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The rise of the lost heir Chapter 41: drunk in a haze.
The next day arrived, and all Joe wanted to do was relax and forget about his encounter with Victor. But as he sat in his office, Victor’s words kept ringing in his head. How could the answers he was looking for be in the estate? And if he was right where does he start looking? “Sir!” A knock on the door caught Joe’s attention. Joe adjusted himself. “Come in," he called, and his eyes returned to the paperwork scattered in front of him. The door creaked open, and Jeremy stepped inside, clutching a small brown envelope. "Sir, this just came in for you," he said, and his words made Joe lift his head. Joe looked up and nodded, reaching out his hand. "Thanks, Jeremy." He took the envelope, and Jeremy turned, leaving the office without a second glance. The moment the door clicked shut, Joe's curiosity turned to dread. Something about the envelope felt off. Then, he noticed the trademark at the bottom. “This was another death threat.” He said to himself. With a deep breath, he
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 42: The guest
Joe's hand shook as he stared down at the paper. It was identical to the one he’d received earlier—same handwriting, same eerie message, and the words that made his blood run cold: ‘Tick-tock, Joe. Time’s running out.’. But as he looked closer, something caught his eye. This note wasn’t addressed to him. It was addressed to his father. Joe’s stomach tightened, and a rush of questions flooded his mind. His father had been receiving the same threats, and Joe wondered just how long these letters had been haunting him. Could this be connected to his father’s death? Had the same person been behind his death and was now coming for Joe? The panic began to take over. He would find out who was behind this, no matter what it took. Driven by the need to know more, he began searching through the study, pulling open drawers and rifling through shelves. A stack of envelopes, all marked with the same threatening handwriting, fell into his hands. The door creaked, and Joe froze. Without thinki
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 43: Hannah
Joe reluctantly approached the table, stealing a glance at lady Penelope’s guest. The woman gazed at Joe, before she quickly looked away. John looked at Lady Penelope, and when he got closer, he wrapped her in a hug. They exchanged warm smiles and immediately they pulled away Lady Penelope spoke up, "I thought you’d forgotten all about me." She said in a slow tone. Joe shook his head, smiling apologetically. "How could I? I’ve just been so busy with the family business." Lady Penelope’s face softened. "I know you have, and I'm just teasing you. I heard about the break-in. I’m glad nothing was taken."Joe smiled instead of responding , the memory of that unsettling night flickering through his mind. "How are the investigations going?" she asked, with a concerned tone. "The police are still on it, and they haven’t updated us yet," Joe replied. "I hope they catch whoever is behind it," she said earnestly. "So do I," he murmured, his eyes flickering away from hers, landing on th
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 44: The visitor
Joe looked at Hannah with a stunned expression, though he quickly tried to mask it. "I have no idea what you’re talking about," he said, forcing a casual tone and averting his eyes. He couldn't let her see how rattled he was; this was because he didn’t want to get involved with her, especially when it came to this issue. Hannah’s gaze remained on Joe. "You can play dumb all you want, but I’m not buying it, Joe." Her voice was sharp, and she sounded angry. "I’m searching for answers about my father’s death, too, and I know you’re doing the same." Joe clenched his jaw. He wanted to speak so badly, but a part of him warned him not to. Instead, he moved toward his car, opening the door quickly. "I’m not searching for anything, Hannah," he replied, sliding into the driver’s seat. He looked up at her, forced a polite but empty smile, and added, "Good luck finding out who killed your father." He turned the key in the ignition, and he was about to pull out of the driveway when her vo
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 45: Where can we meet?
When Joe arrived at his office, the minute he stepped in, he noticed that Hannah was leaning casually against the wall. She met his eyes with a half-smile, which Joe failed to return. "I was hoping you'd text me back quickly," she said, sounding slightly annoyed. "Since you didn’t, I thought I’d check up on you in person."He stopped a few feet away from her, crossing his arms. "You don’t know when to quit, do you?"Her eyes glinted. "I don’t quit easily when there’s something worth fighting for.""And what exactly do you think is worth fighting for here?" he challengedShe leaned closer, her expression hardening. "Answers, Joe. The same ones you’re looking for." He felt his defenses weaken slightly. She had the same drive and the same need for answers as he did. Sadly, he didn’t want her involved in his personal issue.“You’re getting this wrong Hannah.” Joe said and the next word that spilled out of his lips were lies.“I’m not in looking for anything; meaning I don’t need your he
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 46: Dream on, Whitmore.
Joe arrived at the location Hannah had given him; it was a small cottage house. He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow as he looked around. The place looked like something out of a fairy tale, with its soft pastel exterior and white picket fence. Before he could even knock, the door opened, and he saw Hannah standing on the porch with her usual half-smile.“Welcome,” she said, gesturing for him to come inside.Joe stepped into the cottage, and his first impression was almost overwhelming. The space was decorated with pink flowers and delicate lace. It looked like something out of a dollhouse, and he didn’t expect Hannah to leave in a place like this or even like the color pink.She acted like a reserved person who preferred white-colored walls and matching curtains. Joe remembered the saying never judge a book by its cover, and that made him bite down on a smirk, fighting to keep his expression neutral. Hannah seemed to catch his gesture, and she raised an eyebrow.“If you’re about
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 47: A shocking discovery
Joe sat on his living room couch, his eyes staring at the figure right beside him. It was Sunday, and he had spent most of the weekend searching for connections between his father and the names Hannah had given him. So far, he had only found documents relating to one: Ken Sanchez. His father’s business records showed proposals from Sanchez, though Joe hadn’t uncovered anything deeper than that. He decided to rest from his little search and hang out with Timothy, who had shown up at his house as early as eight. Timothy, lounging on the opposite end of the couch, broke Joe's concentration with a teasing voice. "So, you've been hanging out with Hannah recently, huh?" He asked. Joe rolled his eyes at Timothy. "Don't start, Timothy," he muttered. “Why are you hiding all the details from me?” Timothy said. “I tell you about my flings all the time.” “Or isn’t she a fling?” He asked, and Joe pretended not to hear him. “Is this like a potential relationship?” Timothy asked more qu
The rise of the lost heir Chapter 48: Wild Goose Chase
Joe stopped looking at Hannah, and he took a step forward, his shoes crunching on the shattered glass spread across the floor. His gaze fixated on the broken window, where a thick rope dangled down toward the street below. “How did this happen?” Joe murmured as he tried to piece together. The breeze from the open window ruffled the papers strewn about the room. Hannah’s face was displayed her frustration as she examined the rope. “He ran away,” she said with a sigh. “That’s the only logical explanation.” “But why?” Joe asked, still not moving his eyes from the broken window. “He knew we weren’t here to hurt him, right?” “Of course, I made it very clear I wanted to gain answers, nothing more,” Hannah replied, rubbing her temples “Maybe it was your tone of approach!” Joe said, trying to lighten the mood, despite the fact that he was hurt. “Seriously?” Hannah asked, and her voice caught Joe’s attention. “So that’s what you’re going with?” “I’m trying to be logical here but yo
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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