Richard stood motionless, his mind whirling with the implications of what Linda had just revealed. His heart pounded in his chest, his thoughts racing, trying to make sense of everything. The boy—his son. A child he had never known existed. The woman standing before him, claiming to be the mother, was someone from his past, someone he couldn’t even remember. This wasn’t just a complication; this was a bombshell that could destroy everything he had built—the Morgan Empire, his relationship with Amelia, his reputation.But there was no denying the resemblance between him and the boy, no ignoring the facts that Linda had presented. The child was his. He could feel it in his bones, that undeniable, sinking certainty. Richard’s hand tightened around the papers Linda had handed him, as though holding them would somehow make this reality easier to grasp.“Linda,” Richard said, his voice strained, “I need you to explain everything. This is... this is too much. I don’t remember you. I don’t ev

The afternoon sun had begun to dip behind the horizon, casting long shadows over the city, but Richard felt no comfort in the cool evening breeze that slipped through the open windows. His mind was still reeling from the confrontation with Amelia. Her rejection had been a blow he hadn’t seen coming. She had always been the rock he could rely on, the one person who had stood by him when everything else seemed to be falling apart. But now, with everything he had just learned, Amelia was pulling away from him.He knew he couldn’t blame her. The truth about his son, the revelation of Linda’s unexpected arrival, and the chaos that had followed—all of it was too much for anyone to process in a single day. And yet, Richard couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness. He had to fix things, make everything right again, but it felt as though the world around him was shifting in ways he could no longer control.Richard paced back and forth in his office, running his hands through his hair as he t

Richard stood there, numb with disbelief, his phone still clutched in his hand as the gravity of the message sank in. He had just received an email—an official communication from the board of directors at the Morgan Empire—informing him that he had been signed out of his own empire. The words were simple, but their impact hit him like a freight train."Effective immediately, Richard Morgan has been relieved of his position as CEO and all executive duties within the Morgan Empire. The new heir has been established, and until further notice, the empire will be managed under the supervision of Linda Morgan, interim CEO. We wish Richard Morgan well in his future endeavors."The message echoed in his mind, each line louder than the last. Richard couldn’t comprehend what he was reading. How had it come to this? How had Linda managed to manipulate everything so quickly, turning his life upside down with a single stroke? His hands shook as he reread the email, the words searing into his brain

Later that evening, Richard excused himself from his friends, telling them he needed some air. He wandered outside, walking along the familiar streets that had once been his lifeline. The city was the same, the sounds and lights familiar—but Richard felt different. In some ways, it felt like he had lost everything. In others, it felt like he was beginning to reclaim himself.The streetlights flickered as Richard walked slowly down the sidewalk, his mind still grappling with the shock of the last few days. The sting of losing the Morgan Empire, the pain of seeing everything he had built ripped away from him—it all seemed like a distant memory now, replaced by a quiet, determined resolve to start again.But then, as if the universe had a different plan for him, his phone buzzed in his pocket, interrupting his thoughts. He pulled it out and saw the name he hadn’t expected to see.Amelia.His heart skipped a beat. After everything that had happened, after the pain of their last conversati

The drive to Dr. Matthews’ home felt like an eternity. The weight of the vial in Richard’s pocket seemed to grow heavier with each passing minute. When they finally arrived at the doctor’s house, Richard followed him inside, where a soft light emanated from the living room. In the corner of the room lay a small, frail boy, barely older than six or seven. His skin was pale, his breath shallow.Dr. Matthews rushed to his son’s side, his face etched with worry. “Jacob,” he whispered, gently shaking the boy awake. “Jacob, I’ve got something for you.”Richard watched from the doorway as Dr. Matthews carefully opened the vial of Xan Ling. With shaking hands, he poured a single drop onto his son’s tongue. The boy stirred, his eyelids fluttering, but there was no immediate reaction. Richard could feel the tension mounting in the room.“Please,” Dr. Matthews whispered, almost pleading.For a moment, nothing happened. But then, slowly, Jacob’s breathing began to steady. His color seemed to retu