Once An Uber Driver, Now A Trillionaire!

9. On One Condition!

Tyler sat in silence, his chest tight, his pulse thundering in his ears. He watched as Blake slid a hand into his pocket and pulled out a photograph. Without a word, the old man extended it to him.

“Take a look at this,” Blake said, his tone carrying a weight that made Tyler’s palms damp.

Tyler accepted the photo, his eyes falling on the face of a stunning young woman.

She was in her Mid-twenties, had a model’s frame paired with a smile that could undo even the strongest resolve.

Her soft lips and radiant features pulled something from deep within Tyler—something he hadn’t felt in years. For the first time since his marriage, his eyes lingered in admiration on another woman.

He stared longer than he should have, and Blake’s voice broke through the moment.

“That woman you’re holding in your hands is Ariana Acosta,” Blake announced, his voice proud, almost reverent. “She is my granddaughter… and the current temporary supervisor, the supreme overall seer of ABC Companies.”

Tyler lifted his gaze, confusion flickering across his face. “And what about her? How is she connected to my… fortune?”

Blake chuckled lowly, pacing toward a mirror at the far end of the room. He stood there, his back to Tyler, hands clasped behind him.

“She isn’t just connected to your fortune, Tyler" Blake said, his reflection smirking back at him. “She is your real fortune. Ariana is the reason I am offering you everything. My wealth, my empires, companies, villas.. She is the reason I am handing you all these!"

Tyler’s mouth went dry. His voice cracked as he forced out, “Re… really?”

Blake turned, his expression hardening into something deadly serious. “Yes. She is the reason I want you to inherit all that I own.”

Tyler’s brows furrowed, the photograph trembling faintly in his grasp as Blake continued.

“When I first met you, I saw a lot of potential. Then I dug into your life… and what I discovered astonished me. You’ve remained loyal to your wife, even when she hasn’t shared a bed with you for years. Do you realize how rare that is? That loyalty, Mr. Hudson, is exactly what I’ve been searching for.”

Blake clasped his hands behind his back and stepped closer. His voice dropped, grave and sharp.

“My Ariana is my treasure. But she is surrounded by wolves—people who smile at her only because they think she will inherit my fortune. They circle her, waiting to strike, to drain her dry. Ariana is soft-hearted, too easily swayed. She needs someone who will shield her, someone who will open her eyes to the true nature of those around her.”

Tyler squinted, his mind racing, trying to piece together the unspoken truth.

Blake tapped the armrest of his chair, his tone final and absolute. “And that someone is you. You, Tyler Hudson. That is why I chose you.”

The air grew heavier. Tyler blinked, his throat tightening, though he already understood where this was heading. Still, he needed to hear it aloud.

He raised his eyes, locking them on Blake’s cold, calculating gaze. “So… in summary, you’re telling me that if I marry your granddaughter… you’ll give me everything you own?”

Blake’s lips curved into a chilling smile. He nodded. “Exactly!"

"I will grant you wealth beyond measure. Mansions, empires, political power, control of armies, partnerships in every corner of the globe. Everything, Tyler. The only condition is that you marry my granddaughter… and give her the protection this world cannot.”

Tyler froze, the photo trembling in his hands. He glanced at Ariana’s captivating smile, then at Blake’s unwavering stare. For a moment, he seemed ready to refuse.

Blake leaned back into his chair, crossing one leg over the other with calm precision. His eyes gleamed with dangerous patience. “The details are laid before you. The ball is in your court now. So tell me, Tyler—will you marry Ariana and claim the riches and power I offer? Or will you refuse… and live the rest of your life in poverty?”

Tyler’s breath quickened. His gaze fell back to the picture. That smile, that innocence—it called to him.

Yet another image forced its way into his mind: Becca.

Her image flashed on his head.

He remembered their wedding day. He remembered the moment he slid the wedding ring onto her finger. Kissing her lips with vows of forever echoing in his heart.

The war between memory and temptation tore at him...

Finally, Tyler lifted his head, meeting Blake’s piercing stare.

And with his voice low, steady, and heavy with the weight of choice, he answered.

"....