All Chapters of THE BASTARD SON IS REAL HEIR : Chapter 81
- Chapter 90
107 chapters
CHAPTER 81
Margaret's expression shifted instantly, her brief moment of interest transforming into something darker, more suspicious. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she took a step back from Derek, her hand moving instinctively toward her purse."Wait a minute," Margaret said sharply, her voice cutting through the parking garage like a blade. "You're Ethan's BROTHER? And you just HAPPENED to overhear my phone conversation? And you just HAPPENED to approach me with an offer to help?"Her laugh was harsh and mocking."How STUPID do you think I am, Mr. Morrison?" Margaret's voice rose with indignation. "This is obviously a SETUP! Ethan sent you here to spy on me! To find out what I'm planning! To gather evidence against me!"She pointed an accusatory finger at Derek."You're probably RECORDING this conversation right now! Probably wearing a wire! Probably working WITH that manipulative little social climber to—""Mrs. Bianco," Derek interrupted, his voice calm despite Margaret's rising hysteria,
CHAPTER 82
The late afternoon sun streamed through the massive glass skylights of the Riverside Heights Shopping Center, one of the crown jewels in the Bianco family's commercial empire. Charlotte walked through the pristine corridors with practiced efficiency, her heels clicking against the polished marble floors as she conducted her quarterly inspection.Vincent had instructed her to personally survey several of their key properties this week—a task Charlotte normally found tedious but necessary. The devil was in the details, her grandfather always said, and the Bianco family didn't maintain their wealth by being careless about their assets.She was making notes on her tablet about tenant satisfaction and foot traffic patterns when Lina appeared at her elbow, slightly out of breath, her expression troubled."Charlotte," Lina said urgently, keeping her voice low. "We have a situation."Charlotte didn't look up from her tablet. "What kind of situation?""It's Manu Gordon," Lina said. "He's here.
CHAPTER 83
Charlotte felt something rise in her throat—not quite nausea, but close. Her face twisted with undisguised revulsion at Manu's casual declaration of ownership, as if she were a piece of furniture he'd left in storage and had finally decided to retrieve.She took a deliberate step closer to where Manu sat sprawled on the couch, her eyes narrowing to dangerous slits."Your audacity," Charlotte said, her voice dropping to something quiet and deadly, "is truly remarkable, Manu. The sheer GALL you possess to sit there—in MY family's building—and claim me like I'm some OBJECT you've purchased. Like I'm PROPERTY you own."Her laugh was harsh and completely devoid of humor."Let me make something very clear to you," Charlotte continued, her tone sharp enough to cut glass. "I allowed you to stay here—allowed this conversation to happen—for ONE reason and ONE reason only: to prevent you from making a scene and disrupting my family's business."She leaned forward slightly, her expression absolut
CHAPTER 84
Manu's face went through a series of transformations so rapid and dramatic that Lina actually took a step back, concerned he might be having some kind of medical episode.First shock—his eyes widening impossibly, his mouth dropping open.Then disbelief—his head shaking involuntarily, as if trying to physically reject the information he'd just heard.Then fury—a red flush crawling up his neck and spreading across his face like wildfire, his hands clenching into fists so tight his knuckles cracked audibly."ETHAN?!" Manu's voice exploded through the executive lounge. "Vincent is trying to SET YOU UP with ETHAN MORRISON?!"Charlotte's eyebrow raised at his violent reaction, but she said nothing, simply watching Manu's meltdown with cold detachment."That—that OLD MAN BETRAYED ME!" Manu shouted, his voice cracking slightly. "He PROMISED! He and my family had an UNDERSTANDING! Charlotte was supposed to be—"He stopped himself, breathing hard, clearly trying to regain some measure of contro
CHAPTER 85
Charlotte's laugh rang through the executive lounge—clear, sharp, and absolutely devoid of fear or uncertainty. It was the laugh of someone who'd just heard the most ridiculous threat imaginable and found it genuinely amusing rather than intimidating.She settled back against the edge of the desk, crossing her legs with elegant precision, the movement somehow managing to be both refined and subtly mocking. Her posture radiated confidence and control—a stark contrast to Manu's barely contained fury.Then Charlotte did something completely unexpected. She puffed out her cheeks slightly—a gesture that on anyone else might have looked childish but on her somehow came across as seductive, playful, utterly dismissive of Manu's threats."Dream on, Manu," Charlotte said, her voice carrying a purr of challenge. "By all means, do your WORST. Scheme all you want. Plot with my mother. Make your threats. Declare your intentions."Her smile widened, becoming more dangerous."Because while YOU'RE bu
CHAPTER 86
The underground parking garage of the Riverside Heights Shopping Center echoed with the sound of expensive shoes against concrete as Manu Gordon stormed toward his waiting vehicle, his face still flushed with rage and humiliation.His bodyguards—three large men in dark suits who'd been waiting by the car—immediately straightened at his approach, their professional expressions betraying nothing."What the HELL were you doing while I was up there?!" Manu screamed the moment he was close enough. "Standing around with your thumbs up your ASSES?!"The lead bodyguard—a man named Carter who'd been with the Gordon family for five years—kept his expression neutral. "Sir, we were positioned as instructed. You told us to wait by the vehicle and not to—""I don't want your EXCUSES!" Manu cut him off, his voice rising to a near-shriek. "You're supposed to be PROTECTING me! Anticipating my NEEDS! Not standing around like USELESS LUMPS!"He ya
CHAPTER 87
Manu swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry despite the rage still burning in his chest. The silence on the other end of the phone stretched for several seconds—long enough that he wondered if the connection had dropped.But no. Sophia was still there. He could hear her breathing. Careful, measured breaths that suggested she was choosing her next words very, very carefully."Who IS he?" Manu demanded again, his voice dropping to something quieter but more intense. "Tell me, Aunt Sophia. Who is Ethan Morrison REALLY?"The question hung in the air like smoke.Sophia Gordon—the woman who'd built a real estate empire through ruthless business acumen, who'd negotiated billion-dollar deals without flinching, who'd stared down corrupt politicians and corporate sharks without blinking—was silent.Completely, utterly silent.And that silence told Manu more than any words could have."You know," Manu said slowly. "You K
CHAPTER 88
Manu's head snapped to the side, his rage finding a new target. Davis sat in the seat beside him, his tablet open, his expression carefully neutral as he tried to make himself as small and invisible as possible."YOU!" Manu's voice cracked like a whip. "This is YOUR fault! YOUR incompetence!"Davis flinched, his fingers tightening on the tablet. "Sir, I—""Don't you DARE speak!" Manu cut him off, his face contorting with fury. "You brought me FALSE information! LIES! You told me Ethan Morrison was a NOBODY! An orphan with no connections! A worthless piece of TRASH!"He leaned forward, invading Davis's space, his voice rising to a near-shriek."But if he's such a NOBODY, Davis, explain to me why my aunt—Sophia GORDON, one of the most powerful women in this city—treats him like ROYALTY! Explain why Vincent Bianco—that cunning old FOX who's built a billion-dollar empire through ruthless calculation—suddenly wants HIM for Charlotte
CHAPTER 89
The call with Scarface ended, but the real negotiation was just beginning.Before Manu could even set his phone down, Scarface's number appeared on his screen again."What?" Manu answered sharply."One more thing before I agree to this permanently," Scarface's gravelly voice came through. "If I'm taking on this kind of risk—if I'm going after someone protected by people like Sophia Gordon and Vincent Bianco—I want compensation beyond money."Manu's jaw immediately clenched. "What do you MEAN? Five million isn't enough?""Five million is good," Scarface acknowledged. "But if this blows back—if I end up in prison because of this—money in a bank account doesn't mean much behind bars."His voice took on a harder edge."So here's what I want: a position in the Gordon family's operation. Not a high-level one. Just something legitimate. Something that provides cover. Something that makes me PART of your organization so that if things go sideways, the Gordons protect one of their own."Manu's
CHAPTER 90
The Kidman Corporation tower stood like a monument against the night sky, its upper floors still illuminated despite the late hour. Executive operations at this level never truly ceased—the machinery of global wealth required constant attention, even after the sun had set over the city.Ethan and Rebecca walked through the pristine parking garage toward the private executive vehicle, their footsteps echoing in the concrete space. The day had been long and intensive—Rebecca spending hours walking Ethan through the intricate operations of the Kidman empire, introducing him to department heads, explaining the complex web of investments and partnerships that sustained their family's global dominance.But beneath the routine business education lay a current of tension that neither had fully addressed until now."Marcus will likely make problems," Rebecca said as they reached the vehicle, her tone carrying the matter-of-fact quality of someone stating