The Pauper heir rises

chapter 6

My mind whirled as I stepped out of the mansion, the weight of everything I had just learned pressing down on my shoulders. I had barely had time to process the fact that I was a long-lost heir to a powerful empire, and now the revelation was threatening to suffocate me. The luxury, the money, the influence—it was all mine. And yet, my heart felt heavy with confusion and uncertainty.

But before I could delve any deeper into the storm of emotions raging inside me, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Startled, I fumbled for it, glancing at the screen. It was my friend, Marcus.

"Jason, you gotta come back to school. Now," Marcus's voice was panicked, breathless even. "Your grandmother... she's here. She's begging the director to let you stay. Linda and Ethan... they're making her—"

My heart dropped, and I didn't need Marcus to finish the sentence. I could already picture it—my frail grandmother standing there, pleading, begging, while my enemies reveled in her humiliation. My jaw clenched in fury, the newfound wealth and power momentarily forgotten as my concern for my grandmother overpowered everything.

"I'm on my way," I replied, voice tight. I hung up and turned to my grandfather's driver, who was waiting by the sleek black car that had chauffeured me here. The vehicle looked like something out of a billionaire's dream—sleek, shiny, and undeniably expensive. The thought of arriving in such a car would no doubt spark a frenzy at school.

But I wasn't ready for that—not yet.

"Pull over a few blocks from the school," I ordered as I slid into the backseat. "I'll walk from there."

The driver nodded without question, and we sped off toward the school. As we drove, my mind raced. I wasn't ready to expose my newfound identity, not before I dealt with SM1 and SF1. They were responsible for my suspension, and now they had the audacity to shame my grandmother?

I would deal with them—I just needed to bide my time. But when I did, they wouldn't know what hit them.

As the car pulled over, I stepped out and made the rest of the journey on foot, my thoughts simmering. My heart raced as I approached the school, my fists clenching in my pockets. I spotted my grandmother immediately at the gate, her gray hair tied up in a neat bun, her body trembling slightly as she stood in front of the school director. The director looked uncomfortable, trying to distance himself from the situation, but it was clear that Ethan and Linda were enjoying the scene, smirking as they whispered to each other.

My blood boiled. How dare they?

"Please, sir," my grandmother was saying, her voice cracked with desperation. "We can't afford to pay the extra tuition if Jason misses the final exams. He's a good boy... Please, just let him take the exams. I beg you."

Linda chuckled under her breath, her sharp eyes gleaming with malice. "Begging won't help, Mrs. Harlow. If you really want Jason to stay, maybe you should kneel. That's the least you can do."

I froze in place, disbelief washing over me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My grandmother—my only real family—was being humiliated by these vultures, and they had the nerve to ask her to kneel?

Without thinking, I strode forward, my face dark with fury.

"That's enough," my voice cut through the tension like a knife. Everyone turned to look at me. My grandmother's tear-filled eyes widened in shock and relief, while Linda and Ethan's smug expressions faltered slightly, though they quickly recovered.

"Jason!" my grandmother cried out, her hand reaching for me.

I reached her side, gently taking her arm. "I'm here, Grandma," I murmured, my voice softer now. Then, I turned to the director, my eyes cold. "I'll handle this."

The director seemed eager to wash his hands of the situation and gave a quick nod before scurrying back into the school building. Now it was just me, my grandmother, and the two vultures who had been circling her.

"What's this, Jason?" Linda sneered, crossing her arms. "You think you can save the day? You're suspended. You can't do anything."

My eyes narrowed. "You think so? You're mistaken."

Linda's eyes flickered with unease, but she quickly masked it. "Oh, please. You're nothing, Jason. Just a poor kid who can't even pay his tuition. What are you going to do? Fight me? Pathetic."

My lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "You're wrong about one thing. I'm not nothing anymore."

Ethan's smirk faltered again, confusion flickering in his gaze. I glanced over at my grandmother, who was watching me with wide, tear-filled eyes. I squeezed her hand gently, reassuring her.

"Go home, Grandma. I'll take care of this," I said softly.

"But, Jason—"

"Please. Trust me."

After a moment, she nodded hesitantly, allowing me to guide her toward the gate. Once she was safely out of sight, I turned back to Linda and Ethan, my expression hardening.

"You've humiliated my family for the last time," I said, my voice low but deadly serious. "You think I'm powerless? Think again."

Linda, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, shifted nervously. "What are you going to do?" she muttered, though the bravado was quickly fading from her tone.

I stepped closer to them, my presence suddenly intimidating. "Let's just say things have changed. And when I come back, you'll regret every single thing you've done."

Linda scoffed, though the fear in her eyes betrayed her. "Big words, Jason. Too bad you won't even be here for finals."

My smile was chilling. "Oh, I'll be here. And when I return, you'll both be the ones begging."