2026-09-17 23:03:44The sound of high heels echoed steadily across the marble staircase.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Every servant instinctively lowered their heads.
Jason slowly turned around.
A beautiful woman in a white designer dress descended the stairs gracefully. Her expression remained calm as if nothing unusual was happening.
It was his wife.
Davina Hale.
She glanced at Jason's exhausted appearance before shifting her gaze to her parents.
"What happened?" she asked casually.
Mrs. Hale smiled.
"Your husband came asking us for five hundred thousand dollars."
Davina raised an eyebrow.
"So much?"
Mr. Hale nodded.
"He claims his mother needs emergency surgery."
Davina finally looked at Jason.
He immediately stepped forward.
"Davina..."
"My mother is dying."
"The doctors said she won't survive much longer without the surgery."
"I've begged your parents already."
"They refused."
He looked at her hopefully.
"Please."
"Talk to them."
"I know they'll listen to you."
Davina remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she asked calmly,
"How much exactly?"
"Five hundred thousand dollars."
She nodded slightly.
"And the surgery has to be tonight?"
"Yes."
"The doctor said every minute counts."
Davina folded her arms.
"I understand."
A faint smile appeared on Jason's face.
For the first time that night...
He felt hope.
She turned toward her parents.
"Dad."
"Mom."
"Do we still have the five hundred thousand prepared?"
Jason's eyes lit up.
Mr. Hale nodded.
"Yes."
His heartbeat quickened.
Mrs. Hale smiled knowingly.
"It's still in the company account."
Jason released a breath of relief.
"Thank God..."
He looked at Davina gratefully.
"I knew you wouldn't ignore this."
Davina slowly turned back to him.
"I'm sorry."
Jason's smile froze.
"The money can't be given to you."
His heart skipped a beat.
"...What?"
She spoke in the same calm tone.
"That money already has a purpose."
Jason frowned.
"What purpose could be more important than saving a life?"
Davina answered without hesitation.
"It will be donated to Christian."
The living room became silent.
Jason blinked.
"...Christian?"
"My ex-boyfriend."
Jason stared at her.
"You mean..."
"The Christian Morgan?"
Davina nodded.
"Yes."
"He is launching his new technology company tomorrow."
"We promised to support him."
Jason looked from Davina to her parents.
"You... promised him five hundred thousand dollars?"
Mr. Hale answered proudly.
"It is an investment."
Mrs. Hale smiled.
"Christian has tremendous potential."
Jason couldn't believe his ears.
"So..."
"You'd rather fund someone's business..."
"...than save my mother's life?"
Mrs. Hale shrugged.
"Business creates more value."
Jason slowly shook his head.
"No..."
"No..."
"That can't be your reason."
He looked directly at Davina.
"You know Christian already owns several companies."
"He's wealthy."
"He doesn't need this money."
"My mother..."
"My mother is dying."
Davina's expression remained unchanged.
"That doesn't change our decision."
Jason took a step closer.
"Davina."
"I've never asked you for anything."
"In three years."
"Not once."
"I'm only asking you to save one life."
She sighed softly.
"You still don't understand."
"What don't I understand?"
"The donation isn't just about business."
Jason frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Mr. Hale smiled faintly.
"Since you've asked..."
"I suppose it's time you knew."
Mrs. Hale placed her wine glass on the table.
"We've been trying to reconnect Davina and Christian."
Jason felt his mind go blank.
"...Reconnect?"
Davina nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"Christian and I were supposed to get married years ago."
Jason stared at her.
"But..."
"We're already married."
She looked at him as though he had said something childish.
"Legally."
"Yes."
"Emotionally..."
She paused.
"...No."
Jason's breathing became uneven.
"What are you saying?"
Davina met his eyes.
"I never truly considered you my husband."
Those words struck harder than any slap.
Jason stood frozen.
"You..."
"What?"
She continued calmly.
"You were only a temporary solution."
"A temporary solution?"
"Three years ago, I needed someone with your identity to secure an important government contract."
"You met all the requirements."
"So I married you."
Jason's face turned pale.
"You're lying..."
"No."
"You can't mean that."
Mr. Hale laughed.
"Did you really think my daughter fell in love with someone like you?"
Mrs. Hale joined in.
"You overestimated yourself."
Jason looked back at Davina.
His voice trembled.
"Tell me they're lying."
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she looked at him with complete indifference.
"They're telling the truth."
"My marriage to you was never meant to last."
Jason felt as though the entire world had collapsed around him.
Three years...
Every smile...
Every promise...
Every sacrifice...
Had all been a lie.
Just then—
His phone suddenly rang.
The sharp ringtone broke the suffocating silence.
Jason hurriedly answered.
"Doctor!"
The doctor's voice sounded urgent.
"Mr. Blackwell..."
"I'm afraid your mother's condition has deteriorated."
Jason's heart pounded violently.
"How long?"
There was a brief silence.
Then the doctor spoke.
"If the surgery doesn't begin within the next thirty minutes..."
"...prepare yourself for the worst."
Jason's hand began trembling.
"I..."
"I'll get the money."
"You have to."
The call ended.
Jason slowly lowered the phone.
His vision blurred.
His mother had only thirty minutes left.
He looked around the luxurious living room one last time.
At the people he had called family.
Not one face showed sympathy.
Not one.
Jason suddenly laughed.
It was a quiet, bitter laugh.
"I understand now."
He looked at Davina.
"I finally understand."
Without another word, he turned around and walked toward the door.
Behind him, Mrs. Hale's mocking voice echoed through the mansion.
"Don't forget to close the door on your way out."
The servants laughed quietly.
Jason never looked back.
The moment he stepped outside into the pouring rain, thunder roared across the sky.
He had no idea...
That before this night ended...
His fate would change forever.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
CHAPTER 28
THE NAME HIDDEN IN THE RECORDSJason read the patient transfer record for the third time.PATIENT TRANSFER ELEANOR PRICE ACCOMPANIED BY: ADRIAN VALE.It was the first concrete connection between Eleanor, Adrian, and the medical facility funded by Project Heir.But something bothered him.“Daniel, why is Eleanor listed as the patient?”Daniel adjusted the document on his tablet.“That's what I found unusual. The record identifies her as the person transferred, not the person accompanying the patient.”Alexander leaned forward.“Are you saying Eleanor was admitted to the clinic?”“Possibly. But this is a transfer summary, not a complete medical record. We need the original file before drawing that conclusion.”Jason looked at the date.The transfer happened eleven days before Richard disappeared.“Find out where she was transferred.”“We're working on it. The clinic's archive was transferred to a private medical records custodian after it closed. Our legal team has submitted a formal pres
CHAPTER 27
THE WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED Jason remained at his desk long after the investigators had taken the original security register away for examination. The name Eleanor Price was written on a sheet of paper in front of him. For twenty-nine years, she had existed in the background of the Blackwell family's history. Now, a single entry in an old register had brought her into the centre of the investigation. Alexander stood beside the window, staring at the estate grounds. “Eleanor was not just Richard's secretary,” he said. “She managed his private correspondence, maintained his appointment records, and handled documents that never passed through the ordinary administrative offices.” “Did she know about Project Heir?” Jason asked. “I can't say for certain. But if anyone outside Richard's immediate circle knew about his confidential arrangements, Eleanor would have been one of them.” Jason looked down at his notes.“Why was she reported missing three days after your brother disappeared?”
CHAPTER 26
THE SECRET OF THE SECOND KEY Alexander read the message twice.Then he slowly lowered the phone.“Where did you get this?” Jason turned the screen toward him. YOU'RE LEARNING TO USE YOUR INHERITANCE. GOOD. NOW ASK ALEXANDER WHAT HE DID WITH THE SECOND KEY. For several seconds, neither man spoke.Finally, Alexander pulled out a chair and sat down.“I was wondering when someone would bring that up.” Jason studied him. “So there really was a second key?” “Yes.” “What happened to it?” Alexander rubbed his forehead.“Richard designed the original security system with two physical authentication keys. One was kept in the estate's secure records room. The other was issued to him personally. They were designed to work alongside individual access credentials. Neither key could independently unlock the restricted archives.” “Where is the one Richard carried?” “I don't know.” Jason leaned forward. “You don't know, or you don't want to tell me?” “I don't know, Jason. The last
CHAPTER 25
THE ENEMY INSIDE THE ESTATEJason read the message again.STOP LOOKING FOR THE OTHER HEIR.YOU HAVE ALREADY FOUND HIM.He turned toward Alexander.“Whoever sent this wants us to believe the other heir is someone we already know.”Alexander stared at the screen. “Or they want us to waste time questioning everyone around us.”“Either way, they know we're investigating Project Heir.”Daniel brought up the access records.“The attempt was made from a terminal in the east wing. That section contains offices used by the estate's senior administrative staff.”“Who was there?” Jason asked.“I'm checking the security footage.”“Don't announce the investigation to the staff. I want the records preserved before anyone has an opportunity to alter them.”Daniel nodded.Alexander remained beside the monitor, studying the message.“Jason, there's something we need to consider. The warning might be designed to make you distrust the people around you.”“I'm aware of that.”“Then don't let it turn you ag
CHAPTER 24
THE HEIR NOBODY KNEWJason read the recovered document again.PROJECT HEIR STATUS: ACTIVE.PROTECT THE HEIR.DO NOT DISCLOSE THE SECOND NAME.The words had been written by his father on the night he disappeared.For twenty-nine years, Jason had believed that Richard's greatest secret was the reason he had never returned home. Now he was beginning to suspect that his disappearance was connected to someone else whose identity had been deliberately concealed.He turned toward Daniel.“Can the Blackwell Protocol identify Project Heir?”“I've already searched the accessible records,” Daniel replied. “The project exists in the archive, but most of its information is restricted.”“Restricted by whom?”“Your father.”Jason looked at Alexander.“Can you authorize access?”“No. I never knew this project existed.”“Then how do we open it?”Daniel brought up the access requirements.“The archive lists two conditions. First, confirmation that Richard Blackwell's original authorization is authentic
CHAPTER 23
THE FIRST ORDER OF A BLACKWELL HEIRAt 7:15 the following morning, Jason Blackwell walked into the conference room of the Blackwell estate wearing a dark suit.For the first time since inheriting his father's fortune, he had requested a formal meeting with the people responsible for managing it.He had no intention of spending the day staring at screens while strangers investigated his family's past.If the Blackwell name carried the influence Alexander claimed, Jason wanted to understand exactly how far that influence reached.Daniel stood beside the main display.“Everyone is connected,” he said. “The financial director, the head of security, the legal department, and the regional managers. Some are attending remotely.”Jason looked around the room.“How many people know I'm taking control of the investigation?”“Only those who need to know.”“Good. Keep it that way.”The screen illuminated, revealing several faces.A grey-haired man introduced himself as Edward Shaw, the senior finan
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