as he stopped in front of a wooden door at the end of a long corridor. The lock was old and rusty, but the mech
Chapter 183: The war had begun
“Speak to me!” Joe demanded as he watched Timothy crumble. Tears were still falling down his face, and Joe felt his heart ache as he started at his friend. He moved closer wrapping his hands around Timothy. Timothy’s pale face moved in Joe’s direction, and during that moment he managed to wipe off his tears. He swallowed hard before speaking, his voice was low and filled with sorrow. “Joe… you don’t know everything, do you?” Joe’s brow furrowed in confusion, his mind racing to make sense of the words, but it was hard to focus, hard to understand. “What are you talking about? What happened to them? To Mr. Adam? He was—he was looking for me, right? He was out there searching for me after I—after they said I was dead.” Timothy nodded slowly, the sadness in his eyes deepening. “Mr. Adam never stopped looking for you. He never believed that you were dead. The moment he heard about the accident, he knew something wasn’t right. He started investigating, digging into the people around hi
Chapter 182: His death
The morning sun streamed through the windows of Joe's office. Joe sat behind his desk, scanning the itinerary for an upcoming business trip. Mr. Adam stood across from him, arms crossed, with a look of concern etched across his face. “It’s just a two-day trip,” Joe said, his tone exasperated as he looked up at Mr. Adam. “I don’t need a bodyguard or a driver. I can handle this on my own.” Mr. Adam shook his head firmly. “Joe, this isn’t up for debate. After everything that’s happened, I’m not letting you go without some form of protection. This isn’t about distrust; it’s about being cautious.” Dexter, who had been leaning against the doorway listening quietly, chimed in. “Adam’s right, Joe. You’ve made a lot of enemies over the years, and you know that. It’s not about being paranoid; it’s about being prepared.” Joe sighed, leaning back in his chair. He pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated. “Dexter, it’s a quick trip to a neighboring town. I’m not flying to anothe
Chapter 181: letting loose
With John behind bars and the chaos finally settling, Joe began to lean on Dexter more. The man who had once been a stranger was now an ally, and slowly, Joe found himself trusting him. One day, as they sat in Joe’s office after a meeting, Joe asked, “Dexter, have you thought about what you’d like to do.” “You know workwise, I mean?” Joe added. Dexter looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, “If I could choose, I’d want to work with Mr. Adam. He seems like someone I could learn from, and... I’d like to be part of keeping you safe.” Joe smiled. “I’ll talk to him. I think he’d be glad to have you on board.” True to his word, Joe brought it up with Mr. Adam the next day. “Mr. Adam,” Joe said, stopping him in the hallway. “Dexter wants to work with you and your security team. What do you think?” Mr. Adam considered it briefly. “I think it’s a good idea. I’ll assign him to my team and keep him close. He’s earned our trust.” As days passed, Dexter took to his new rol
Chapter 180: His return
The morning was crisp and quiet, a deceptive calm before what Joe knew would be a chaotic day. He knew what was coming next and braced himself for it. Joe went about his day acting like everything was alright. “Good morning John!” He said with a smile which John returned. “Someone looks happy today.” John said. “What’s happening?” “Victory.” Joe said with a smile. “Victory at last.” John looked at joe with a confused look on his face. “What do you mean by victory?” John asked. Joe was hesitant before he responded, he picked up his glass of champagne walking out of the kitchen with an even wider smile. “You will see.” He finally said before leaving the Kitchen. Hours later, Joe stood outside his home, watching as police cars rolled up the driveway. Chief Ken stepped out, with a stern expression on his face. “Are you ready?” Chief Ken asked, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. Joe nodded, his jaw tight. “Let’s get this over with.” Inside the house, John
Chapter 179:Saving Mr. Adam
“It’s John He’s working with Ken Sanchez.”Joe said staring straight into Lady Penelope’s eyes. Lady Penelope’s eyes narrowed. “Ken Sanchez? The gang leader?” “Yes,” Joe replied, running a hand through his hair. “I met with that guy that told me he has answers, his name is Dexter Harrison. He used to be part of the Sanchez gang. He showed me evidence—pictures, recordings—proving that John struck a deal with Ken. He’s been working to take me down.” Lady Penelope leaned back, her face darkening. “Well, that explains why he has been acting weird recently” she said quietly. Joe shook his head, the betrayal still raw. “I trusted him, lady Penelope. I treated him like family. And now... now I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know if I can trust this Dexter guy. What if he’s playing me too?” Lady Penelope reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. “You’re right to be cautious. Don’t trust Dexter fully, but use him. If he’s telling the truth, he’s your best chance at getting
Chapter 178: Answers
Joe stepped into his car. He exhaled sharply as he started the engine. ‘I hope this isn’t a dead end or trap.’ He said to himself as he directed his car out of the estate. Soon, he was on the freeway heading to the narrow streets leading to Abbey Street. He glanced at the location on his phone once more, unable to shake the unease creeping through his chest. Abbey Street was a place gang activity took place—a place where people dared not tread. As he turned the corner, the narrow street came into view and before he knew it he was driving into Abbey street. His anxiety spiked. “Why here?” he muttered to himself, his knuckles whitening on the wheel. Parking his car a safe distance from the street, Joe texted Timothy about his location. “On Abbey Street. Just in case. Will update.” A moment later, a reply came through: “Be careful. Call me if anything happens.” Joe’s phone buzzed again, this time with a message from the anonymous number. “Come forward.” The message read.
Chapter 177: Need for answers
Joe sat at his desk, his eyes glued to his computer screen as he buried himself in work. Numbers, contracts, and endless reports were his refuge, keeping him from dwelling on the failed mission and the nagging fear that Mr. Adam might never be found. As Joe left his office later that afternoon, heading toward his car, something unusual caught his eye. A small parcel was perched neatly on the hood of his vehicle. His two bodyguards, who always stayed close, exchanged a glance and moved swiftly toward it. “Stay back, Mr. Whitmore,” one of them said firmly, waving him away. Joe nodded, keeping his distance as the guards carefully inspected the parcel. They dismantled the wrapping with precision, ensuring it wasn’t a threat, while Joe’s unease grew by the second. Finally, one of them called out, “It’s just pictures.” Joe stepped closer, his pulse quickening. He peered inside, and his breath hitched at the sight. Spread across the small box were a series of photographs. The first
Chapter 176: Someone closeby
Joe's hands gripped the dashboard tightly as Xavier pulled the SUV into a secluded spot near the old, crumbling church. The faint sound of the railway echoed nearby, confirming that they were in the right place. Joe glanced out the window, the eerie stillness of the surroundings unsettling him. “This is it,” Joe said, nodding toward the building. Xavier cut the engine and turned to him. “Stay in the car,” he said firmly, his voice sounding commanding. “No,” Joe replied immediately, unbuckling his seatbelt. Xavier frowned. “This isn’t up for debate. It’s dangerous. If something goes wrong, I can’t guarantee your safety.” Joe glared at him. “I’m coming. Mr. Adam is my friend, and I’m not going to sit back while you go in alone. Either we do this together, or I’m going in by myself.” Xavier sighed, his lips pressing into a thin line. He could see there was no convincing Joe otherwise. “Fine,” he muttered, grabbing his gun from the glove compartment. “But you follow my lead
