FRAGMENTS OF THE BILLIONAIRE

CHAPTER 6: EMBRACE OF DESTINY

Elizabeth led Michael upstairs, the grandeur of the family mansion enveloping them. The air held a mixture of anticipation and nostalgia as they approached his deceased parents' room. It had been meticulously preserved by his grandfather, frozen in time from 21 years ago.

"Here," Elizabeth said, ushering him into the room. The space felt both familiar and alien to Michael. A large, luxuriously decorated table stood at the center, adorned with a meticulously maintained photo album.

Elizabeth picked up the album, her eyes filled with affection as she handed it to Michael. As he flipped through the pages, he saw glimpses of the faces that had shaped his existence—the real father and mother who had tragically left this world.

Tears welled up in Michael's eyes, and he sniffed, embracing the album tightly. He sat on the bed, his emotions bubbling beneath the surface. "I was alone. My adopted father abused me, made my adopted mom commit suicide, and Luke, oh my God..." His voice trailed off as he recalled the traumas he had endured.

Suppressing his tears, Michael took a deep breath. "So many problems, but now I have the capacity to deal with them. Aunt Elizabeth, how dangerous is our family? Do we own guns?" he asked, a hint of innocence in his question.

Elizabeth chuckled at the unexpected inquiry. "My dear, we make guns for the government," she replied with a wry smile, revealing a facet of the family's clandestine activities.

A determined spark ignited in Michael's eyes. He knew his newfound capabilities would be instrumental in helping his adopted brother, Luke. Despite not sharing blood, the bond was strong, and he wanted to confront Logan, the tormentor who treated them as punching bags.

Amidst their conversation, a maid's voice interrupted, announcing that the food was ready. 

Micheal and his aunt, Elizabeth, made their way to the grand dining room of the mansion. Its sheer size left Micheal momentarily stunned, his jaw almost dropping at the opulence that surrounded him. At the head of the table sat Reginald, his grandfather, who signaled for Micheal to join him.

Valentine, a contender for the heir position, glared at Micheal with subtle contempt. Unaware of her animosity, Micheal attempted a greeting, only to be snubbed. Reginald, seizing the moment, raised his glass in a toast to congratulate Micheal on his return and newfound status as the heir. Some family members were surprised, while others withheld their acknowledgment.

"I think you made me the enemy of everyone, grandfather," Micheal remarked, expressing his concern to Reginald, who laughed in response.

"I told you, my boy, this family only respects competence. Show that you are valuable, show that you are more fit to lead, and they will follow you."

Valentine took the opportunity to criticize Micheal, likening his ascendancy to that of a village boy becoming president.

"This is so ridiculous, how do you expect someone that doesn't know anything about the family to lead us?"

 She questioned Reginald's decision, expecting the answer she deemed obvious.

"If we were to vote based on competence, I am the one this family needs. Ever since I have been acting CEO, the company has never failed in any project. Our revenue and influence have increased. The whole country can't function without us," Valentine asserted.

Micheal defended himself, explaining his lack of knowledge about his family due to his parents' early demise. Valentine dismissed his sentiment as a cover for incompetence, prompting Reginald to intervene.

"Valentine, that is enough!" Reginald silenced her, but Micheal, feeling the weight of the situation, stood up and left the room without finishing his meal.

Reginald followed him, calling his name, but Micheal wanted solitude. "You know, I didn't ask for this," Micheal expressed to Reginald. "I didn't ask to be the heir."

He recounted the struggles of his upbringing, from poverty to adoption, to contemplating suicide in prison. Reginald had given him a new identity, but the position of heir felt overwhelming, especially with family members hostile towards him.

"What if I don't want to be heir? What if I just want to live normally? I have lived a life of pain and suffering already."

Reginald listened to Micheal's frustrations, snorting and slamming his cane to the ground. "Listen here, boy... Follow me."

They left the mansion, and Micheal realized its vastness as they walked through the expansive garden.

"Do you know how many people would die to be in your position and you just want to give it away like some useless title, as far as you are a member of this family......You are destined for greatness and to rule, as a man you should embrace responsibility."

 Reginald shared a piece of wisdom: "Great men are shaped by the choices they make. Your circumstance has only made you stronger. You are different, you should take your life seriously, because if you are not careful. It would be taken from you."

As they walked, Micheal sought guidance. "What do I do, grandfather?" Reginald smiled, advising him to start by adapting and making choices that would shape his life.

"You should start by making the small choices from here now, in time you will see yourself as someone great. You don't have to be heir now, but you have to start preparing to be heir."

Micheal paused, his mind adjusting. He remembered the commitment he made in the prison cell—to live life as perfectly as he could if given a second chance. This was his second chance, and he resolved to embrace it.

"I can do this! I have to do- No! I must do this." Micheal said as he squeezed his fist together.