RISING FROM THE ASHES

REVEAL

Davis remained dazed.

"I'm dreaming," He muttered as he pinched himself. Then he looked at the message again. It was still there. Now he was sure everything was real, but he couldn't figure out how he had received such huge amount of money.

He wondered if this was a scam or someone had mistakenly sent the money to his account. While he was in a panic, his phone began to ring.

It was a strange number that had a G and three sevens, "G - 777"

Fear gripped Davis. After taking a deep breath, he picked up the call and said slowly, "Hello!"

The voice on the other end sounded, "Good evening Young Master, this is Steward Luke from the Gardner family. I'm sure you've received the money."

David's voice trembled, "Yes, I'll send it right back immediately, I didn't touch the money."

Although, he didn't know who was calling, but someone who could mistakenly send 10 billion dollars to his account can definitely track him if he tries to spend the money and run away.

Steward Luke chuckled," Young master, you don't need to return the money. The money is yours. It's your welcome back gift to the Gardner family."

"Young master? Welcome back Gift? Which Gardner family? " Davis asked confusedly.

Steward Luke's voice came through the phone again, "The Capital Gardner family."

Boom!

Davis was shocked. Even if he was at the bottom of the society, he had definitely heard about the Gardner family. The family was like a legend to people in the bottom of the society. They were one of the most powerful families in the whole country.

Although, he didn't really understand Steward Luke's words very well, he figured he had a connection to the powerful and mysterious Gardner family. But how? He? A common delivery man?

Davis' heart raced as he had a dumbfounded expression. Steward Luke called him three times over the phone before he responded to the last.

"Young master, I've sent a car to your location, it will take you to where I am and we can sit down and discuss." Steward Luke said.

Davis agreed almost immediately. He was both confused and curious at the same time. It felt almost unbelievable. In no time, a car arrived at the bridge and Davis still stunned about how fast everything was happening, got in absentmindedly, still processing what Steward Luke told him.

The car looked simple on the outside. However, entering inside, it felt like another world. The phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover" was tailored made for the car.

Despite, it's simple exterior, the interior was extremely luxurious. It had a TV screen that provided entertained, a mini fridge with drinks in it. The seats were soft and when fallen could provide good comfort like a bed. Regardless of the things in it, the car was spacious with enough legroom and headroom to make sure passengers were quite comfortable.

Not just the interior, the vehicle engine was good and had a soft noise. Infact, it was enough to say that the car was a mini house and a person could live in it comfortably for the rest of his life.

The driver drove not too fast and not too slow and in no time the car pulled up in front of a coffee shop. The whole shop was quiet and empty except for a well dressed old man who was sitting which Davis suspected was Steward Luke and of course he had the feeling that the whole coffee shop had been booked by him to ensure their privacy.

Davis sat down nervously opposite Steward Luke who had a comfortable smile on his face. He immediately ordered for two cups of coffee before speaking.

"It's really been a long time, young master. You've grown."

Davis raised his eyebrows in confusion, "Long time? What do you mean?"

From Steward Luke's words, it was as if they were familiar with each other but Davis knew this was the first time he was meeting Steward Luke.

At that moment, the coffee was placed on their table. Steward Luke took a deep breath, blew on the coffee, took a sip and finally said.

"My name is Luke Archibong, well, you can just call me Steward Luke like everyone else and I'm the Steward or Butler of the Gardner family from the Capital. So it means, I handle a lot of the family affairs and make sure everything is in order."

Davis shook hearing this.

The name Luke Archibong was a powerful name in the business world but hearing that such a powerful person was a butler to the Gardner family. It shook him and made him wonder just how powerful the Gardner family really is.

Steward Luke smiled, he knew the moment he called his full name, Davis would react. Then he said.

"And yes, we have met before."

Davis raised his eyebrows in shock..

Steward Luke continued, "When you were born, the Gardner family rejoiced because there were auspicious signs which showed that you were not going to be ordinary. The Patriarch, your grandfather was said to be the happiest and you were cherished by everyone. Infact, you were handled like an egg. However... ".

Steward Luke sighed with sadness before saying," However, you became seriously sick at the age of two. Your Grandfather had the best medical skill in the whole Gardner family and almost the whole country and yet he could not heal you. We looked for different solutions but to no avail. Just when the family was at his darkest, an old woman came to the family saying she had a way to heal you."

"At first, your grandfather was furious because he kept your illness hidden so outsiders would not know about it and he wondered how she knew. After calming down, he listened to the old woman. First, she stated her conditions to treat you which your grandfather immediately agreed to. Then she told him, the solution was to send you away from the Gardner family, strip you away from wealth, power, to live a miserable life and you can only return to the family when you become 24 years old."

"The Patriarch suspected her and thought she was an enemy and this was all a trick but she was willing to swear and your grandfather out of no other option decided to follow her advice and immediately that was done, your health improved. Despite being distant from you, the family kept watching you but we were unable to do anything to assist you when you needed it because the old woman said we could not intervene in your life until you became twenty four (24). "

Davis who was listening, stared blankly as the whole story felt like a fairytale but seeing Steward Luke's serious expression, he knew he was not joking.

With his breathing being erratic, Davis asked," So I'm one of the members of the Gardner family?"

Steward Luke shook his head sorrowfully and replied, "Not at all"

Davis was confused. Just then, Steward Luke's voice broke into his thoughts.

"You're not just any member of the Gardner family. You are the heir of the Gardner family."