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THE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR JAZZ AND SUSPICION
Marvin moved through the grand hall with calculated ease, his sharp eyes scanned every corner as he searched for Jessica Zypher. His expression remained neutral, giving no hint of the unease growing within him. She was gone, nowhere to be seen. Yet Marvin was careful not to let his frustration show. He couldn’t afford to appear desperate or out of control—not here, not now.Instead, he let his mind work behind his calm facade. Did Jessica plan this? Was she watching him even now? Marvin knew better than to underestimate her. Jessica Zypher was not just dangerous—she was unpredictable, and unpredictability always brought risk.His thoughts sharpened as he reminded himself of his disguise. Tonight, he wasn’t Marvin; he was Nikolaj Sternberg, a name and face meticulously crafted to remove any suspicion of his true identity. If Jessica had already seen through the disguise, she might strike at any moment.Still scanning the room, Marvin’s movements remained casual, as though he we
THE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR A SEAT BESIDE DANGER
Marvin’s chest tightened as he stood frozen, staring at Jessica Zypher. For a moment, his carefully composed facade nearly cracked. The sight of her was like a blade cutting through his confidence. She was here, right in front of him, and the sheer weight of her presence was suffocating.He swallowed hard, willing himself to stay calm. He knew he had to control his reaction. If she sensed even a flicker of recognition, it would all be over and his carefully meticulous plan to defeat her would totally shatter. Finally, forcing himself to speak, he managed to say, “Hello,” though his voice sounded far more strained than he intended.Jessica’s piercing eyes lingered on him, they were sharp and calculating eyes. She tilted her head slightly, and her lips curved into a faint smile. For a moment, she didn’t reply, and the silence between them was almost unbearable.“Hello,” she finally said, her voice was smooth and deliberate. “I am Jessica Zypher.”Marvin felt his throat tighten at th
THE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR THE SMIRK AND THE MASK
Marvin watched as Jessica smirked, her gaze was sharp and unwavering. Her expression carried a mix of amusement and intrigue, as if she enjoyed keeping him guessing.“Let’s just say,” she said, with a voice that was low and deliberate, “I find you… interesting.”Marvin forced himself to maintain a calm demeanor. He gave a small, polite nod, masking the unease building inside him. Yet, her words echoed in his mind, tugging at his thoughts. What did she mean by ‘interesting’? Was it a casual remark, or was there something more?He studied her carefully, but her confident smirk gave nothing away. Her face was unreadable, like a well-crafted mask. The ambiguity of her words made his mind race with possibilities.Jessica seemed to notice the slight change in his expression, the questioning look in his eyes. Her smirk deepened, and her tone softened slightly, though it still carried a subtle edge.“Your show of dominance,” she said, leaning in slightly, with eyes that were locked onto h
THE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR THE SMILING ASSASSIN
Marvin tilted his head slightly, forcing a faint smile. “Project Helios? What is Project Helios?” he asked, feigning ignorance with the practiced ease of someone accustomed to hiding in plain sight.Jessica raised an eyebrow, her expression flickered with surprise before a sly smile crept onto her lips. “Wait—you’re in Neovalle, and you have no idea what Project Helios is?” Her tone danced on the line between incredulity and amusement.Marvin shrugged with calculated casualness, leaning back as if her words hadn’t pricked at his nerves. Marvin shrugged casually. “Well, Jessica, I told you that I’m not based here. I’m European, remember? I got invited by a friend to this Neovalle Day celebration.”Jessica blinked, her disbelief barely masked. Then she chuckled, it was a soft, controlled sound that felt as though it was meant more for herself than him. “Oh, yes. I forgot. Looks like my excitement is getting the better of me.” Her laugh was light, even friendly, but Marvin didn’t miss
THE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR THE CONFESSION
The governor adjusted the microphone on the podium, cleared his throat, and began his speech.His voice boomed through the ballroom speakers—it was formal yet warm.“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here tonight to celebrate Neovalle Day—a day that reflects the spirit of progress and innovation in our great state.”The audience responded with polite applause. Marvin sat, folding his hands as though attentive. In reality, his thoughts were a mess, tangled in frustration and dread.Beside him, Jessica leaned back in her chair, her body was relaxed. She appeared to be so assured of herself, like someone who already knew how the night would end.The governor continued, his voice was swelling with pride. “Our accomplishments over the years have been remarkable. Neovalle has become a hub of technology, industry, and economic opportunity. None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of individuals like you.”Jessica rolled her eyes and leaned closer to
THE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR THE BOLD PROPOSAL
Marvin sat still, his mind was racing as he watched Jessica, trying to read her reaction. Did she believe him? Or was she about to turn the game against him? He wasn’t sure if his gamble had worked. His heart beat faster, each second was stretching into an eternity.Suddenly, a hefty man in a dark suit approached their table. His broad shoulders and firm posture immediately drew Marvin’s attention. The man leaned down to Jessica, whispering something in her ear. Jessica’s expression shifted slightly, though it was hard to tell whether it was surprise or satisfaction.She stood up gracefully, smoothing her dress with an air of authority. Turning to Marvin, she offered a polite but distant smile. “Well, Mr. Sternberg, I have to see someone important. We’ll catch up after the event.” Her tone was cool and businesslike, as though their conversation had been little more than a passing amusement.Marvin nodded, forcing himself to look unbothered. “Of course. I’ll be here.” His voice was
THE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR THE MISSING CARD
Marvin woke up, and the sunlight spilled through the blinds of the hotel room. His body ached slightly, and as he shifted under the soft sheets, he realized he was completely naked. The events of the previous night rushed back to him—Jessica Zypher, her sharp eyes, her confident smile, and the fiery passionate intimacy they had shared.He turned his head, expecting to see her next to him. But the bed was empty. Marvin sat up, scanning the room. There was no trace of her. Her scent still lingered faintly in the air, but Jessica was gone. He let out a dry laugh, shaking his head."What a bitch," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. "Just disappeared like a ghost, huh?"Scratching his blonde beard, he frowned. "Ah, this beard. Such a burden," he grumbled. "So much for a Scandinavian disguise."Marvin stood up and walked across the room, his bare feet was silent on the carpeted floor. He made his way to the entrance of the hotel room, carefully locking the door. S
THE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR REVEALED
Marvin stood frozen for a moment, staring at the empty pocket of his trousers. His mind raced. How could his Diamond Royale card be gone? That card never left his possession—it was worth billions, his lifeline for the upcoming auction.“No, no, this can’t be,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head. He patted down every inch of the trousers again, as though he might have missed it the first time. But the pocket was empty.His chest tightened with panic. “How? When? That card never leaves me. I’m not a careless person. No. This doesn’t make sense,” he said aloud, trying to calm his rising frustration.Marvin turned his attention to the rest of the room. Maybe it had fallen out while he was asleep or during his intimate moment with Jessica. He began searching every corner.First, he checked the bed. He threw off the soft sheets and flipped over the pillows, scanning for any sign of the card. Nothing.He dropped to his knees and looked under the bed, running his hand along the carpet.
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GHOST OR GLADIATOR
The Prime Minister didn’t flinch. He looked straight into Marvin’s eyes, his voice was dropping to a grim tone.“Marvin, listen to me carefully. The Richmond family did not all agree on what happened to you.”Marvin’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”The Prime Minister sighed deeply, then leaned forward.“Our family… the Richmonds… we are not united anymore. We’re divided into two strong factions.”He raised two fingers to make his point.“One side—your side—believes you fought bravely. They believe that if not for your sacrifice and bold stand, the Richmonds would never have gotten a voice with regards to the attainment of the Astralyte. They believe you deserve protection and honor, not death.”Marvin listened closely.“These ones are loyal to the legacy of our founder, Paul Richmond. They know what you’ve done. And they will never support any attack on your life.”A small breath of relief escaped Marvin’s lips.But the Prime Minister wasn’t done.He slowly lowered his hand, his v
THE ELIMINATION ORDER
Marvin’s eyes remained fixed on the strange man in the silver mask. His heart thumped harder with every passing second.The mark of the Synapticore glowed faintly on the man’s forehead—proof that this visitor was not just anyone. He was one of them. One of the Coven of Elders, the one who passed the decree against the extraction of the Astralyte.Marvin’s lips parted slightly, but words failed him. He tried to sit up more in bed, with eyes that were narrowed in disbelief.The man took one step forward and spoke again—his voice was smooth and calm, yet carrying an odd electric tone that seemed to buzz through the air.“Good day, Mr. Marvin,” the man greeted again, his voice sending chills down Marvin’s spine.Marvin finally found his voice, though his words came out slower than usual.“G-Good day,” he replied, still staring at the mask. “I know that mark, I know you… You’re from the Coven of Elders… from Westwood…”Before he could say more, the door opened again.Uncle Christopher ste
SHE HATES ME... BUT SHE LOVES ME
Uncle Christopher sighed and stepped closer to Marvin, lowering his voice.“It’s not severe,” he said softly. “At least, not yet. The doctors say there’s hope… but it’s going to take time. A lot of care, patience, and the right treatment. This condition… it doesn’t heal in a week or two. But she can get better.”Marvin’s jaw tightened. His heart felt heavy, but he nodded slowly.Without a word, he reached for the wheels of his chair and rolled himself closer to the bed.The sound of the wheels on the tiled floor echoed in the quiet room.When he stopped just beside her, he reached out and gently touched her wrist.“Helena…” he said softly. “It’s me. It’s Marvin.”At first, she didn’t react. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.Then slowly, her head turned—and her eyes were locked onto his.But instead of relief or recognition, her face twisted in confusion and disgust.“No…” she whispered. “No, you’re not him.”Her voice rose slightly. “Get away from me! You’re not my Marvin. You’r
WHAT BROKE HELENA
Uncle Christopher’s eyes narrowed.He stepped closer to Marvin and crossed his arms.“This isn’t just about Helena… or your father,” he said. “It’s bigger than that. What you did at the last WG-8 Summit… it shook Westwood to its core.”Marvin blinked.“My speech?”Uncle Christopher nodded slowly.“You gave out information that no one thought you had access to. You exposed secret dealings, illegal contracts, and power abuses—especially from the leaders of the Power Families. The entire Council of Elders turned on them that day. You embarrassed them… and you made enemies.”Marvin’s brows furrowed.“But… why would they see me as a threat?” he asked. “I’m based here in Neovalle. I run a solar based tech company. My focus is innovation. I don’t even want anything in Westwood. Even when I finally get to hold the Astralyte… my goals haven’t changed. It's not like I intend to conquer Westwood.”Uncle Christopher gave a slow, tired nod.“I know, Marvin. I know you’re not after thrones or terri
THE AFTERMATH
About four hours later, Marvin’s eyes opened again.He squinted.A sharp pain stabbed through his head.He winced, groaning softly.His body was no longer shaking. The chaos had passed. But the pain was still there—deep and dull, resting behind his forehead.Slowly, he turned his head to the side.The beeping machine beside him was still working… but this time, the sound was calm. His heart rate was steady.He was breathing normally.The air felt less heavy now.He was awake… and he was alive.Just then, the door opened.Uncle Christopher walked in with a careful step, holding a file in his hand. His eyes moved quickly to Marvin—and when he saw him awake, sitting up a little, all calm and steady, a deep breath escaped his chest.He smiled, softly.“You’re awake… again,” he said, with a calm voice.Marvin nodded slowly.He sat upright, moving his back against the pillow. The motion hurt a little, but he could handle it.Uncle Christopher moved closer, standing by his side now.He place
BETWEEN DEATH AND MADNESS
Marvin’s eyes twitched.Slowly… very slowly… they began to open.Everything was blurry.Light. Movement. Shadows.He tried to blink, but even that felt like lifting a mountain. His eyelids were heavy. His body felt like stone. His chest rose and fell with a deep struggle.Then came a sound—his own breath, rough and noisy. A cough tore through his throat, loud and painful. He gasped again, coughing hard, chest shaking like thunder inside him.“Uh… you are awake,” a calm voice said.It was familiar.Faint… but familiar.Marvin blinked again, this time harder.The blur started to clear.He could now make out a face.His uncle—Uncle Christopher—was sitting beside him.The old man looked tired, but his eyes were calm, filled with relief.Marvin tried to speak, but his voice cracked. His throat was dry.“O-… oxygen,” Marvin whispered.“You’re on it,” Uncle Christopher replied, softly pressing a hand on Marvin’s shoulder. “You’re in intensive care now. You’re safe.”Marvin glanced around
JUST A STEPPING STONE?
Dana Orion laughed again—louder this time, with wicked joy.“The great Marvin Richmond!” she shouted, spreading her arms wide as she slowly walked around him like a vulture circling a dying animal. “The young genius! The CEO of Helios Enterprise! The young man with the rare ultra mega Synapticore gift!”She leaned close and whispered into his ear.“Look at you now…”She pulled back and raised the Solstium Grip higher.“Chained like a dog. Sweating like a pig. Screaming like a coward!”Dana threw her head back and laughed again, cruel and sharp. Her laughter echoed through the empty garage like broken glass.“You built companies. You led tech enthusiasts. You inspired a generation. But now…” she leaned closer again, with her smile like poison, “you’re just spare parts.”Behind her, Helena stood frozen.Her eyes were fixed on Marvin—his body was trembling, his skin was pale, sweat was dripping down his face, his muscles were twitching from the pain.She said nothing.But her fingers tre
OF BLOOD POWER AND LIES
The world around Marvin was dark and quiet.It was no longer the golden, peaceful lounge of La Vie En Rose. No music. No warmth. Only the low hum of silence and the smell of rust and oil.Dim lights flickered from old, hanging bulbs. The walls were made of bare concrete, and the floor was stained with grease. Broken car parts, metal tools, and oil drums were scattered everywhere. It looked like an old, abandoned car garage. Cold. Lonely. Empty of life.The only sound was the soft drip of water from a leaking pipe in the corner.Marvin’s head felt heavy. His eyes were half-closed. His whole body was weak—like he had been running for days with no food, no rest. Sweat rolled down his forehead, sticking his hair to his face. His mouth was dry. His tongue felt thick.Slowly, he began to wake up more. He tried to move.That’s when he realized…He couldn’t.His arms were spread apart, each one was chained tightly to the sides of a steel pole. His legs too were stretched and chained to the
HER SMILE HIS DOWNFALL
As Marvin walked through La Vie En Rose, heads began to turn.Some people gasped quietly, others whispered to one another. Within seconds, smartphones were lifted into the air. Camera flashes blinked like fireflies.“Isn’t that Marvin Richmond?” someone whispered with excitement.“The CEO of Helios enterprise!”People started taking photos and recording short videos. A few stood up and came toward him politely, smiling and asking for autographs.Marvin smiled kindly, even as he kept moving. He paused for a moment, signing one or two with a graceful nod. But as more people began to gather, he raised a gentle hand and spoke with calm respect.“I appreciate the love, everyone,” he said warmly. “But I’m with someone special tonight. Maybe next time, alright?”There were no hard feelings. The patrons of La Vie En Rose were people of class and manners. They nodded with understanding and returned to their tables, still excited just to have seen him in person.Marvin returned to Helena’s s
