All Chapters of THE RETURN OF THE HIDDEN HEIR : Chapter 71
- Chapter 80
150 chapters
Chapter 071: Cowards and Confessions
Derrick's eyes flicked toward the bathroom door. Steam was already beginning to curl faintly from behind it. "That's perfect," he said into the phone. "I'll find a way to break away from them." "Alright sir," Dominic said. "And I'll do well to secure an untapped connection that you would use in communicating with Mr. Rowan." At the mention of the name, Derrick's grip tightened slightly around the phone. "Yeah," he said in a lowered voice. "We've got a real lot to talk about." Just then, Vincent Maguire's voice echoed in his memory. He called him, 'Derrick Maguire.'Was that just a slip of tongue? It better be.Dominic exhaled softly on the other end. "You'll get all the time you need in speaking to him. And, believe me when I sat he had a lot to tell you too." A pause. "And Derrick... it's never been more important for you to hide your identity than it is now." Derrick frowned slightly. "And what's that supposed to mean?" "Well, because–" The bathroom door handle clicked. Th
Chapter 072: Masks in the Marble Halls
Ivy's father adjusted the cuff of his tailored suit. His wife sat upright beside him, her handbag resting neatly on her lap. Ivy stood near the center of the sitting room, her eyes softening momentarily when they met Derrick's"Great timing, Derrick," she said, smoothing an imaginary crease from her fitted blazer. "We're all heading to the Lorenzo Group now." Her father nodded subtly. "There are documents I need to sign and reports I need to review," she continued. "I'm sure it won't take long, as we were there just yesterday for the board meeting. Then we'll all proceed to see Pa Lorenzo. He's expected back today." "Luckily, he won't return to meet his dear wife missing," Moses' mother chipped in just then, winking at Derrick. "The doctors have cleared him," Ivy's father said. "He'd be coming back when we want. And that should be after Ma Lorenzo returns." "True," Ivy said, nodding. "We'd get to see her in the hospital where she was admitted after we leave Pa Lorenzo. If she's
Chapter 073: A Call from the Shore
Derrick's steps slowed and he turned to the voice. A familiar face hurried toward him from across the marble floor. The man was in his late fifties, his suit jacket unbuttoned and flapping faintly as he approached. His smile was wild. "Mr. Derrick!" he repeated, finally reaching him and extending both hands at once. Derrick accepted the handshake. "Good afternoon, sir." The man pumped his hand enthusiastically. "You probably remember me. I'm on the Lorenzo Group board, and was present during the board meeting you attended." Derrick slightly inclined his head. "Of course, sir." "We're all genuinely anticipating your comments at the next board meeting," the man rushed on. His words seemed to stumble over themselves. "Truly. Your economic projections last time were quite remarkable. I must say, without exaggeration, that you are an intelligent economist." Derrick gave a faint, polite smile. "And I must say you're too kind with words, sir." But the man wasn't waiting for humility
Chapter 074: A Game of Shadows
Derrick's faint smile lingered only a second after he spoke. Across the screen, the sunlight behind Rowan glinted off the ocean like scattered diamonds across the rolling side. A gentle breeze lifted the brim of his hat slightly before it settled again. "Not looking bad too, Derrick," he replied as he leaned back in his beach chair. Then he slowly rubbed his palms together as though warming them. "So, how are you enjoying your stay in New York, my boy?" he asked in a relaxed voice. Derrick leaned back in the leather seat, one ankle resting over the opposite knee. "Why did you arrange a marriage for me just within a week of my arrival in the city?" Dominic blinked once. Rowan threw his head back and laughed. Then he shook his head slightly. "You never change," he said, still smiling. "Always straight to the heart of the damn matter." He coughed slightly, adjusting the position of his summer hat. "Well, I simply thought that you would appreciate having a cool lady around you."
Chapter 075: The Nine Billion Silence
"I came across his father once," Rowan continued. "Christopher Maguire. But that was a long time ago." Derrick's fingers tightened slightly against his knee. "Okay. Well, there's something else." Rowan waited. "During the operation," Derrick continued carefully, "Vincent called me Derrick Maguire. It naturally struck me as strange and absurd. But he didn't look like he made a mistake. He had that...smile." Rowan pulled off his hat and brushed a hand over his bald head before placing it back on. "It was definitely a mix-up," he replied calmly. Then he smiled. "Perhaps a ploy to distract you." Then he waved his hand dismissively. "Maguire and Morgan sound alike, you know. It's close enough for some subtle manipulation." Derrick watched his master closely. Rowan's expression remained composed and neutral. Just then, Rowan glanced at his wristwatch. "Oops, my girls will be coming soon. I'm done here." He leaned back again, putting on the sunglasses as he regained his earlier ea
Chapter 076: A Wise Ass
"No," Christopher replied. "You're wrong again. I asked that the bomb explosion be delayed because I didn't want the explosion anymore." Vincent was now more confused than ever. Christopher chuckled. "Don't tell me you thought I let them go because of Dominic's fancy threat. Ah, that's too naive to think." He paused, then added in a lowered tone. "Mrs. Lorenzo happens to be the backbone of the Lorenzo Group. Her capture and death would lead to its crumble. Now, that was what I wanted." Vincent watched his father's posture–straight and unyielding. "But...you never told me that, father. You only asked me to kidnap Ma Lorenzo so I could get the money Moses owed me." "Well, now you know," Christopher replied evenly. "Reports and statistics indicate that the Lorenzo Group would reach our heights in just a few years time. And that is what I intend to stop by any means possible."There was not a trace of arrogance in his tone.Vincent crossed his arms."And how do you think the Group wo
Chapter 077: Live and Love with the Lorenzos
Derrick barely remembered how he flagged the taxi. One moment he was in Dominic's office, and the next he was sliding into the back seat of a yellow cab. "Where to, sir?" the driver asked, glancing at him through the rearview mirror. "Oh, yeah. St. Mary's General Hospital," Derrick replied without hesitation. The driver nodded and pulled into the traffic. As the city blurred past the window, Derrick leaned back against the seat, Mr. Rowan's voice echoing in his mind with clarity. Live and love with the Lorenzos. Derrick exhaled slowly through his nose. Mr. Rowan had put him into the Lorenzo family's world. But being part of them and living with them were two very different things. If he was going to stand beside Ivy as her husband, he had to absorb himself into the very fabrics of their lifestyle. But, wouldn't that interfere with his mission in the city?The taxi halted abruptly at a traffic light. Derrick's fingers drummed once against his knee before he stilled them.His t
Chapter 078: Here It Goes
"Grandma," Ivy breathed softly as she walked into the room. Ma Lorenzo turned from the window at the sound of the voice. Something fragile flickered across her face. Ivy closed the distance between them and gently wrapped her arms around the old woman. Ma Lorenzo held her tightly. "I'm fine," she murmured into Ivy's hair. "Glad to be alive and standing." Ivy let out a shaky breath. "We were really scared, ma. You can't believe how dead frightened I was last night. I couldn't even sleep." Ma Lorenzo pulled back gently, brushing Ivy's cheek with her thumb before her gaze slowly shifted to Derrick. "He stood by you all through the night, didn't he now?" she asked, her face gradually parting into a smile. Ivy's lips parted to reply immediately, but she paused, giving no reply. She watched instead as her Grandma extended her hand toward Derrick. Derrick stepped forward without hesitation and gently took her hand. The grip of her wrinkled hand was warm despite the faint tremor bene
Chapter 079: Delusion
"Vivian!" Fear drove Moses forward. He staggered his way out of the bedroom and into the sitting room, one hand pressed against his ribs. Every step he took sent sharp protests through his whole body. But the panic dulled the pain. "Vivian!" he called again. Silence. The apartment felt too still.His heart began to hammer violently now. He sure couldn't call the police. He couldn't even call home. The Maguires had eyes everywhere, and he knew it. Sweat gathered at his temples. In desperation, he traced the wall and flicked on the lights in the sitting room. The sudden brightness stung his eyes. He walked straight to the refrigerator, yanked it open, and grabbed a bottle of beer. "Dear God," he muttered as he twisted the cap with trembling hands. He had just lifted it toward his lips when the front door unlocked. The door opened, and Vivian stepped in with a small grocery bag hanging from her wrist. She paused when she saw him, and their eyes met. "You're awake," she said,
Chapter 080: New Web
"You thief!" The bartender's voice exploded across the bar. Before Moses could react to this accusation, a heavy fist slammed into his shoulder. It knocked him sideways off the stool, and pain tore through his injured ribs as he cracked against the edge of the counter. "What the hell?!" Moses groaned. "You think I'm stupid?" the bartender roared. "Well, I'm not. No man walks in here, downs just a shot, and suddenly starts 'pacing himself'!" Heads turned, and the music lowered slightly. The bartender stormed around from behind the rectangular counter, his massive frame pushing through the swinging door. "You want a drink, but you ain't got money." Moses struggled upright. "Why would you say that?" "That's because I've seen your type!" the man barked. "You drink and dodge!" Moses was getting heated up already. "I'm not a thief." The bartender grabbed Moses by the front of his shirt and violently yanked him forward. Moses winced in great pain. "Pay me," the bartender growled i