The Rightful Heir

Chapter Three

Liam’s POV

The moment I clicked the link, my phone screen went black.

I frowned, tapping the power button repeatedly, but nothing happened.

Then, suddenly, a loading bar appeared. “Initializing… Verifying Identity…”

A chill ran down my spine.

What the hell was this?

My heart pounded as the screen flashed the dim light against my face, displaying a single message in bold letters:

“Welcome, Liam Carter. You are the rightful heir to the Carter Conglomerate.”

I froze.

The Carter Conglomerate?

Was this some kind of joke?

I had no father. My mother worked herself to the bone to keep us afloat. There was no way I was connected to something so powerful.

I should have closed the app. Should have ignored the ridiculous claim.

But I couldn’t.

I needed to know more.

A new message appeared.

“Access your inheritance now?”

Two options flashed below it:

[YES] – [NO]

My fingers hovered over the screen.

This was insane. This had to be a scam, right?

But… what if it wasn’t?

I hesitated for a long moment, my heart beating fast against my chest as my gaze was fixed on the screen in front of me.

Then, against all logic—I tapped YES.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then—PING!

A notification popped up from my banking app.

I stared at it, my breath catching in my throat.

[ NEW BALANCE: $50,000,000,000.00 ]

My vision blurred.

I blinked. Rubbed my eyes. Checked again.

The zeros were still there.

Fifty. Million. Dollars.

My hands trembled as I clicked into the transaction details. It wasn’t an error.

The money was real.

The sender?

Carter Legacy Trust Fund.

I gripped my phone so tightly that I felt I was going to break the phone in two. 

Was this actually happening?

Before I could even process it, another message popped up on the mysterious app.

“Funds have been deposited. You now have full access to your inheritance.”

I swallowed hard.

This was too much. Too fast.

And yet… deep down, I knew this was what I needed if I was going to take on Ryan. 

For the first time in my life, I wasn’t powerless.

I wasn’t a joke.

I was somebody.

The next morning, I walked into Crestwood University feeling… different.

For the first time in years, I didn’t drag my feet.

I didn’t avoid eye contact.

I walked with purpose.

I wasn’t ready to make a scene. Not yet. But I knew my first step.

I needed proof.

I spent the morning in the library, researching everything I could about the Carter Conglomerate.

What I found nearly knocked me out of my seat.

The Carter family was once one of the wealthiest dynasties in the country. A global empire with businesses in tech, real estate, and finance.

But twenty years ago, the heir to the fortune—my supposed father—had vanished.

Some said he died. Others whispered about a secret affair and a hidden child.

A hidden heir.

My heart pounded.

Could it really be me?

Has my mother been hiding this from me all these years?

I needed answers.

By lunchtime, the cafeteria was packed as usual.

Ryan Blackwood sat at the center table, his arm draped over Melissa like she was his trophy.

Laughter echoed through the hall as he entertained his friends, all of them dressed in designer suits and flashing expensive watches.

I clenched my jaw, remembering the humiliation I suffered here just yesterday.

The way they had looked down on me.

But now, I have more money than all of them combined.

I could destroy Ryan Blackwood with a single phone call.

But that would be too easy.

No, if I was going to make Ryan pay, I had to do it the right way. 

So, for now, I kept my head down and walked past them.

At least, I tried to.

“Look who it is,” Ryan’s voice rang out, loud and smug.

I stopped.

My hands curled into fists, but I forced myself to stay calm.

“Still moping, Carter?” he sneered. “You looked pathetic yesterday. You really thought you had a chance with Melissa?”

His friends laughed. Even Melissa smirked, twirling a lock of her hair between her fingers.

I exhaled slowly.

I could buy this entire university if I wanted.

I could bury Ryan Blackwood in lawsuits before he even knew what hit him.

But I wasn’t going to fight his way.

No, I was going to win.

And I was going to make him suffer first.

I met Ryan’s gaze and, for the first time, I smiled.

Not a forced smile. Not a nervous one.

A real, confident smile.

Ryan’s smirk faltered.

I didn’t say a word. I simply turned and walked away.

I could feel his confusion. His irritation.

Good.

He had no idea what was coming.

That night, I sat in my small, cramped apartment, staring at my phone.

I had money now. Power.

But I still had questions.

Who sent that message?

Why was I chosen?

And more importantly… What was I supposed to do next?

As if answering my thoughts, my phone buzzed.

Another message.

“It’s time to claim your true place, Liam Carter. The board is waiting.”

My breath hitched.

The board?

Another message popped up immediately after.

“Your private car will arrive in one hour. Do not be late.”

I swallowed.

This was it.

My new life had just begun.