The Rise Of Nicholas Hensaw

Chapter 30

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know that bothered you," Chris said.

"You keep saying different things, and I don't even know anything about him," Nicklaus said while Chris bowed his head to apologize again.

"It's just funny how I thought my father was transparent. I thought it would be easy to see through him, but unfortunately, I was wrong," Nicklaus said.

He was completely serious, and Chris could tell that Nicklaus still resented the fact that his father hadn't told him about this secret life.

It was hard for Nicklaus to forget—he tried to push aside the fact that he'd been humiliated by people he was actually superior to. He had worked day and night, yet each paycheck was cut short while his father owned multimillion-dollar companies somewhere.

"You're all the same," Nicklaus said, quickening his pace before walking out. Chris didn't follow him. Instead, he decided to let him leave, believing he'd return, especially since his sister was still at the hospital.

Nicklaus had no money for a taxi, so he walked on foot, heading to the cemetery where his parents were buried.

The weather was getting cold, but that was the least of his problems—he'd been to places and walked through roads colder than this. Nicklaus had slept outside with no shelter, all in his quest to make money to care for his sister and pay her medical bills.

Nicklaus swallowed hard, thinking to himself, "Why? Why did he have to treat us like that just because he wanted to protect us? Rita would have died if somehow the family heirloom hadn't activated. What would have happened if I hadn't gotten injured and bled on the watch I was wearing?"

Nicklaus was aware that his sudden knowledge came from the watch his father had given him.

He reached the cemetery—the place was empty and cold as death. He searched for his parents' headstones, and when his eyes fell on the name, he muttered, "Anthony Henshaw..."

He looked beside the grave and saw his mother's headstone: "Helen Henshaw."

He fell to his knees in pain.

He felt a sudden warmth in the graveyard. All the words he had wished to say suddenly disappeared; his thoughts were empty, just like there was no life in the graveyard. After gathering all his strength, he stood up. It was beginning to get cold again. As he walked back to the hospital, his mind began spiraling with possibilities.

Suddenly, a black car stopped right in front of him, nearly hitting him.

"Are you blind? Can't you see where you're going?" Gabriel asked, rolling down the window.

Nicklaus decided to ignore him, but unfortunately, Gabriel didn't plan on letting him pass so easily.

"Darling, please... it's been a long day, and I don't want to be around this man anymore," Stella said from inside the car. Nicklaus couldn't help but wonder if she wasn't ashamed.

Nicklaus scoffed for a moment—he thought this was all a dream, but when reality hit, humans became fully aware.

"Look here, I don't have time for your nonsense. You're the least of my problems," Nicklaus said, and Gabriel became immediately agitated.

"Then what do you have time for? You're jobless, and there's nowhere you're going at the moment—we both know that," he said.

Nicklaus narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth in anger. The amount of disrespect he'd received from Gabriel was enough to make him react.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said and walk past," Nicklaus said, but Gabriel stepped out of the car and stood directly in front of him.

"I'm not going to let you pass. You should be on your knees begging me for all the disrespect you've shown me, just because those people coming to look for you at the hospital made you think you're special," Gabriel said. He never failed to belittle Nicklaus at any opportunity.

"Where are they now? Oh, don't tell me they've realized you're just worthless," his words made Nicklaus pause.

"Gabriel, you're pushing me to the edge. I don't want to fight you—can't you just respect yourself and leave me alone?" Nicklaus asked angrily, and Gabriel smiled wickedly. He was glad he could make Nicklaus angry.

Nicklaus noticed the expression on his face and moved closer to Gabriel.

"You might think you have it all now, but have you seen the news? Your grand-uncle sees me as a better fit, and I could take the life you're living right before your eyes," Nicklaus said, staring directly into Gabriel's eyes.

"I don't care about you anymore. Have whatever you want—you only win when I feel hurt by it," Nicklaus said, stepping even closer, making sure Gabriel could feel his breath on his skin.

"I'm done," Nicklaus said before walking away.

He reached the hospital and found Chris in his office. "What other things did my father leave behind?" Nicklaus asked.

"Welcome back, Young Master," Chris said, bowing his head.

Nicklaus confidently walked to his desk and said quietly, "So first, I noticed that this company has a forty percent share in Johnson Pharmaceutical, right?" Nicklaus asked, and Chris nodded.

"Yes, that's correct," Chris said.

A satisfied smile appeared on Nicklaus's face when he heard those words—he immediately conceived a plan.