All Chapters of RISE OF THE LOST HEIR: ASHES TO EMPIRE : Chapter 61
- Chapter 70
74 chapters
SIXTY-ONE: PAST AND PRESENT COLLIDE
The days that followed were light and busy for Elsa.Iris insisted on taking her out whenever she could—small trips at first, places within their budget, cafés and parks, quiet corners of the city that felt warm and lived-in. Elsa enjoyed it more than she expected. There was something healing about moving without purpose, without deadlines or expectations.But nothing excited Iris more than taking her to the Grand Pacific Quay.She spoke of it like a pilgrimage.Even Eli couldn’t stay behind. He claimed he wanted to see Elsa’s reaction more than the mall itself, so the three of them went together, laughter filling the car all the way there.The moment Elsa stepped out and truly saw it, she stopped walking.“…Are you kidding me?”Her voice slipped out loud and unguarded as she stood before the towering structure, glass and steel catching the light, alive with movement and promise.Eli and Iris exchanged proud smiles.“This is bigger than it ever looks on TV,” Elsa added, still staring.
SIXTY-TWO: OVER COFFEE
The noise of the hospital returned slowly, as if someone had turned the volume knob back up. Footsteps echoed across the marble floor. Nurses moved briskly from ward to ward. A trolley rattled past. Conversations overlapped. Yet in the middle of it all, the four of them stood frozen—caught between recognition, confusion, and disbelief. Ross looked like he had just seen a ghost, while Iris stood frozen, her eyes darting between the humble Elsa and the titan of industry, Levi Hale. Iris was the first to break the trance. "I’m sorry... Elsa, you actually know him?" Elsa stepped back, to Stand beside Iris, her face flushed with a warm glow as she turned to her. "Yes! Iris, this is Levi, my old friend from Northwood. And Levi, this is Iris, my sister-in-law." Levi, usually the master of stoic composure, took a second to pull himself together. He cleared his throat and extended a hand to Iris. "Ahem... hi. Nice to meet you." Iris reached out, her hand trembling as it disappeared in
SIXTY-THREE: WORLDS APART
The moment Elsa and Iris stepped through the front door of the house, the atmosphere was thick with Iris’s suppressed energy. She didn't even wait to take off her shoes before she started calling out."Eli! Eli, get down here right now!" she squealed, rushing toward the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge pulling out Juice cartons to pour them a cold drink.Eli appeared at the top of the stairs, looking lazy and half-asleep, rubbing his neck. "What? What is it?—You guys are back early.""Come here! I have gossip that will blow your mind!" Iris set three glasses of juice on the dining table—since her pregnancy meant wine was off the table—and practically dragged a dazed Elsa into a chair."Babe," Iris whispered, her eyes wide as dinner plates, "your sister knows Levi. Freaking. Hale!"Eli’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. He scrambled down the remaining stairs and slid into the chair beside them. "You know Levi? How do you know Levi Hale? You’ve never even been to San Francisco b
SIXTY-FOUR: CHARADES
A week slipped by in a blur of meetings, reports, and endless pressure. Levi barely had time to breathe, let alone call Elsa. The thought of her lingered constantly at the back of his mind—something important he kept postponing, not because he wanted to, but because time refused to cooperate.Between completing the project his father had personally assigned him and preparing for Patrick Doyle’s arrival—now only a week away—Levi was stretched thin. The recommended doctor from Sacramento was still nowhere to be found, forcing him to authorize Harley to contact the second option in New York.Meanwhile, public curiosity around Leonard Hale’s condition refused to die down. Media houses were relentless, circling like vultures. Levi, who had never hidden his disdain for the press, made a firm decision: the family would speak exclusively through their own media arm—Pacific Rim Network. As for the man who had publicly criticized the Hales weeks earlier, Levi ensured his downfall came quietly a
SIXTY-FIVE: MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The very next morning, Levi locked himself inside his room, drew in a slow breath, and finally made the call.As the phone rang, his fingers tapped restlessly against the desk. The sensation was unfamiliar—annoyingly so. Levi Hale did not get nervous, he negotiated billion-dollar deals without breaking a sweat—nervousness was a luxury for those without power—yet the prospect of hearing her voice made his chest feel strangely tight. The line clicked.“Hello, Levi!” she answered, her voice bright and warm, like morning sunlight.For a brief moment, he forgot how to speak.“Els… hey,” he said finally. “How are you?”She laughed softly. “I’m good. What’s up?”“I—” he exhaled. “I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier. Things have been… really crazy.”"It’s fine, Levi. Honestly," she paused, her tone turning thoughtful, "I didn't think you’d actually call."Levi raised a brow, pacing the length of his mini-living room. "Why?""I don’t know. I just figured... maybe it was just a polite gesture."A
SIXTY-SIX: HIS TREASURE
The remaining days unfolded like a quiet rollercoaster—different outings between Levi and Elsa, all carefully hidden from his family. Whenever they asked who he was meeting, he dodged the question with practiced ease.Even Luke hadn’t met her properly. Levi guarded her like a locked treasure chest, one he had no intention of letting anyone open.The Grand Pacific Quay“Are you sure Levi said he’d handle the inspection himself today?” Luke asked, standing in the mall’s parking lot with Teyana, Ross, and two of the mall managers.“Yes, sir,” Ross replied promptly.“Obviously, Luke,” Teyana added dryly, She gestured toward the two managers, who were visibly trembling. "If he wasn't coming, they wouldn't look like they were about to piss themselves".Luke turned to her with a curious grin. "I get why they’re here, but why are you here, Tey?"."To keep you boys company," she said with a slow, practiced smile. "Plus, as Head of HR, whatever verdict he hands down today, I’m the one who has t
SIXTY-SEVEN: THE $100 MILLION SECRET
Their shopping trip stretched on for hours—selecting, testing, sorting, discarding, selecting again. Somewhere along the way, Levi and Elsa became completely absorbed in their own little world, so much so that they forgot about the people trailing behind them entirely.By the time they were finally done, Elsa paused at the mall lobby and looked around, blinking.“Oh my… where are your friends?” she asked.Levi waved dismissively. “They’ll show up eventually.”She wandered toward the massive pillar-shaped aquarium at the center of the lobby, her eyes lighting up as colorful fish drifted past the glass.“This is beautiful,” she murmured. “But won’t they get suffocated in there?”"No," Levi explained, standing beside her. "The aquarium is integrated with the local waters. We net off parts of the ocean to let them experience a change of environment regularly. It was a key part of the Mall's design"."That's incredible," she murmured. Seeing a small army of employees approaching with dozen
SIXTY-EIGHT: THE PROTEGÉ
The next day dawned early. The air was cool, the weather agreeable—the kind that sent a pleasant tingle through anyone awake to feel it. It was payday for most people, deal-closing day for others.And for the Hales, it was another milestone.By 10:00 AM, Levi Hale’s formidable convoy was lined up at the San Francisco seaport. As the massive cruise liner docked, passengers began to disembark, many pausing in awe to wonder which dignitary or celebrity the high-security entourage was waiting for.Levi leaned against the lead vehicle, radiating an intimidating aura of power and composed grace.He was impeccably dressed—clad in a dark, sharply tailored pinstripe three-piece suit that hugged his frame with quiet authority. A crisp white shirt peeked beneath the vest, the collar open just enough to soften the severity. Polished black leather shoes grounded his stance, while a sleek wristwatch rested against his cuff, catching the light when he moved. Dark sunglasses shielded his eyes, his ha
SIXTY-NINE: THE SURGEON’S GAMBIT
By 8 a.m. the next morning, the Exclusive Ward was busier than usual. Leonard Hales’ surgery was scheduled for that day, and every staff member was alert and on standby. The procedure was set to begin at 9 a.m., and by 8:05, Patrick Doyle was already present—examining his patient and cross-checking every instruction he had given the previous day.Nurses carried out final cleaning in the operating theatre while Patrick stood at the nurses’ station, flipping through files and test results one last time.“Everything looks in order. Well done,” he said, handing the folder back.“Thank you, sir,” the nurse replied.Patrick glanced around. “Who’s assisting me today?”“Mr. Levi said our surgeon won’t be assisting you. Instead, they found one of your students. They should be here soon,” the nurse explained.Patrick lifted his head, mildly curious as he handed over his notepad. “I wonder who it is.”“Patrick!” Levi called from behind.Patrick turned, his brows lifting slightly.“We found one,”
SEVENTY: WALL OF JEALOUSY AND LIES
After the lung cancer surgery, Leonard was informed that he would typically remain in the hospital for about fourteen days for close monitoring.His post-operative care began the day after surgery. Pain management came first, followed by breathing exercises to prevent pneumonia. A chest tube was placed to drain fluids, and recovery involved gradually increasing physical activity, frequent use of an incentive spirometer, and discussions around possible adjuvant treatments—chemotherapy or radiation—to prevent recurrence. They were painful but he bore them.Throughout it all, Elsa oversaw his care, while her teacher continued pretending he wasn’t fully healed yet. Levi, meanwhile, gave Elsa time to think about his proposal. Kaitlin, on the other hand, had already begun plotting—determined to match Levi with the doctor, unaware that the two already knew each other.“Have you seen the doctor?” Kaitlin asked the moment Levi and Luke walked in. “What do you think of her? I think she’s perfec