All Chapters of THE RETURN OF THE HIDDEN HEIR : Chapter 181
- Chapter 190
194 chapters
Chapter 181: The Chairman Returns II
The elevator finally slowed before coming to a smooth stop on the upper executive floor. A soft chime echoed through the enclosed space.Derrick shot Ivy one brief glance just as the doors slid open before them, then they both stepped out together.The atmosphere just outside the boardroom felt unusually alive. The faint sound of voices could even be heard through the slightly opened doors ahead. It was mixed with the occasional sound of restrained laughter and low corporate discussion.Ivy frowned instantly. "The room is supposed to be empty this morning," she muttered. "There was no arrangement for a board meeting."Derrick kept walking without a word. His suspicion kept growing more and more solid.The moment they stepped fully into the boardroom, Ivy stopped dead on her tracks.The long executive table was fully occupied.Every board member sat in their respective positions around the polished surface, several documents spread before them while tablets and laptops glowed softly b
Chapter 182: Fast Moving Pieces
Morning sunlight filtered softly through the massive glass windows of Domonic's mansion, casting warm reflection across the polished kitchen floors and marble counters.Vivian stood near the stove in one of Dominic's oversized shirts, her hair loosely tied behind her while the lovely scent of breakfast gradually filed the luxurious space around her. A pan sizzled quietly nearby while coffee brewed behind her, its rich aroma blending quite naturally into the calm morning atmosphere.Vivian was gradually beginning to smile without forcing it, and her mind drifted naturally toward the previous weekend.Dominic had practically spent all of Saturday driving her across New York in the luxurious Ferrari. He took her through Manhattan's busiest luxury district, through quiet upper-class neighbourhoods overlooking the river, through art-lined streets in Brooklyn, rooftop lounges in Midtown, and even quieter waterfront spots she never even knew existed.He had shown her the city the way wealthy
Chapter 183: Drunk and Dirty
Moses' apartment smelled heavily of alcohol and stale food.Several empty beer bottles littered the floor around the couch like casualties from a long war. Some had even rolled beneath the center table while others leaned against each other near the television stand.A plate of spoilt food sat abandoned on the small table before Moses, and he lay sprawled crookedly across the couch in nothing but sweatpants and a wrinkled shirt that carried traces of dry blood from two nights earlier. One of his arms hung loosely off the edge of the cushion while the other still gripped the half-empty bottle by the neck.The television in front of him continued playing loudly in the background. But he had fallen asleep sometime earlier, as his body had eventually shut down from the alcohol.That had become his routine since Saturday–drink, pass out, wake up, and drink again.This repeated until memories blurred enough for him to seemingly breathe. But even at that, the images of his past never staye
Chapter 184: Rings Before Execution
Dominic stepped out of his bedroom fully dressed in a charcoal-grey suit that fit his frame nicely. His wristwatch gleamed faintly beneath the light spilling through the hallway windows while the scent of his cologne followed him subtly as he walked downstairs.The moment he entered the dining room, he stopped briefly. The table before him was filled with food.Scrambled eggs, toasted bread, sausages, pancakes, some fruits and freshly squeezed juice elegantly arranged across the polished surface with enough care to make the luxurious room suddenly feel less like an empty billionaire's mansion and more like a home.Dominic stared at it for a brief second before laughing softly beneath his breath."Good Lord," he muttered. "Now this is one hell of a temptation that I love."For a moment, he genuinely considered cancelling his entire schedule for the day, pulling of his fancy suit jacket and spending the morning beside Vivian and her meal instead.The aroma of what was before him was jus
Chapter 185: A Fool's Hope
Vivian held the phone tightly against her ear while forcing herself to breathe evenly. As soon as the call connected, she immediately tapped the recording option on her screen. Then she leaned back slowly against the dining chair, her appetite gone completely."And what exactly do you want from me, Moses Lorenzo?" she asked coldly. "Haven't you done enough already?"Her voice sharpened with every single word mow that she had let herself speak to him.Moses coughed on the other side. "Vivian–""You broke my heart to a thousand pieces when I needed you the most. You pushed me into emotional, caused the first road accident that nearly killed me. Then somehow you dragged me into a second one too.""Vivian–""And now you suddenly remember I exist?" She laughed bitterly. "You really have guts, Moses. I give you that."Silence lingered briefly before Moses finally spoke again. "I–I need you Vivian."Vivian paused. Then she gave a disbelieving chuckle and slowly shook her head."You must be
Chapter 186: The Lion and the Ashes
Vincent stared at his father with visible irritation as the applause continued across the large office.Christopher had kept clapping slowly from behind the desk, the sound sharp and highly mocking against the heavy silence of the room."Well said, my boy," he repeated with exaggerated admiration. "You're very intelligent and strategic, do you know that?"Vincent's jaw tightened."And why are you clapping, father?" he said carefully.Christopher ignored the question completely and kept on clapping with amusement dancing in his wrinkled eyes.Vincent frowned even deeper. "I asked a question, father."Still the clapping continued.A dangerous embarrassment slowly crept into Vincent's expression. The mockery had gotten to it's height now, and he couldn't hate it more."Alright father," he muttered sharply. "Enough of it already!"Christopher laughed. It was dark and jagged from deep inside him, the kind that carried years of cruelty behind it.Vincent's face hardened even further.Then f
Chapter 187: Ghosts Behind Strategy
"You already know why I'm here," Derrick said quietly.Dominic set the glass of water down on the minibar counter and straightened slowly. "If it isn't the fast moves of your father-in-law."Derrick chuckled, then nodded once before walking toward him. "Yup. He's chairman again."Dominic's jaw flexed using. He already got the update from the earlier call, yet hearing it repeated inside the office made the reality even more concrete."But he was surely nowhere near Mercy Hospital the entire period Moses was admitted," Dominic muttered thoughtfully.Derrick folded his arms across his chest as he leaned lightly against the edge of the nearby desk. "Exactly what I was about to ask you."A brief silence followed while Dominic's mind visibly walked through the whole situation again."That means there must have been an intermediary," Derrick continued. "Someone Moses trusted so much to handle the transaction for him...of course without realizing the shares would eventually circle back to Pa
Chapter 188: What Remains in the Fire
Dominic studied Derrick carefully for a few seconds. He could note that the distant look in Derrick's eyes and the way his shoulders briefly stiffened before he forced himself upright again."You sure you're alright?" Dominic asked once more, his voice calmer now.Derrick exhaled through his nose and folded his arms tightly across his chest before giving the shortest nod."I'm good," he muttered. "Just a bit tired I guess."Dominic didn't believe that, but he let it pass for the moment. Instead, he turned back toward the massive digital screen glowing across the wall.The red-highlighted branch boldly bearing the Maguire name still blinked steadily like an open wound."We need to know what exactly they're planning," Dominic said quietly.Derrick leaned back against the desk again, even as his expression remained distracted. "And how exactly are we supposed to do that?"Dominic went silent. His fingers moved absently against his jaw while his mind worked through a lot of possibilities.
Chapter 189: Between Vengeance and Home
Dominic remained where he stood long after Derrick's call with Ivy ended. He felt unsettled after hearing Derrick's softened voice as he spoke with Ivy. Just a moment ago, the man had looked ready to tear the world apart in revenge. Then Ivy called, and somewhat all that darkness eased just enough for warmth to return to him once more. He watched as Derrick slipped into his suit jacket properly before heading toward the office exit, his expression calmer now. Just as his hand touched the door handle, Dominic cleared his throat. "Sir." Derrick paused and turned halfway toward him. Dominic stared at him quietly for a brief moment. "I'll find who did that to your family," he said. "And I'm way closer than you'll imagine." For the briefest second, Dominic saw a flash of hope in his friend's face. "See you later," Derrick muttered, giving off a quick smile before turning away again. The office door shut softly behind him. Dominic stood still for several seconds afterwards, his gaz
Chapter 190: Ashes That Still Burn I
The front door clicked shut behind Dominic as he stepped into his living room.Almost immediarly, he caught the scent. Something quite rich and savory drifted through the living room air, warm spices mixing with butter and fresh herbs in a way that instantly softened the exhaustion sitting across his shoulders after the long day at Blacksite Ops.A smile tugged at his lips before he even realized it."Well," he muttered beneath his breath while loosening his tie slightly, "that smells really tempting."The aroma guided him naturally toward the kitchen. By the time he stepped into the wide space, Vivian stood near the marble counters chopping vegetables with concentration while a pot simmered steadily nearby.Steam curled softly upward beneath the golden kitchen lights, and strands of hair had escaped loosely around her face from the heat.She stopped chopping and looked up the moment she sensed his presence."Now that's my favorite billionaire," she said warmly as she fully turned to