The Billionaire Takeover

Chapter 4

Kraig slowly regained consciousness, his eyes fluttering open to an unfamiliar and exquisitely decorated room.

For a moment, he thought he was still trapped in a dream. But as he tried to move, a sharp pang of pain in his arm reminded him that this was, in fact, reality.

Kraig was confused as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings. The room was vast, adorned with luxurious furnishings and intricate artwork. It exuded luxury and elegance.

'Am I dead?' A sudden fear shuddered him as his eyes welled up.

He tried to remember what had happened yesterday. He recalled being thrown out of the bar, and that was it, nothing else.

"Was I hit by a truck? Was I shot?" The words left his mouth, making him feel even more miserable.

"Why did I end up like this? I didn't even graduate from college..." He cried out, but then-

"Mrs. Rosa..." He heard a voice, and suddenly he froze for a moment.

Quietly, he rose from the bed, his limbs feeling heavy and unsteady. As he stepped out into the hallway, his senses were overwhelmed by the grandeur of the house he found himself in.

Kraig wandered through the expansive corridors, his footsteps echoing against the polished marble floors. 

There were many doors leading to different spacious rooms. Kraig opened each of them in the hope of finding an exit.

Lost in his thoughts, Kraig suddenly heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching from behind.

He instantly spun around and saw a woman behind him. His eyes wavered, searching if there were someone else, but he couldn't find any other person.

"Good morning, sir." The woman greeted.

Kraig still couldn't find the words to respond. He kept staring at the woman in confusion.

"Mr. DeVille is waiting for you." The woman lowered her head and said, "Follow me, young master."

"Young master?" Kraig's brows furrowed as he heard how the woman addressed him.

He looked around again and felt that maybe he was pulled into another world.

"Where is this place?" He asked.

"Your estate, sir." The woman's response caused Kraig to erupt into laughter.

He stared excitedly at the woman and said, "I must still be dreaming. This can't be my reality. I'm a nobody."

The woman smiled, tears well up in her eyes as she fixed her gaze on Kraig, "You must have suffered a lot. Follow me to Mr. DeVille."

"Okay," Kraig responded, not wanting to argue with the woman any further. He was going to play along. After all, it was much better here than his reality.

They arrived at the garden, and he saw an old man sitting in a palm shade, and beside it was a pool more significant than the ones he had seen before.

"It's good to see you awake. How many bottles did you have, son?" The old man asked him. His voice was straining.

"I don't quite remember," Kraig responded, and the man laughed.

"That's fine. Have a seat."

Kraig sat opposite the man, and just then-

Some people dressed up in a uniform placed different meals on the table. Kraig couldn't resist the delicious aroma of the meals. He tried to compose himself as he stared at the old man.

"You should eat and fill your stomach."

Kraig wanted to reject, but his stomach growled, making the old man laugh.

"I'm sorry." Kraig apologized, but the man told him to eat, and he ate from the fruits first.

The old man smiled as he watched Kraig eat. Tears suddenly well up in his eyes as he said, "Eighteen years ago, there was a tragic incident that shook the foundations of a once-happy family. A couple, full of love and dreams for their future, had their lives cut short in a devastating accident."

Kraig's eyes widened as he listened intently. He fixed his gaze on the old man and saw how devastated he looked.

Kraig's eyes unconsciously became moist as he listened.

"The couple had a two-year-old son, a precious soul who was the light of their lives. But in the terrible accident, the young boy went missing."

"For years, the grandfather, who is the only surviving family, searched tirelessly for the boy. Despite his efforts, the child was never found, and his hopes dimmed with each passing day."

Kraig's heart sank as he imagined the pain and anguish the boy's grandfather must have endured.

"What happened to the man?" Kraig asked.

The old man's voice held a hint of sadness as he continued, "He kept searching for the past eighteen years. As long as he was alive, he swore never to stop finding his grandson."

Kraig chuckled, "Did he succeed?"

"He did." The man finally smiled as he stared at Kraig. "You are my grandson. The only surviving heir of the DeVille family."

Kraig almost choked on his food, and he started to cough.

The coughing subsided, but Kraig couldn't believe what he had just heard. The words echoed in his mind, and he stared at the old man, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"I... I'm your grandson?" Kraig stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "But how... how is that possible?" Kraig couldn't believe a word the man was saying.

The old man's gaze softened as he reached for an envelope that was beside him. He opened it up and gave it to Kraig.

"When I saw you at the bar last night, I knew instantly you were my grandson. You look just like your father when he was your age."

Kraig's lips parted in curiosity. He held the envelope in his hand, not knowing what it contained. "What's this?"

"It's a DNA test result. It was taken last night. You are indeed my missing grandson."

Kraig opened the envelope, tears dripping from his eyes as he read through the results.

'DNA 99.99% match.'

"You are the heir to the DeVille Empire. Welcome home, son." His grandson smiled, and tears dripped down his cheeks.

Kraig's mind raced, trying to process the revelation. He looked around at the opulent surroundings, at the servants attending to their needs,  and he felt overwhelmed.

His heart pounded in his chest as he recalled all the years he'd suffered.

Kraig suddenly recalled being humiliated by Jade's family the night before, and he burst into tears.

His grandfather sat beside him and pulled him into a hug, "I'm so sorry it took me this long to find you."

Kraig suddenly felt someone's presence behind him. He spun around and saw a man in his mid-thirties that looked somewhat familiar.

"Welcome, Mr. DeVille. I'm Kyle Smith, your assistant."

Just then, it occurred to Kraig that he had seen Kyle on television as the representative of the DeVille group.

Shockingly, he stood on his feet, covering his mouth. "DeVille as in DeVille group?"

His grandfather laughed and said, "Yes, Kraig, that's the family business. You are then the only heir to the famous DeVille group. Are you ready to take your place?"

Kraig suddenly became mute. His eyes widely opened as he felt suffocated despite being in an open place. After minutes of tapping his chest, he passed out.