Marcus opened his eyes in a hospital bed. Sunlight streamed through the windows. His body felt different - stronger, sharper. Most importantly, he could see glowing words floating in front of his eyes.[SYSTEM STATUS: ACTIVE][WELCOME TO THE HEIR'S AWAKENING SYSTEM][FIRST MISSION AVAILABLE][OBJECTIVE: RECLAIM YOUR DIGNITY][REWARD: $10,000,000 + BUSINESS MASTERY SKILL][TIME LIMIT: 48 HOURS][DO YOU ACCEPT? YES/NO]Marcus blinked hard, but the words didn't go away. Either he was going crazy, or something incredible had happened to him.A nurse walked in with a clipboard. She looked surprised."Mr. Chen! You're awake. The doctors said you had internal bleeding and possible brain damage, but your scans are completely normal now.""I feel fine," Marcus said, sitting up easily. "When can I leave?""Well... you could leave now, actually. But sir, about your hospital bills-""Send the bill to my office," Marcus interrupted, then stopped. Did I just say that? he thought. I don't have an o

Marcus pushed open the coffee shop door, expecting to face Emma alone. Instead, he found chaos. Men in black suits filled the place, and customers were being asked to leave."What's going on?" Marcus demanded.Emma rushed over, her face pale with fear. "Marcus, thank God! These men showed up with legal papers. They say they're taking over!"[SYSTEM ALERT][WARNING: HOSTILE HEIR DETECTED][THREAT LEVEL: HIGH][IDENTITY: VICTOR CHEN - RIVAL CLAIMANT]Slow clapping echoed through the empty shop. Marcus turned to see a man his age sitting at a corner table in an expensive navy suit. He was handsome but cold, with sharp features and calculating eyes."Very impressive, cousin," the man said, standing up. "The fake bank account, the business cards, even the phone call. You almost fooled me.""Who are you?" Marcus demanded.The man smiled and pulled out his own business card. "Victor Chen. Your cousin. The real heir to Chen International Holdings."Emma looked confused. "Marcus, what's he ta

Marcus walked into the Ritz-Carlton hotel lobby. His new Armani suit drew respectful nods from staff. He had twenty-four hours left in Victor's challenge, and he was about to make his biggest move yet.[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION][TARGET ACQUIRED: MORRISON HOTEL CHAIN][WEAKNESS CONFIRMED: $50 MILLION TAX DEBT][STRATEGY: HOSTILE TAKEOVER]The elevator dinged at the penthouse floor. Marcus knocked on suite 4000."Come in," called a tired voice.Marcus entered to find Harold Morrison, owner of Morrison Hotels, sitting at a desk covered in legal papers. The old man looked up, confused."I'm sorry, do I know you?""Marcus Chen. I'm here to save your business."Morrison laughed bitterly. "Son, unless you have fifty million dollars in your pocket, nobody can save Morrison Hotels."Marcus pulled out his checkbook and wrote a check. He placed it on Morrison's desk.Morrison's eyes went wide. "Fifty million dollars. Just like that?""Just like that. But I want something in return.""What?""I want

Three hours later, after watching Richard Sterling break down crying in a hotel room when he realized his girlfriend never existed, Marcus and Elena finally left the Plaza Hotel.Dawn was breaking over Manhattan, painting the sky orange and pink.Elena yawned as she got into her car. "Well, that was entertaining. Richard looked like someone shot his puppy.""He'll get over it," Marcus said. "At least now he knows the truth.""I'll call you this afternoon. We have Victor's businesses to destroy." Elena's car drove away, leaving Marcus alone.Marcus started walking down Fifth Avenue, his mind racing. In just twelve hours, the challenge would be over. But he couldn't stop thinking about what Elena had told him.Grandfather was murdered.As he walked, memories flooded back. Marcus remembered being eight years old, sitting in grandfather's study in Hong Kong. The old man had taught him chess, how to think three moves ahead."Marcus, my boy," grandfather had said in his gentle voice, "the C

Marcus stood in the elevator ascending to the penthouse, his reflection warped across the polished steel walls. Each floor that passed felt like a countdown to destiny—or death. The weight of everything pressed down on him, Emma's betrayal, Victor's madness, the murdered cousins he'd never meet, and grandfather's blood crying out for justice.His hands trembled, but not from fear. The System pulsed through his veins like liquid fire, combat protocols spinning to life, enhanced reflexes coiling like springs ready to unleash. Yet beneath the supernatural power, something deeper stirred….the memory of who he'd been just days ago. A broken man serving soup to people who looked through him like he was nothing.You've become just as ruthless as me, Victor's words echoed in his mind.Had he? In two days, he'd destroyed businesses, ruined lives, manipulated Emma's desperation. The old Marcus would have been horrified. But the old Marcus was weak. The old Marcus let people walk all over hi