After The Divorce, I Suddenly Inherited $100 trillion

History of the Shepherd family

Oswald led Bruce down a large hallway, lit by beautiful chandelier lights. The walls were lined with hundreds of paintings; each framed in gold and dark wood.

The faces in the paintings were of men and women dressed in Renaissance style clothes.

Later generations were in tailored coats, then military uniforms and finally, modern clothing.

Oswald stopped before the first painting.

"This is where it all began," he said gently, "In the late sixteenth century, the shepherd family built its foundation rearing sheep."

"At the time, sheep were considered wealth. The wool and meat brought endless profits. The Shepherd family saw an opportunity and traded their wool at a large scale."

"They exported their wool across all of Europe down to the middle east. Gold flowed like a river into the Shepherd's pockets. It was the golden era."

Oswald moved to the next painting. "As the centuries ran, the shepherd family shifted to banking. They funded merchants, insured voyages, and lent to Kings."

Further down the hall, Oswald showed Bruce paintings of men in military coats standing beside cannons and ammunition factories.

"When the First World War began," Oswald continued. "The shepherd family diverged fully into defense. They manufactured and supplied nations with weapons, logistics and steel. This was the industrial era."

Bruce followed Oswald as they continued walking, his brain blown away by the long history of his family.

The paintings were now photo portraits of men in modern day business suits, sky scrappers and satellites.

"In the twentieth century," Oswald went on, "the shepherd family withdrew from weaponry manufacturing permanently. Instead, they focused more on technology, nuclear energy and global banking—the New Age era."

He stopped at the final series of portraits, turning to face Bruce. "These are your family's history of five centuries. This is how the Shepherd family generated its enormous wealth."

Bruce swallowed. "Unbelievable."

"You had better believe it," Oswald chuckled lightly. "The conglomerate's total value is estimated at $250 trillion. Out of that, $100 trillion has been secured as personal family holdings."

Oswald paused, smiling widely at Bruce. "And now, all that money is yours—as it's rightful heir."

Bruce's thoughts rang inside his head like a bell.

"I don't get it," he muttered. "If I'm truly the rightful heir, then why was I sent away?"

Oswald gently placed a hand at Bruce’s back, guiding him toward a single portrait at the end of the hall.

"This is your father," he said quietly, "Alistair Shepherd."

Bruce's eyes widened. He could see the resemblance in their facial features.

"Before you were born," Oswald continued, "Alistair had many affairs with numerous women. And over time, these women came forward with children, all claiming to be his."

Oswald exhaled softly.

"It was a messy situation. At the time, DNA testing was still inaccessible. There were too many claims, too many children."

"The family faced a potential succession disaster," Oswald said gravely. "Then your father made a decision. Every child was sent back to their mother."

"Each would later undergo DNA testing when the technology matured. Until then, no one would be acknowledged as an heir."

"Where does that fit me in?" Bruce asked.

Oswald's voice lowered. "Your mother sadly passed away while giving birth to you. She was your father's personal secretary."

Oswald paused, watching Bruce's shocking reaction.

"In order to protect you from the family chaos, Alistair entrusted me with the responsibility to keep you safe. He feared that being raised within the Shepherd estate would place a target on your back."

Bruce was beginning to put the pieces together as the truth unfolded.

Oswald went on. "I handed you over to an old friend of mine. Someone I trusted completely."

Bruce caught his breath sharply. "Caro's late grandmother?"

Oswald nodded. "I've known her for years. It was me who arranged the contract marriage between you and Caro."

Bruce felt his pulse quicken. Now it all made perfect sense.

"Once your safety was assured," Oswald continued, "we began the long process of DNA testing. Over the years, more than two hundred individuals came forward, all claiming to be Alistair’s child."

"Every single DNA test came back negative," Oswald said calmly. "Not one of them carried Shepherd's blood."

Bruce couldn't believe his ears. "That's insane. Out of two hundred children not a single one was his?"

Oswald nodded. "This was a relief to Alistair but soon, your father grew anxious. He needed an heir to rule the shepherd empire. Without an heir, vultures would swoon in and take everything."

Oswald turned to face Bruce fully. "That was when I remembered you. I conducted the test multiple times from multiple labs."

Bruce heart raced. "And the test results?"

Oswald paused, pulling out a lap result and handling it over to Bruce. "Each result confirmed the same truth. You are Alistair Shepherd's only biological son. Sole heir to the Shepherd Conglomerate."