Rags To Riches: The Rise Of Mr. Nobody.

Chapter 5: The Revelation.

He sat on the couch, gaze fixed absently on the man lying on the bed.

"I had an accident two months ago, on my way back from a meeting," he said slowly, his voice raspy.

"How did you know it was staged?"

The man coughed slightly, then continued, "I received an anonymous message with threats that morning."

"Did you know who might have done it?" Jayden asked, his jaw tightening, a knot of unease tightening in his gut.

"My stepbrothers. They wanted me to invest in their... shady business, but I refused."

Jayden nodded, his mind racing, trying to process the implications.

"Why didn't you come to me sooner? Why now?"

The man glanced at him and smiled weakly, a wisp of a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I tried. But your father had his ways. If you can remember, I came looking for you when you were young – at your school, and promised to visit often," the man muttered, audible enough for Jayden to hear. He cleared his throat, a painful sound. "But your father called me. He told me to stop visiting you if I didn't want you in danger."

Jayden swallowed, a lump forming in his throat. The silence that followed felt heavy with unspoken history. "You didn't come when my parents died."

Albert's smile faded, replaced by a deep sadness as he looked at the floor. "I couldn't afford to lose you the way I lost your parents and your grandmother. I didn't come to you directly, but I hired two guardians to look after you and had them change your name from Jayden Calderon to Jayden Hart."

Jayden gasped, his mouth half open, a cold dread creeping up his spine. "Y—you did?"

The man nodded gently, his gaze steady, filled with a profound regret. "I had to. Those who orchestrated your parents' deaths were also after you. I had to change your name so we could get them off your back."

His eyes widened, the room seeming to spin. This was too much for him to absorb. The foundations of his life were cracking.

"D—did you know about my parents' death?" he stuttered, his voice trembling.

"Yes. They staged my accident, orchestrated your parents' deaths, and killed your grandmother."

"Wait... what?" The words felt foreign on his tongue.

"Why? Were you into the shady business?" Jayden tilted his head, a desperate attempt to understand better.

"I wasn't. I had greedy family members who'd do anything to get richer. My family wanted my riches."

‘What the hell is this?’ Jayden thought, a wave of disorientation washing over him.

"What made you and my father quarrel?" Jayden asked, his voice tighter now, tinged with a nascent anger.

Albert coughed more than expected. Jayden grabbed water for him, his hands steady despite the turmoil inside.

"Here. I must have stressed you," Jayden said, a flicker of concern on his face that warred with his own shock. "We'll continue later."

Albert shook his head vigorously, a desperate plea in his eyes. "N—no. You deserve all these explanations. I know you have too many questions, and I will answer. Please pardon my health."

"Are you sure?" Jayden pressed, narrowing his eyes, a flicker of suspicion mixing with his confusion.

"Your father wanted a normal life, away from wealth.Your father wanted to be a photographer; I wanted him to be a businessman like me. But he insisted. I tried convincing him, but it was futile. So, I established a gallery—something that would keep him under the family's business." He swallowed hard, a tremor running through him. "He was convinced later, but everything changed when my wife died. It was orchestrated. That time, he had you. To protect you, he decided to leave. For protection, he changed his name from Michael Valdez to Michael Calderon."

Jayden shook his head, a profound sense of loss settling in his chest. This wasn't just about wealth; it was about fractured family and stolen lives. "Since my father doesn't want me to have anything to do with you, then I don't think I'll be involved in this risky thing you call wealth."

The man shook his head instantly, his voice growing weaker but more urgent. "N—no. You're the only hope right now. To avenge your parents' death, your grandmother's death, your little sister's attempted murder, and your grandfather's accident and—"

His mouth fell open. "W-what did you just say? My little sister?" he asked, his brows furrowing in disbelief and a dawning horror.

Albert nodded, his gaze pleading. "Yes, your little sister. Your parents were rushed into the hospital. Your mother went into labor. She had your sister and died. I had to get the child out of the hospital and hired guardians for her."

"Wait... what?" The world tilted again.

*Is there still so much that I don't know?* Jayden thought, a chilling realization dawning.

"That was the only way to protect my grandchildren. Jayden, please… I don't want all my hard work to go into the wrong hands."

Jayden stared blankly, the weight of Albert's words pressing down on him. "What makes you think I'll do well?"

"You will. This isn't about inheritance only. You get to meet those leeches," his voice was low and shaky, a hint of fear and desperation in his tone.

Jayden heart skipped?

‘Will I be able to handle them?’

“D-do you still know where my sister is?” Jayden asked, still unsure.

“She's still with her guidarns… you can go find her, but I want you to have what it takes to protect her. Because once they find out? They'll be after her too.”

Jayden closed his eyes, tightened his fist and sighed.

‘I just found out about her… I'll do everything to protect her,’ his subconscious mind said.

“If I accept to do this… will I be able to protect her?”

“Your protections have been planned. Everything you'll need will be given to you. Mr. Rodriguez will be your assistant. He'll explain how running a business works and make sure you're protected.”

Jayden stared at him for a while and nodded.

He didn't know if he should be grateful for protecting him and his sister since they were little or be angry at him about his about to be exposed life to danger.

“I'll have Rodriguez send you her guidarns’ address. Visit her when you're ready. I'll explain to her foster parents. I named her Ashley.”

“T-thank you, grandfather. I'll take my leave now.”

Albert face lit in excitement at the mentioned ‘grandfather.’

“Please, visit this old man often.”

Jayden smile sheepishly and nodded.

He approached the door but a voice stopped him

“Jayden!”

He looked back, direction now on his grandfather.

“I love you and your sister. I'll never try to expose you to danger without making plans for you.”

Jayden nodded and left.