Secretly The Quadrillionaire's Heir

Chapter 3

It had been ten years since Felix left the orphanage. Ten long years spent chasing a better life. He had left with nothing but a dream, hoping to find work or start a business.

That was when he met Redds Carlos on the very day he was looking for a job. Felix started working for him, both at his store and in his house. Yet, he never received a single paycheck. His only "compensation" was a roof over his head. No more, no less.

Then, out of nowhere, they asked him to marry their daughter ‘to save her reputation,’ they said. He did it. And what did he get in return for all his loyalty and sacrifice?

Betrayal.

With a heavy sigh, Felix turned back toward the house. He got dressed, grabbed his bike, and set off toward the countryside, which was the location of the orphanage where his life had begun.

As the wind hit his face during the ride, the crazy moments he had in the orphanage home kept flooding through his mind. The orphanage wasn’t exactly a safe haven. Even there, life had been cruel.

He was weak, small, and easily bullied. He was one of the unfortunate few who never got picked for games and always got blamed for trouble.

All he knew about his past was that he was dropped off at the orphanage when he was barely six. Everything before that was a blank slate. The only thing he had from that time was the golden locket around his neck that he never removed. Even his name, Felix Drake, was given to him by the orphanage.

When he finally arrived, he parked his bike and walked up to the worn brick building.

The only person he really wanted to see was Granny Emma.

She had been the head of the orphanage and the only adult who ever truly cared for him. She encouraged him to stay strong and keep his head up even when life was unbearable.

But before he could reach the door, he saw a familiar figure step into view.

Mark Easton.

His sworn enemy from the orphanage.

Felix's stomach twisted. Mark had always made life hell for him.

He could remember having five friends from the orphanage who acted cool around him. But well, Mark being the devil's advocate, kept poisoning their minds about him till they began treating him with scorn and contempt.

He had hoped never to cross paths with that devil again. But here he was.

And judging by his sharp navy-blue suit and smug expression, life had clearly treated Mark very well.

“Hey, pauper!” Mark called out with a cruel smirk as he strode toward him. It's been so long since he saw him but his attitude never changed. It only got worse. “Looking for scraps in the orphanage, huh?”

Felix didn’t flinch. “I came to visit. That’s not a crime, is it?”

Mark scoffed, slipping his hands into his pockets. “None of my fucking business, dude. I just stopped by to drop off a donation. You know, charity work. What about you?” He paused dramatically. “Oops! My bad. I forgot. I mean how can a stone-broke boy give to charities when he can't even feed himself?" His tone was full of scorn and sarcasm, earning a few snickers from the onlookers nearby.

Felix gritted his teeth in anger and balled his fists. He swallowed hard, suppressing his anger. If he was to vent out his anger, it would be a deadly sight. He turned away from him, ready to ignore him.

"Who do we have here?" Another snide voice rang out. Felix turned to see Karl Whales approaching; Mark’s long-time partner in crime and fellow tormentor.

“Isn’t it our dear old Felix?” Karl sneered. “What are you even wearing? Tsk. I thought maybe you'd be on our level by now. But look at you, worse off than our drivers.”

Both men burst into laughter.

Felix could feel all eyes on him. Onlookers glanced at him with awkwardness. The humiliation stung like fire, but he kept his composure.

He hated these two to the core. Karl was Mark's best friend and his minion. They always insulted him and led other kids to do so.There were even times when he got beaten by them.

As Felix recalled those moments, his eyes turned glassy, almost ready to retort back. Nevertheless, he tried his best to stay silent as they say 'silence is the best answer to a fool'.

Mark looked him up and down with a grin. “Still the same silent loser, huh?” His eyes landed on the worn locket around Felix's neck, and he chuckled cruelly. “Don’t tell me you still wear that junk? Man, even my cheapest ring costs more than that.”

Of course. Mark's ten fingers were filled with ten sparkly rings. Even when they were still young, he would use up all his savings to buy rings.

“Yeah, that’s his greatest treasure,” Karl chimed in. “Remember how he used to say he didn’t know where it came from, but it was precious to him? Always clinging to cheap, fake trash. Bloody son of a bitch.”

"Look at his worn out sandals, it's giving me a wave... Urghhh," Mark mocked as they laughed.

Felix stared at them as his face darkened in anger. He snapped his fingers lightly against his thigh to calm himself.

Then he saw her.

Granny Emma emerged from the building, and the moment his eyes landed on her, everything else faded.

“Granny!” he called, running forward.

“Oh my stars! My baby Felly!” she cried, opening her arms wide. He hugged her tightly, inhaling the familiar scent of rosewater and warmth.

“My goodness, you’ve grown into such a fine young man,” she said, cupping his cheeks with teary eyes. “How have you been, dear?”

“I’ve been alright, ma,” he replied, holding her hands gently.

They chatted warmly, ignoring the snickering in the background. But then, her expression turned serious when she remembered the most important reason why she wanted to see him.

“There’s something I need to tell you, Felly,” she began. “There’s a man who’s been looking for you for years now. He started coming around a year after you left. And he still hasn’t stopped asking about you.”

Felix’s brow furrowed. “Who is he? Why is he looking for me?”

He couldn't remember having any issues with anybody after he left the orphanage. The only thing he ever did was to serve the Carlos', day-in-day-out.

Mark, of course, couldn’t resist jumping in. “Why else? Maybe he needs a new houseboy!”

More laughter followed.

“Just ignore them, Felix,” Granny said softly.

And then, like a scene from a movie, three high-end cars screeched to a halt in front of the orphanage gates.

Two were black Rolls-Royce Phantom EWBs, and in the center was a jaw-dropping Bugatti La Voiture Noire, worth a staggering $18 million.

Six men in tailored black suits stepped out of the Rolls-Royces and took formation on either side of the Bugatti.

The driver of the Bugatti, also in black, walked briskly to the back seat and opened the door with leather gloves then bowed.

A black shimmering shoe was out followed by another. The door to the seat opened widely and a poised peerless man of 60-something years old receded out with the air of royalty.

All six guards bowed in unison.

The orphanage courtyard fell completely silent.

Even Mark and Karl stopped laughing.