House of Alister: The Hidden Heir

Chapter 2

Daniel’s voice cut sharper than he intended. “Come home? What the fuck are you talking about? Why should i go with you?” He asked all confused.

The man didn’t flinch, rather he cleared his throat and added, “Because it’s where you belong, Mr. Alistair.”

Daniel crossed his arms, grounding himself clearly at the name, “My name is Reed. Daniel Reed.”

A patient rolled by, the gurney wheels squeaking and briefly breaking the silence. The man waited until the sound faded before speaking again.

“Names can be changed. Blood cannot. You are indeed a Allister. Your mother, Your birth mother, the only child of your grandfather, was Evelyn Alistair. Heiress to the Alistair shipping empire. She disappeared before you were born. We believed the line was lost. Until now.”

Daniel stared, it felt as if the man was talking to him in foreign anguage that he do not understand. He finally added, “I think you have the wrong person.”

The stranger whose name was Marcus Forbes, who looks tall and lean with his perfectly tailored, expensive suit offered a nod. “Understandable.” He reached out into inside the pocket of his suit. “We didn’t come unprepared.” He said as he withdrew a slim envelope, the kind used for legal papers, and stretched it to Daniel, “Inside is a certified DNA report. We confirmed a 99.9% match to Your grandfather Lionel Alistair.”

Daniel look at him, he didn’t move to take it. His mind raced with shock. How the hell could they possibly have access to his DNA?

Marcus’s who knows the exact thought that was running through his head smiled, “You once had coffee at a Carrington luncheon last spring. We purchased the cup after you left. The lab handled the rest.”

Daniel blinked, a chill running through him at throat, “You stole my saliva?”

“No harm intended sir, we just needed to confirm our suspension" Marcus said evenly.

Daniel let out a sharp breath and shook his head, refusing to believe all that is happening to him all at once. “No. No. And how do I believe this? Some envelope and a creepy story about a coffee cup? It's not true, it can't be true, For all I know, you printed that off the internet.”

Marcus didn’t flinch. “You’re right to question it. But the report is notarized, and the lab is independent. Call the number on the header. They’ll confirm the sample and the match.”

Daniel crossed his arms tighter. “You tracked me, stole my DNA, and now expect me to just hop in a car and follow you home because you brought paperwork? What a joke!”

“You don’t have to come or follow us right away Mr. Daniel.” Marcus said evenly. “We know it is hard for you to take everything all in at once” Marcus’s voice softened, almost courteous. “Take your time. Read the report when you’re ready. There’s no rush.”

He set the envelope gently on the plastic chair beside Daniel. “But know this, your grandfather’s health is failing, He doesn’t have long and he needs you right now..”

Marcus adjusted his cuff, then reached into his coat once more.

“I really hope you reach out soon,” he said, his voice was calm but somehow carried urgency.

From the inside pocket he drew two cards, one ivory, one slate gray, and set them carefully on the small side table.

“The first,” he said, tapping the ivory envelope, and handling it over to Daniel, it “contains my business card and a direct number that will ring only to me. The second” he touched the gray one, “holds a small gesture from your grandfather. A card with a personal PIN: your birthday. Should you ever need it, it will give you access to a private account.”

Daniel eyed the cards but didn’t move. “What kind of ‘gesture’?”

Marcus met his gaze without a flicker. “Enough to remove any… immediate obstacles. Thirty billion dollars, deposited into the account and waiting.”

Daniel’s breath stalled, His throat went dry, he had not believed everything his ears, “Thirty…billion?”

Marcus inclined his head once. “In U.S. dollars. Completely liquid. It’s already in the account.”

Daniel gave a short, disbelieving laugh. “Are you telling me I’m a billionaire now? Just like that?”

“If you choose to claim it,” Marcus said smoothly. “It’s a family trust. Your name is on it. No conditions beyond your acknowledgment.”

Daniel scrubbed a hand over his face, as if he could wipe away the absurdity. “This sounds like a scam someone dreamed up after watching too many late-night movies.”

Marcus’s expression didn’t waver. “Verify it yourself. The PIN is your birthday. You can check the balance without speaking to anyone. No one else can access it.”

Daniel stared at the gray card on his hands, the numbers burned in his mind even though he hadn’t read them. A billion dollars—thirty of them—wasn’t just life-changing. It was world-bending.

"I will leave you to collect your thoughts, Please do not hesitate to reach out as soon as possible to me, Mr. Daniel" Marcus said as he offered a farewell bow to Daniel, we would be so glad to welcome you back"

Once he was alone, Daniel remained dazed. He felt uncertain about accepting the money from the Allisters, But after some reflection, he realized he needed to know more, the next day, he was going to find out more information.

Soon, he got home past midnight. The Carrington house was still awake. Light glowed from the living room. He stepped inside quietly, hoping to slitently go upstairs after everything that happened to him today.

“Finally,” Margaret’s voice echoed. She was sitting on the sofa, still in her gown, a glass of wine is in hand as she chuckled in disgust "Do you know what time it is, Danny. My daughter is married to a man who disappears from dinners like a boy sneaking out of school.”

Daniel set his keys on the counter and took a few steps closer, “My aunt was in the hospital.”

Trevor, Margret’s son who was sitting at the opposite side of Margret smirked from his armchair. “Always an excuse. Always some story about the poor aunt.”

Daniel’s jaw tightened. He wanted to walk away, but Sophia appeared at the top of the stairs. She looked tired, like she’d been worried.

“Mother, please,” she uttered. “Not tonight.” She defended.

Margaret ignored her. “Sophia, darling, you deserve better. We’ve all tried to put up with him, but enough is enough.” Her eyes moved toward Daniel. “We can’t keep pretending this… arrangement with this looser you call an husband is working, it's suck! ”

Daniel felt the words hit harder than it ever would, he could guess where next Margaret was going.

Trevor leaned forward, almost enjoying himself. “Let’s be honest, Danny, you don’t belong here. You are not in our league.”

“Brother, that’s enough!” Sophia snapped with her voice trembling as she gripped the railing.

Margaret set her glass down, as she raised from her seat, her tone smooth and final. “It’s time for you to let Sophia go. We want this done quietly.”

Daniel’s brows furrowed, how dare they, who the hell do they think they are to just detach him from his wife, If only they knew he was not a looser, If only they knew he has more than their whole family fortune sitting in the card inside his breast pocket.

“And if I don’t?” He uttered in disgust.

Margaret’s lips curved in a cold smile. “You will. Because I’m offering you ten million dollars as compensation, Danny." She said in mockery

Daniel stared at her, so speechless. They are indeed so pathetic, so so pathetic!!

“You’ve never seen that kind of money in your life,” she continued, her voice cold like ice. “Take it. Start over. Build whatever pathetic little life you think you deserve.”

Trevor chuckled under his breath, and Margaret’s tone dropped lower, sharper and deadlier.

“If I were you, I’d grab this offer while I’m still feeling generous. Because trust me, Daniel, I can make you disappear from this family without spending a single cent.”