2026-10-12 10:12:03Adrian Cole remained silent throughout the drive, staring at the enormous credit alert on his old iPhone 6s. He had counted the zeros several times, but the amount was still too large for him to comprehend. Less than an hour ago, the Whitmore family had thrown him out of their mansion. Now, the manager of Mavelik Bank had personally arranged to collect him because of a deposit he couldn't explain.
“Sir, we should get you some dry clothes first,” Richard Hayes said. “You must be uncomfortable sitting in wet clothes.”
Before Adrian could respond, Richard pulled over in front of an elegant boutique and stepped out.
Sir?
Adrian was still getting used to the way Richard addressed him. He had spent years being treated as an unwanted burden in the Whitmore household, yet a bank manager was showing him more respect than he had received from the people who had raised him.
Richard disappeared through the boutique's glass entrance, leaving Adrian alone with his questions.
Why had someone transferred such an enormous sum into his account? Had the money been sent to the wrong person? And why was the bank manager personally handling the matter instead of simply calling him to the bank?
Adrian looked at the credit alert again.
“There must be some mistake,” he muttered. “I need to clear this up before it becomes a serious problem.”
He couldn't risk being accused of keeping money that belonged to someone else. After everything that had happened at the funeral, he wanted no further trouble.
A few minutes later, Richard returned carrying a neatly wrapped package. He placed it beside Adrian and settled into his seat.
“I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, sir.”
“I need to explain something about the money. I think there may be a misunderstanding—”
“Why don't you change into these clothes first? We can discuss everything afterward.”
Richard opened the package, revealing an expensive tuxedo.
Adrian stared at it. Although he had lived in the Whitmore Mansion for years, luxury had always been reserved for the family's biological children. He had rarely been given anything new, and his grandfather had often been the only person willing to ensure he had what he needed.
“Why are you buying clothes for me?” he asked.
“You'll understand soon enough,” Richard replied.
Adrian still didn't understand the manager's intentions, but he accepted the clothes and changed in the boutique's private changing room. The tuxedo fitted him surprisingly well. After collecting his wet clothes, he returned to the car.
“Now, can we discuss the money?”
“Please, sir. Would you accompany me to my office? It would be better to explain everything there.”
Adrian sighed. He needed to find somewhere to sleep that night, and he had hoped to speak with Charles, the gatekeeper, before it became too late. Still, if the bank could resolve the mystery surrounding the deposit, he was willing to give Richard a little more time.
“All right. Let's go.”
Richard thanked him and started the car.
When they arrived at Mavelik Bank, Richard escorted Adrian through a private VIP entrance rather than the public lobby. Several employees glanced at them as they passed, apparently surprised to see the manager personally accompanying a visitor. Adrian paid them little attention. He wanted an explanation, not a tour of an impressive building.
Inside the manager's office, Richard invited him to sit, but Adrian remained standing.
“Mr. Hayes, I appreciate the ride and the clothes, but I think you've made a mistake,” Adrian began. “I don't know who sent that money, and I don't want to keep something that belongs to someone else. If the transfer went to the wrong account, please return it to the rightful owner.”
He glanced down at the tuxedo and added, “I'd appreciate being allowed to keep these clothes for the trouble, though.”
Richard said nothing.
Adrian took his silence as a sign that the matter was settled.
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Hayes. I'll be going now.”
He turned toward the door.
“You may want to read this before you leave, sir.”
Adrian closed his eyes briefly.
Not another problem.
When he turned around, Richard was holding out a single sheet of A4 paper.
“What is it?”
“Something that was left for you. I believe you should read it yourself.”
Adrian accepted the paper reluctantly. If it explained the mysterious deposit, he could finally put the matter behind him.
The letter began with his name.
Dearest Adrian Cole,
Please, whatever you do, do not deny what rightfully belongs to you. The money you have received is only one-hundredth of your total fortune.
Forgive us for not revealing our identities yet. There are rogues who must first be brought under control.
Your loyal subjects.
Adrian read the letter again, struggling to make sense of its contents. The money in his account was only one-hundredth of his fortune? Who were these people, and why were they calling themselves his loyal subjects?
He slowly raised his head, unable to find a reasonable explanation for what he had just read.
“If you would take a seat, sir,” Richard said.
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Chapter 6
Adrian’s phone began vibrating in his pocket. Still on his knees, he reached for it before doing anything else. The hidden exit Gareth had used to pull him out of the mansion led to an exposed roadside, where anyone passing by could see him sitting on the ground with his belongings scattered nearby. A few people glanced in his direction, curious about the well-dressed young man who looked as though his world had fallen apart, but Adrian no longer cared what strangers thought of him. If they knew what he had endured that evening, perhaps they would understand why he had finally lost control.He checked the caller ID and frowned when he saw Charles’s name.“Why is Charles calling me now?” he muttered.He had planned to call Charles himself once he escaped the Whitmore Mansion. He needed somewhere to spend the night, and Charles was one of the few people he had considered asking for help. However, he had to make a decision quickly before the call ended, so he pushed himself to his feet a
Chapter 5
Adrian Cole couldn't bring himself to accept what he had just witnessed. No matter how hard he tried to make sense of it, his mind refused to cooperate. Isabella had been with another man, and when she saw him standing at the bedroom door, she had slammed it in his face instead of offering an explanation. The betrayal was painful enough, but her reaction made him feel as though their years together had meant nothing to her.Only the previous day, Isabella had promised to accompany him to a gala event, despite Eleanor Whitmore's strong objections. They had discussed the preparations together, and Adrian had believed that, for once, Isabella was willing to stand up to her mother for their relationship. Then his grandfather's sudden death had thrown the household into chaos, canceling their plans and changing everything before Adrian could understand what was happening.He couldn't remember having a serious argument with Isabella. They had disagreed over small matters before, but nothing
Chapter 4
“We would be delighted to welcome you back anytime, sir. No matter how small your concern may seem, you are always welcome at Mavelik Bank.”Richard Hayes said this as he escorted Adrian Cole out of his office. He remained beside him in the corridor, maintaining the same respectful attitude he had shown since their first conversation.“Is there anything else we can do for you?” Richard asked. “If you don't mind, I can arrange for one of our drivers to take you wherever you need to go. In fact, you are welcome to use my personal car if that would be more convenient.”Adrian struggled to find an appropriate response. Richard's generosity was difficult to understand, but he reminded himself that the manager was a professional. People working in an institution like Mavelik Bank were expected to treat important clients with respect, and the mysterious fortune in Adrian's account had probably changed the way Richard viewed him. If that money had never appeared, Adrian doubted the man would
Chapter 3
Adrian Cole remained silent throughout the drive, staring at the enormous credit alert on his old iPhone 6s. He had counted the zeros several times, but the amount was still too large for him to comprehend. Less than an hour ago, the Whitmore family had thrown him out of their mansion. Now, the manager of Mavelik Bank had personally arranged to collect him because of a deposit he couldn't explain.“Sir, we should get you some dry clothes first,” Richard Hayes said. “You must be uncomfortable sitting in wet clothes.”Before Adrian could respond, Richard pulled over in front of an elegant boutique and stepped out.Sir?Adrian was still getting used to the way Richard addressed him. He had spent years being treated as an unwanted burden in the Whitmore household, yet a bank manager was showing him more respect than he had received from the people who had raised him.Richard disappeared through the boutique's glass entrance, leaving Adrian alone with his questions.Why had someone transfe
Chapter 2
Adrian’s jaw dropped.The son of a gatekeeper. Was that really how the Whitmores still saw him after all these years?“Oh, the gatekeeper’s son,” Daniel Sterling said, almost mildly. “I was under the impression he was Isabella’s future husband. Your son-in-law, in other words.”Adrian looked at Eleanor, waiting for her to correct the man. She only chuckled.“You never cease to surprise me, Mr. Sterling. How could a woman in my position make such a tasteless choice of son-in-law?”He turned to Isabella. She wouldn’t meet his eyes. That silence cut deeper than anything her mother had said. They had never officially ended things. She had given him no reason to believe she wanted to. Yet here she stood among the guests as if he were barely an acquaintance.Daniel’s expression hardened, though his voice stayed polite.“I see. Well, I should be going. Not every wealthy family would allow the son of a former gatekeeper to live under their roof for so long. Your generosity is… remarkable, Mrs
Chapter 1
“Someone should have told the beggar that this funeral was for the family, not for people looking for a handout.”Adrian Cole had barely entered the funeral hall when the insult reached him.“Thank goodness Isabella hasn't married him yet,” a woman murmured. “Imagine bringing a man like that into our family.”Another guest shook his head. “And now the VANTEX contract signing has been delayed. Ever since that useless man became part of this family, we've had one problem after another.”Adrian ignored them and walked toward the coffin at the front of the hall. After his father died, his grandfather had taken him into Whitmore Mansion despite the family's objections and defended him whenever the others tried to drive him away. Now, the only person who had stood up for him was gone.Adrian knelt and gripped the coffin edge.“Grandpa, why did you have to leave so soon?” “You promised I wouldn't have to face everything alone. What am I supposed to do now?”Tears blurred his vision before a
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