Vindictive King of Hell

Chapter 6: Decision

MAX helped Adara dispose of the body on the rocky shore of the beach near his cabin. Adara almost finished him off, but Max chose to let him live. Around dawn, the man became conscious while the two of them watched him from afar.

“This is where we part ways, Captain. I’ll find out which of the Griffins wants you dead.” Adara’s face became serious.

“Until we meet again,” Max chuckled.

Adara rolled her eyes, and it was not long before she disappeared beside him. A red sports car revved up at a distance.

Max picked up his phone and called Oliver. The latter sounded lively on the other line.

“Good morning, Max. I wonder why you called me this early. Have you already decided?”

“I’ve come up with a decision, Oliver. But I have my conditions.”

Oliver’s face beamed. He stood on the veranda, drinking his morning coffee.

“That’s wonderful news! Is it safe to assume you’d be coming home… to the main mansion?”

“Yes.”

“I will immediately arrange your transfer.” Oliver informed him of the exact location of his soon-to-be home.

“All right, see you then.”

Max casually walked to his old black pickup truck. He let out a deep breath before he drove off the coast. He had just made one of the biggest decisions of his life, and the path toward the peak would surely be hard.

“I’m up for that adventure,” Max smirked in silence.

* * * *

MAX transferred to a new house the next day, immediately after the Griffin Patriarch’s cremation. He chose to transfer right away just to irk his relatives. Max could already imagine Amanda’s flared nostrils.

“I’ll surely have fun,” he mumbled.

As expected, it was an estate where a massive white mansion rested in the middle of a vineyard. But Max was more impressed with the garden and the farm. He already imagined himself tending to the farm animals and cultivating the garden.

‘I think my decision to live here isn’t so bad, minus the upcoming drama I’d be experiencing from time to time,’

he thought.

“Max, welcome to your new home!” Oliver warmly greeted him, along with twenty uniformed bodyguards who arched their heads down to acknowledge his presence.

“I was not expecting it to be this huge. But at least the air is fresh.”

“All that you see around here is yours. This is only a portion of your grandfather’s vast assets, Max. Soon, you’ll take over the entire Griffin Conglomerate.”

“Let’s take it slow. I’m still overwhelmed.” Max kept on looking around. The place was just perfect for him to relax.

He gazed at every uniformed bodyguard around them. “All right, boys, starting now, I don’t like you following me, okay? Especially with that black suit. It’s giving me an ick. But since I don’t want you to lose your job, just wear something casual and check on me from afar. Or...” Max smiled mischievously. “You could help me with a little farming.”

“Yes, Young Master!” The bodyguards said in unison.

“Good! I hope we get along well.”

Oliver only shook his head. But he did not comment on it.

“Come on, I’ll give you a tour.” Oliver guided him inside the mansion, while the bodyguards kept on following them.

The house was built probably a century ago. Its architecture was pure baroque, but its grandeur was well-maintained.

“I bet my cousins would kill to get this estate,” Max said with a hint of sarcasm, thinking about what had happened the other night.

However, he had no plans of telling Oliver about it, or else the man might dig up his past and find out he used to dominate hell, which would ruin everyone’s trust and compromise his cover.

Oliver let out a soft chuckle. “Of course. I won’t lie about it. Especially Amanda, she’s been dwelling on her uncontrollable temper lately.”

Max grinned. “Amanda, really. I’d love to see her face.”

“I’ll arrange a meeting with your family. Just tell me whenever you’re ready.”

Max chuckled. “That’s not going to happen anytime soon. I’ll meet them in my own way. Besides, I need to learn everything about our family business if you want me to take over. You see, I am not cut out to be in the business world.”

Oliver laughed. “Don’t humble yourself, Max. I know your adoptive father sent you to a top university in the West, and you finished three bachelor’s degrees with flying colors. Not to mention your hobby in aviation.”

Max’s brow was raised. “So, you know everything about me, huh?”

“Everything, Max. Everything.”

Max kept his silence. Did Oliver also know about his dark past? He doubted it. Aside from his adoptive father, Adara, and the squad, none in his past knew about his real face.

He was known as Ares, the Night Ghost–an infamous mercenary with the rank of captain. But he had already moved forward and was determined to live a peaceful life.

“All right, then let’s go down to business. I want to see every board of directors here next week. Please arrange it for me.”

Oliver nodded. “Sure, I’ll handle it.”

Max entered his room inside the mansion holding a brown envelope Oliver gave him. It was a detailed copy of Lucas Griffin’s last will.

He thoroughly read the documents, and it was clearly stated that eighty percent of his grandfather’s assets were left in his name, making him the major shareholder of the Griffin Conglomerate. However, the last clause got his attention the most. Max carefully digested each word.

[To keep your darkest secret about ARES, you shall marry the daughter of the Turners, or else the world will know who you are. Do you miss the cornfield?]

Max never felt this uncomfortable. In his mind, there was a sudden flash of memories that he had long buried.

Dead bodies…

Little kids…

Gunshots in the vast cornfield...

'Ares... Does that old man know how I lived my life after my adoption?'

He crumpled the papers. It seemed that there were lots of family secrets he had to dig. Why did the Griffin Patriarch know about his dark past? He shrugged it off for a while.

“Get married again?” Max chuckled. It seemed that even in death, Lucas Griffin had his last laugh. The old man could still manipulate his life, just like what he did to his parents, which caused their demise.

“Oliver!” Max’s voice thundered.