The Billionaire Heir's Revenge

Chapter 3: The Return of the True Heir

The convoy raced through the city like a moving fortress.

Inside the lead limousine, Ethan Blackwell sat silently beside Sebastian Cole.

The dazzling city lights flashed across the windows.

Only hours ago, he had been a discarded husband carrying a single suitcase.

Now, dozens of luxury vehicles escorted him through the streets.

The change was so sudden that it almost felt unreal.

"Young Master."

Sebastian's voice broke the silence.

Ethan looked up.

"Tell me everything."

Sebastian nodded.

"The Blackwell Dynasty is the wealthiest family in the world."

"We operate in more than two hundred countries."

"We own banks, energy companies, airlines, technology firms, hospitals, ports, and defense contractors."

Ethan frowned.

"If my family was so powerful, why was I abandoned?"

A shadow crossed Sebastian's face.

"I cannot answer that."

"Why?"

"Because even I don't know the complete truth."

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

That answer only raised more questions.

Sebastian continued.

"Your grandfather ordered everyone to keep your identity hidden."

"He said the day would come when you would inherit everything."

"The reason remains unknown."

Ethan leaned back.

For the first time, curiosity replaced anger.

Who exactly had his grandfather been?

And why had his life been hidden for so many years?

Before he could ask more questions, the limousine entered the city's financial district.

Towering above every other building stood a skyscraper that seemed to touch the clouds.

Its golden logo gleamed brightly.

BLACKWELL GLOBAL.

Ethan stared at it.

Even from outside, the building radiated power.

The limousine stopped.

Immediately, security personnel lined both sides of the entrance.

More than one hundred executives stood waiting.

The moment Ethan stepped out—

Every person bowed.

"Welcome home, Young Master!"

The voices echoed through the night.

Ethan paused.

For a brief moment, he felt overwhelmed.

These were people who controlled entire industries.

Yet they were bowing to him.

Sebastian smiled.

"They've been waiting for years."

Inside the building, private elevators carried them directly to the top floor.

The boardroom occupied an entire level.

A massive table stretched across the room.

More than thirty directors sat waiting.

Every one of them was a business legend.

As Ethan entered, they immediately stood.

The chairman of the board, a white-haired man named Leonard Pierce, stepped forward.

His eyes were emotional.

"Young Master."

"We finally meet."

Ethan nodded politely.

Leonard motioned toward the main seat.

A chair positioned at the head of the table.

The seat of the empire's ruler.

"Please."

Ethan sat down.

The room remained silent.

Everyone watched him carefully.

Some were excited.

Some were curious.

Others were skeptical.

After all, he was still a complete stranger.

Leonard cleared his throat.

"As per the late Chairman's will, Ethan Blackwell officially becomes Chairman of Blackwell Global Holdings effective immediately."

The announcement filled the room.

Most directors applauded.

A few remained expressionless.

One of them suddenly spoke.

"Chairman Leonard."

The room turned.

A middle-aged executive named Richard Kane slowly stood.

Ethan noticed the subtle arrogance in his eyes.

Richard looked directly at him.

"With all due respect, Young Master Ethan may be the legal heir."

"But does he have the qualifications to lead us?"

The room became tense.

Several directors exchanged glances.

The challenge had begun.

Richard continued.

"This company generates trillions annually."

"We cannot entrust everything to someone with no business experience."

Several directors nodded.

Ethan remained calm.

He understood.

These people didn't know him.

Respecting his title didn't mean respecting him.

Leonard frowned.

"Richard—"

"It's a reasonable concern."

Richard interrupted.

Then he turned toward Ethan.

"Young Master."

"May I ask what your greatest business achievement is?"

Silence.

Everyone waited.

Ethan smiled slightly.

"My greatest achievement?"

Richard nodded.

"Yes."

Ethan thought for a moment.

Then answered honestly.

"For the last three years, I managed an entire household on less than three hundred dollars a month."

The room froze.

Several directors nearly choked.

Richard laughed openly.

"A household?"

Ethan nodded.

"I cooked."

"I cleaned."

"I negotiated with unreasonable people daily."

A few directors struggled to suppress smiles.

Even Leonard looked amused.

Richard smirked.

"That's hardly comparable to running a trillion-dollar corporation."

Ethan leaned forward.

"Maybe not."

"Then again..."

His eyes sharpened.

"Neither is losing four hundred million dollars in one quarter."

Richard's smile vanished.

The room instantly fell silent.

Leonard blinked.

Several directors looked shocked.

Richard's face darkened.

"Excuse me?"

Ethan calmly picked up a report lying on the table.

"I read the financial reports while waiting outside."

He flipped through several pages.

"Your investment division lost four hundred and twenty-seven million dollars."

"Your overseas expansion exceeded budget by thirty percent."

"And your division's employee turnover is the highest in the company."

Richard's expression became ugly.

How had he noticed all that in just a few minutes?

Ethan closed the report.

"You questioned my qualifications."

"So I reviewed yours."

A few directors couldn't hide their smiles.

Richard clenched his fists.

Before he could respond—

A secretary suddenly rushed into the room.

Her face was pale.

"Chairman!"

Everyone turned.

"What happened?" Leonard asked.

The secretary swallowed hard.

"We've received urgent news."

"Sterling International's stock is collapsing."

The room became silent.

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

That was fast.

The secretary continued.

"Three major investors withdrew their funding."

"Several banks have frozen negotiations."

"The company's market value has already dropped by twenty percent."

Richard frowned.

"What caused it?"

The secretary looked toward Ethan.

Then toward Sebastian.

Nobody spoke.

But everyone understood.

The timing couldn't be coincidence.

Leonard slowly smiled.

Richard's face turned pale.

Meanwhile—

Across the city—

Inside Sterling International's headquarters—

Damien Sterling slammed his fist onto a conference table.

"What do you mean they withdrew?"

A terrified executive answered.

"They refused to explain."

"Every investor pulled out simultaneously."

Damien's face twisted.

Impossible.

This couldn't be happening.

Not overnight.

Not without warning.

Then his phone rang.

He immediately answered.

"Hello?"

The caller spoke only one sentence.

Damien's face instantly turned white.

"What?!"

The call ended.

His hands trembled.

The executive staff looked nervous.

"President Sterling..."

"What happened?"

Damien slowly lowered the phone.

Fear appeared in his eyes for the first time.

"A buyer."

"What buyer?"

Damien swallowed.

Then whispered the name.

"Blackwell Global."

The room exploded into panic.

Back at Blackwell Global Headquarters, Ethan stood and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The entire city stretched beneath him.

For three years, he had been forced to look up at people.

Now the city itself lay beneath his feet.

His phone suddenly vibrated.

A message from Sophia Hart.

The first message she had sent him in months.

Ethan opened it.

Only six words appeared on the screen.

"Ethan, can we talk?"

He stared at the message for several seconds.

Then smiled.

Not warmly.

Not kindly.

Coldly.

Finally.

The regret had begun.