CHAPTER 1 Whoosh!

Honk honk.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching Quill Station. Please check your luggage and prepare to disembark.”

The train came to a halt, and a young man stepped out. The atmosphere was cold, with snow falling from the sky.

Ding.

Standing in the middle of the train station exit, Tedmond glanced at his phone, which had just buzzed with a new message. His blue eyes flashed with anticipation as he read through the text, his dark hair falling over his forehead. He knew who it was: Lisa, his girlfriend.

‘Where are you right now?’ the message read, authoritative yet soothing. ‘I need to talk to you. Hurry up, I don’t have any more time to waste.’

Tedmond scrolled through the message. No one else had contacted him—not even the person who was supposed to pick him up. Exhaling, he began walking out of the train station.

Something about the tone of Lisa’s message seemed off. Was she mad at him for being away for two days?

“Hey! Come back here, you brat!”

A man's voice caught his attention, followed by a hard smack on his shoulder, making him wince.

Tedmond’s head snapped around to see who had bumped into him. Three tall men, about 6'2", were chasing a young girl. The girl had a terrified look on her face as she ran.

He turned away, not wanting to interfere, but something in him made him reconsider.

Cursing softly under his breath, Tedmond took off after them.

The child was surprisingly fast, and the men struggled to catch up. Tedmond pushed through the crowd, making sure not to lose sight of them.

Soon, they were out of sight of the bustling station, and the child was cornered in an alley with no escape.

“Leave me alone!” she cried, holding her hands up as if to ward them off. “My grandfather won’t let you get away with this!”

“Exactly!” one of the men mocked, a mischievous smile curling on his lips. “That’s the point. We want him to pay us for your safe return.”

Tears filled her eyes as she braced herself for the worst. At that moment, Tedmond arrived, his brows twitching in anger.

Pulling off his backpack, Tedmond hurled it at the first man, hitting him squarely in the back of the head. The girl’s eyes widened with hope as she looked up at him.

“You forgot to apologize for bumping into me,” Tedmond said, stepping closer to the men. “That really hurt.”

The men spun around.“Who the hell are you?” one of them demanded. “Mind your own business.”

Tedmond held up his phone, showing he was calling the cops. “The police are on their way. Unless you want to get arrested, I suggest you leave.”

The sound of a distant siren filled the air. Stunned, the men glared at Tedmond.

“You’ll regret this,” the leader snarled.

“Not as much as you will if the cops catch you,” Tedmond shot back with a grin.

Angered, the leader punched Tedmond in the face before he could react. Pain shot through him as blood trickled from his nose, but the men fled, swearing to return for the girl.

Rubbing his nose, Tedmond glanced at his hand, now stained with blood. His nose was broken.

“Are you okay?” the little girl asked, offering him a handkerchief. “I’m sorry you got hurt because of me.”

Tedmond took the handkerchief and nodded. “It’s nothing. Where are your parents?”

“My grandpa’s sick, and I got lost trying to get to the hospital. Are the cops really coming?”

Tedmond shook his head. “No, it was just my ringtone.”

A man appeared moments later, and the girl hurried over to him. After a brief exchange with her, the man turned to thank Tedmond, but he had already disappeared.

Tedmond eventually made his way home, his brows furrowed in confusion as he stepped inside the house. Everyone was there, as if waiting for him. Lisa sat on his half-brother’s lap, clinging to him.

Each of them looked at Tedmond with disdain, as if he were an unwelcome intruder. He was the illegitimate son, after all, and they had never treated him kindly. In fact, they had sent him away so he wouldn’t be present for his brother’s wedding.

“What’s going on?” Tedmond asked, his eyes darting from one person to another.

His stepmother’s irritation flared. “Not even a wedding present for your brother?” she snapped. “You weren’t even worthy of attending, and now you can’t even manage a simple gift?”

Tedmond blinked. “I would have, but I spent all my money on the train ride home.”

“Spare change?!” his half-sister shrieked. “Bastard! Do you really think my brother deserves your pathetic pocket change?”

Tedmond's eyes shifted to Lisa, still sitting with his brother. “If he’s married, why is she with him?” he asked, his voice shaking with disbelief.

His brother smirked, clearly enjoying the moment.

“We were going to talk about this,” Lisa said, raising her hand to reveal a wedding ring. “I married your brother. Why would I waste my time on you? You’re broke, Tedmond. You can’t take care of me.”

Tedmond stood frozen, the shock hitting him like a punch to the gut.

“And truth be told,” Lisa continued, her voice cold, “I only dated you to get close to him. You’re just the illegitimate son—no one worth my time. Every woman deserves to be treated like a princess, and there’s no way a loser like you could ever give me that.”

His stepmother sneered, chiming in, “We don’t need you around anymore. Get out. Don’t ruin your brother’s marriage. You might think you love Lisa, but she’s way out of your league—and married now. You’re worthless. Go live on the streets or something. If only that pathetic maid of a mother of yours hadn’t seduced my husband, you wouldn’t even exist. You’re a disgrace, a disgusting twig.”

Tedmond’s lips curled into a bitter smile. Why was he even surprised? This had been his life for as long as he could remember.

“You’re all going to regret this,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “I promise you.”

With that, he turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

CHAPTER 2 After walking aimlessly for what felt like hours, Tedmond finally stopped to rest on a park bench. He clutched his bag on his lap while scrolling through his phone.

Though he had boldly told them they’d regret their actions, he had no idea how that would happen.

The first thing he did was check his account balance, hoping he had enough money for some food. The remaining $1 glared back at him.

“Damn it,” he muttered, digging into his wallet, only to find it empty as well. “I’m really broke.”

The more he stared at his account, the more it mocked him. He was about to shut off his phone when a message notification chimed. Expecting it to be from Lisa, he frowned but checked it anyway.

As he opened the message, his jaw dropped. It was a bank alert, notifying him of a credit to his account.

"Your account has been credited with $10,000,000,000," the message read.

He rubbed his eyes and counted the digits one by one.

“Ten billion dollars!” he screamed, shocked. But noticing people on the street staring at him, he quickly composed himself. “Oh, ten billion dollars... in the game. Such a fun game,” he added hastily.

The people who had turned to him quickly looked away, unimpressed.

Tedmond checked his account balance again, and indeed, the numbers stared back at him: $10,000,000,001.

As he was trying to wrap his head around it, his phone rang, startling him. Seeing an unknown number, he answered it in a hurry.

“Hello,” Tedmond said.

“Hello, Mr. Tedmond Griffin. It’s a pleasure to speak with you. You’ve been selected as the heir to the fortune of the Washington family.”

Tedmond’s jaw nearly hit the ground.

“Since you’ve passed the test, you can come over now. Meet us at Finsall’s Hospital. You don’t have much time.”

“Wait!” Tedmond half-yelled. “What are you talking about? How am I the heir to the Washington family fortune? Who are they?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, young master,” the man on the phone replied. “Finsall’s Hospital, room 509. You have twenty minutes. We’ll be waiting.”

“I don’t—” Beep! Beep!

The call ended before Tedmond could say anything more. Confused and curious, he bolted toward the street, hailed a taxi, and got in as quickly as he could.

“Finsall’s Hospital!”

Soon after, he was dashing out of the taxi, glancing at his account balance, now reduced to $9,999,999,981 after paying the fare. They wouldn’t mind, right?

Entering the hospital, he rushed past the front desk, already knowing the room number. Several women nearby turned to look at him immediately.

“Hey!” one of the women called, eyeing his appearance. “Why are you here?” she asked. “This hospital doesn’t treat people like you. Only the wealthy can afford it.”

Tedmond paused and glanced back at her. The women scowled, making him glance at his worn-out shoes.

“I’m here to see someone,” he replied. “I don’t see why I shouldn’t be.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you know you have to check in before going upstairs?”

“Why? I already know the room number. Why bother with trivial formalities?”

“How dare you!” she yelled, her brows twitching in anger. “With your appearance, there’s no way anyone from your family is here! You’re lying! If you're telling the truth, what’s the room number?”

The other women nodded in agreement.

“That’s right,” one of them said. “You must be here to steal from the sick.”

“Room 509,” Tedmond replied without hesitation.

“Hah!” the first woman sneered, a smirk playing on her lips. “The hospital rooms stop at 508! I knew you were lying! You son of a bitch!”

Before Tedmond could respond, the second woman shouted, “Security! Security!”

Tedmond blinked in confusion. Had he heard the room number wrong? He was sure the man on the phone had said room 509.

Security guards arrived, and the first woman pointed at Tedmond.

“Get him out of here! He’s here to cause trouble. A poor brat like him thinks he can sneak in and steal from the patients. Throw him out!”

The guards grabbed Tedmond, ready to drag him away.

“I’m not a thief!” Tedmond protested. “I’m here to meet someone in ward 509.”

“What’s going on here?” a loud voice demanded, stopping everyone in their tracks.

The guards froze and turned around. Tedmond saw a thin man with a long nose and blond hair that looked like a wig approaching. The women’s faces lit up.

“Oh, Mr. Gregory!” one of the women said, fluttering her eyelashes. “This boy is trying to sneak into the hospital under false pretenses! He claims he’s visiting someone in a non-existent room!”

Mr. Gregory was the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer, in charge of overseeing operations and managing departments.

“A non-existent room?” Mr. Gregory repeated. “What room?”

Tedmond freed himself from the guards' grip. “Room 509,” he said, glancing at the clock and seeing he only had five minutes left.

At the mention of room 509, Mr. Gregory’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Room 509?” Gregory asked. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that Mr. Washington’s room?” Gregory muttered, then glared at Tedmond. “How dare someone like you claim to be connected to the Washington family?!”

Everyone chuckled upon hearing "Washington."

Realizing he was running out of time, Tedmond quickly dialed the number that had called him earlier. The person picked up immediately.

“Yes, young master. Are you here?”

“I’m at the front desk, but a man named Gregory won’t let me in,” Tedmond said, staring directly at Gregory.

“How dare he?!” the man on the phone growled. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything.”

The call ended, and the people around Tedmond looked at him with disdain.

“Do you think your fake call will scare me?” Gregory sneered. “What makes you think you could get in here?”

Just then, Gregory’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, hesitating. It was his boss.

‘Why is the boss calling me?’ Gregory wondered, eyeing Tedmond warily. ‘Could he really be involved?’

Gregory answered in his most polite tone. “Hello...”

“How dare you?!” a harsh voice bellowed, loud enough for everyone to hear. “How dare you deny entrance to the guest of the Washington family?! Are you tired of living?!”

CHAPTER 3 Shock rippled through the room as they heard the voice. A guest of the Washington family? Eyes turned to Tedmond, widening in disbelief.

To be a guest of the Washington family meant that Tedmond was a big shot or potentially related to them. Even some of the Washingtons' relatives had tried to get in but were always denied entrance.

How could someone like Tedmond be allowed?

“Are you sure it’s the right person?” Gregory questioned. Despite shivering, he couldn’t help but ask.

“How dare you ask me that?” the person on the other end bellowed. “If I lose my job, you're going to regret it! You’d better let that fellow into the ward, or else!”

Gregory was taken aback by the mention of his boss losing his job. As the call ended, he hurriedly bowed to Tedmond, terrified that he might lose the position he had worked so hard for.

“I’m sorry for not recognizing you, sir,” he apologized. “I’ll walk you to the room,” he added, raising his head to look at Tedmond. “Let’s get—”

“No need,” Tedmond cut him off, disgusted by how quickly Gregory had changed his attitude once he realized Tedmond was a guest. “I can find it myself, just like I intended to do before.”

The phone call had confirmed that everything was real, but Tedmond still needed an explanation for all this.

“Sir!” Gregory called out, but Tedmond ignored him and walked off to find the ward.

The women were equally stunned, unable to speak. They just watched Tedmond leave, clinging to the thin hope that they wouldn’t get fired.

Minutes later, Tedmond’s eyes lingered on the sign above the ward that readRoom 509.The door was slightly open, and he could see the window but not the hospital bed. He hesitated, wondering if it was right to enter without knocking.

“You’re here,” a familiar voice said.

Tedmond’s head snapped down to see the little girl he had saved earlier peering up at him. She had changed into different clothes and was holding a teddy bear in her hand.

“My grandpa wants to see you before he…” she trailed off softly. “You have to come in quickly.”

Tedmond nodded and followed her into the ward. The first thing that greeted him was the stare of a middle-aged man in glasses and a frail old man lying on the hospital bed.

“Hello,” Tedmond said, swallowing hard. He had no idea what else to say. “I got a call from you and noticed my account had been credited, and you mentioned I’m the heir of the Washington family. What’s going on?”

The man in glasses bowed slightly. “I’m Thomas, the Washington family’s butler. You’ll get your answers soon.” Gesturing to the old man on the bed, he sighed. “This is Mr. Jeffrey Washington, the head of the family.”

Tedmond stepped closer until he could see the old man clearly, the little girl clutching her grandfather’s hand.

“Hello, Mr. Washington,” Tedmond said politely, controlling his curiosity.

Jeffrey didn’t look well, as if he was about to take his final breath, just as his granddaughter had hinted earlier. Tedmond realized the girl was indeed the Washington family’s granddaughter.

Jeffrey managed a smile. “Ted…” he called weakly. “I’ve finally found my heir. Welcome back, grandson.”

“What’s going on?” Tedmond asked, shooting Thomas a questioning look. “Why is he calling me his grandson?”

His question went unanswered as the life support machine began beeping, and the room filled with tension. The beeping quickened, and Tedmond froze. Thomas immediately sprang into action, pressing a button by the bedside.

“We need a doctor! Now!” Thomas shouted, his voice steady but urgent.

A nurse rushed in moments later, her expression shifting to concern as she assessed the situation. “His condition’s worsening,” she muttered, checking the machines. “We need to stabilize him.”

“Where’s the doctor?” Tedmond asked, glancing between Thomas and the nurse. He felt the weight of the situation crashing down on him—he had no idea what was happening, but it seemed he was now part of something much larger than he had ever expected.

“Dr. Howard is on his way,” the nurse replied quickly, turning back to the patient and adjusting the machines.

Jeffrey’s breathing grew more labored, and the little girl clutched her teddy bear tighter, standing silently by her grandfather's side, her eyes filled with worry.

Moments later, a tall man in a white coat stormed into the room. “Step aside!” he ordered, moving swiftly to the bedside. His hands flew over the equipment, exchanging rapid words with the nurse.

Tedmond stood helpless, watching as the doctor and nurse worked to stabilize Jeffrey. Every second felt like an eternity, and the feeling building in his chest intensified.

Jeffrey’s breathing became increasingly shallow, and the beeping from the machine slowed. Dr. Howard glanced at the nurse, and they exchanged a look that told Tedmond all he needed to know.

Despite their best efforts, it was too late.

The doctor shook his head, his face grim as he checked the old man’s pulse one last time. The room fell silent, except for the soft whimpering of the little girl clutching her grandfather’s hand.

“I’m sorry,” Dr. Howard finally said, his voice low. “He’s gone.”

Tedmond stood there, disbelief washing over him. The man who had just called him his grandson—who had somehow linked him to this mysterious fortune—was now dead.

The little girl let out a soft sob, and Thomas closed his eyes, his expression unreadable as he whispered, “Rest in peace, Mr. Washington.”

Tedmond, unsure of what to feel, watched as the nurse gently covered the old man’s body with a sheet. It was surreal—a few minutes ago, Jeffrey Washington had been calling him “grandson,” and now he was gone. The answers Tedmond had hoped for had died with him.

“What now?” Tedmond whispered, his voice barely audible.

Thomas, though visibly shaken, straightened and turned toward Tedmond. “Mr. Washington made his decision before he passed. You are now the heir to the Washington family’s legacy, Tedmond. It’s up to you to carry it forward.”

Tedmond stared at him in shock, the weight of those words crashing down on him. How could this be happening? Just hours ago, he had nothing—and now he was the heir to a family he didn’t even know.

“What… what does that even mean?” Tedmond stammered, the enormity of the situation closing in on him.

“It means,” Thomas replied solemnly, “that everything Mr. Washington owned now belongs to you. The fortune, the businesses, the responsibilities—it’s all yours.”

CHAPTER 4 The shock of the entire event still gripped Tedmond as he was led into the grand mansion, which exudes luxury. He held the little girl in his arms, and she was crying softly, her tears soaking into his shirt.

What was going on? He couldn’t tell. The butler had promised to explain everything once they returned to the mansion, and Tedmond couldn’t wait.

“Have a seat, young master,” the butler said, his gaze sad. “I will get you a cup of tea.”

It was then that Tedmond realized they had arrived in a large living room, with several couches available for him to sit on. Nodding slowly, he walked toward one of the couches.

“Or would you like something to eat?” Thomas asked.

Tedmond glanced at him. Though Thomas was trying to appear composed, the sadness was clearly written on his face. “No need. I’m okay with just the tea.”

Moments later, two mugs of tea were placed on the table in front of them. The little girl had fallen asleep, her teddy bear dropping to the floor.

“I figured it would be better if we discussed this over a cup of tea,” Thomas began, picking up his mug and taking a sip. “I will answer every question you have, so feel free to ask, young master.”

Tedmond glanced at the mug, then back at Thomas. “Who is Jeffrey Washington, and why did he claim to be my grandfather and make me his heir? Why is this little girl clinging to me? What the hell is going on?”

He was both confused and overwhelmed. If things weren’t explained soon, he felt like his head might explode.

“We met this morning,” Thomas said. “When you saved the young lady. By the time we turned to thank you, you had disappeared, but you dropped your identification card. That’s how we were able to locate you.”

Tedmond frowned, realizing his question hadn’t been fully answered. He hadn’t even paid attention to what the man who came to pick up the little girl looked like. He had hurried home to confront his cheating girlfriend, and the memory of it made him sick.

“You are the grandson of Jeffrey Washington, and the little girl in your arms is your cousin, the daughter of your mother’s younger sister,” Thomas explained. “Your mother was the missing daughter of the Washington family. She lost her memory, became a maid in your father’s home to make ends meet, and eventually got pregnant with you.”

“We couldn’t find her for years, but when we did, she was already dead. We learned she had given birth to a son, but we had no idea where she had sent him, as she had given birth on the streets.”

Tedmond flinched.

“We tried searching for you immediately after finding her, but we couldn’t locate you. It’s been 19 years, and we finally found you just before your grandfather’s death.”

Tedmond couldn’t believe it. His mother had been the daughter of such a wealthy man, yet she had lived her life as a maid, poorly treated by the Griffin family. His fists clenched. He, too, had been treated unfairly, but now he couldn’t help but wonder what his mother had endured.

“Since you have been tossed out from your previous family, you will no longer hold their last name. You will now be the young master of the Washington family—Tedmond Julius Washington,” Thomas announced. “Have all of my explanations satisfied you?”

Gulping, Tedmond thought for a while. He had come to realize that Jeffrey was his grandfather, and the little girl was his cousin. What else did he need to know?

“Why am I the heir?” he simply asked.

“Because you are the direct relative of Jeffrey Washington,” Thomas answered.

“What’s my cousin’s name, and where are her parents?”

“Her name is Bianca, and she has no parents. Her parents got into an accident when she was two years old. She’s currently five.”

Tedmond glanced at Bianca, a concerned look on his face. She was no different from him, losing a family member at such a young age.

“Who are the Washingtons, and why are they feared?”

His question stunned Thomas, whose eyes widened in surprise. “You don’t know who the Washingtons are?”

Tedmond shook his head. “I didn’t pay attention to news about business empires and high privileges,” he replied honestly.

He hadn’t been interested in knowing about them when all people did was bully him and remind him of his rightful place. Those people had made his life a living hell.

“The Washington family is the wealthiest in the country, if not the world. I don’t mean to brag,” Thomas said, clearing his throat. “We own multiple businesses across various industries—real estate, technology, banking, pharmaceuticals, and more. The Washington name commands respect, and their influence runs deep in both business and political spheres,” Thomas explained, his tone measured but proud.

Tedmond processed the information silently. The wealthiest family in the country, possibly the world, and he was suddenly at the center of it all. It felt surreal.

"You mean to say... I’m now a part of all that?" Tedmond asked, still trying to wrap his mind around the enormity of what was happening.

Thomas nodded. "Yes, young master. As the heir, you’ll inherit not only the wealth but the responsibilities that come with it. People will look to you to lead the family and its businesses. This is a legacy that has been passed down for generations."

Tedmond frowned. "But I know nothing about running businesses. I’ve spent my life being tossed aside, and now I’m supposed to step into the shoes of someone who built an empire?"

"That's why we’re here to support you," Thomas said reassuringly. "You won’t be alone. There are advisors, lawyers, and managers in place to guide you through the process. And, of course, I will be by your side to help you adjust to this new life."

Tedmond sighed and glanced down at Bianca, who was still asleep in his arms, her tiny body curled against him. He couldn’t help but feel a protective instinct toward her. "What happens to Bianca now?"

"As the young master, you will be her guardian," Thomas replied softly. "She’s part of the family, and it will be your responsibility to take care of her."

The weight of it all suddenly pressed down on Tedmond. In less than 24 hours, his life had gone from being abandoned by his family to inheriting a massive fortune and becoming the guardian of a young girl who had lost her parents. It felt overwhelming, but at the same time, something inside him stirred—a sense of purpose that had never been there before.

Tedmond sighed again. "I don't know if I’m ready for all this."

"No one ever is," Thomas said with a small smile. "But I have faith in you, young master. You have the strength to face whatever comes your way."

Tedmond nodded, unsure if he believed it himself. But for Bianca's sake, and perhaps for his own, he knew he had to try.

“Why don’t you go shopping with the pocket change you received and clear your mind from all that has happened?” Thomas suggested, his gaze urging Tedmond to take some time for himself. “You should get some clothes for yourself.”

CHAPTER 5 Getting out of the car, Tedmond frowned. Although he had told Thomas he was fine with his belongings, Thomas had intentionally tossed them into the trash for him to get new ones.

“I’ll be waiting here for you,” the driver said. “Take as much time as you need.”

Tedmond glanced back and nodded before walking into the store. He knew Thomas had sent him shopping to give him time to think and make up his mind.

He understood he had to accept his inheritance. After all, he had promised the Griffin family he would make them pay, and the only way to do that was by accepting his fortune. Why would he refuse something like this after all he had been through?

It wasn’t possible.

Scanning the store, he looked for the men’s section. As his eyes roamed the place, they landed on a rabbit doll with emerald eyes and a gem dangling from it.

‘Is that a diamond?’ he wondered.

The emerald reminded him of Bianca’s eyes, and he thought she might like it. He decided to get it for her. Just as he was about to open the display case to take it, a rude voice interrupted him.

“What do you think you’re doing?” a woman snapped. “Do you really think you can steal that with all the surveillance footage around here?”

The sound of heels clicking made him spin around. In seconds, the woman shoved him away from the display and placed her hand on her waist, glaring at him.

“Trust me, there’s no way you’ll get away with stealing from this place,” she said. “You should leave.”

Her loud voice had drawn the attention of several people in the store, all frowning at Tedmond. Judging by his appearance, they assumed he couldn’t afford anything there.

“Is this how you treat your customers?” Tedmond asked.

“Customer, my foot! Are you trying to save face after I caught you trying to steal that rabbit doll?”

“I’m here to buy it,” Tedmond retorted, hating the fact that he was the center of attention. “How much does it cost? I’ll transfer the money right now.”

She raised an eyebrow, staring at him in disgust. “I gave you the chance to leave, and you’re wasting it. What makes you think you can afford it? You can’t even buy decent shoes, let alone this doll. And what would trash like you want with a doll anyway?”

Tedmond's brows knitted in anger. “How much is the doll? I want it.”

The woman chuckled and turned to the salesman nearby. “You handle this trash. He’s acting like he can afford anything in this store. Take care of him.”

She walked away, leaving the salesman to approach Tedmond awkwardly.

“Hello, sir,” the salesman said. “Can you really afford the doll? If you can’t, she’ll make sure I get fired,” he muttered, his voice low.

The people in the store began murmuring as they looked at Tedmond.

‘What’s he doing, lying like that?’ someone said.

‘Maybe he’s not a thief and just came here to window shop?’

‘I’m tired of trash pretending to be rich. Trash will always be trash.’

Tedmond frowned. They were looking down on him again, and it would affect the salesman who was just trying to help. “I want the doll,” Tedmond said, placing a hand on the salesman’s shoulder. “That’s not all I need, though. If you help me pick other things, you’ll be compensated.”

The man nodded, but the woman who had left burst into laughter. It was the same saleswoman.

“Are you kidding?!” she demanded. “If you can afford anything here, would you let me call the cops on you?”

Tedmond snapped his head toward her, his glare sharp. “And if I can afford it, what will you do?”

She snickered. “I’ll apologize…”

“That’s not enough,” he interrupted. “You’ll crawl around the store three times while apologizing.”

The woman flinched but quickly regained her composure. “What the–?”

“Also, you’ll apologize to this young man,” Tedmond added, gesturing to the salesman next to him. “Is that okay, or are you scared?”

“Why would I be scared? It’s not like you can afford it anyway,” she snarled. “I agree!”

“Good,” Tedmond said before turning to the salesman. “I’ll take that doll.”

The salesman nodded and retrieved the doll, handing it to Tedmond with a smile. Tedmond glanced at the doll, realizing it was the first time he was buying something for someone who hadn’t asked for it.

As he moved toward the clothing section, people in the store continued to murmur. Tedmond picked out as many clothes as he needed, along with shoes, a wristwatch, and other essentials, trying some on to see how they looked.

Despite the store’s luxury, he chose based on his taste, not the price.

“I’m done,” Tedmond announced, after selecting everything he wanted. The salesman helped him place the items on the counter.

The saleswoman and others in the store wore smug expressions, eager to see him get arrested.

“You’re done,” she muttered, sneering. “I’ll check the price of everything you bought.”

Smiling as if she had already won, she began calculating the total. The salesman beside Tedmond stiffened, fearing for his job.

“It’s a total of $500,000,” she said.

Tedmond furrowed his brows, and her smile widened.

“You can’t afford that, can you?” she said, chuckling. “Look at him! Just a poor brat bluffing.”

“I was just wondering why it’s so cheap,” Tedmond replied. He had deliberately bought a lot to ensure Thomas wouldn’t send him shopping again anytime soon.

“You hear that?” the woman scoffed, but then she stopped, realizing what he had said. “Did you just call this cheap? How lame!”

“I’ll transfer the money now. What’s the account number?” Tedmond asked.

She glared at him but handed him the account details. “Fine, this is the store’s account, managed by our finance team. I’ll call them right away to check if your imaginary money has arrived.”

Ignoring her, Tedmond transferred the exact amount to the account. He turned his phone around, showing her the exact amount he had transferred.

She was stunned at first but quickly waved it off. “That must be fake!” she claimed, turning to one of the saleswomen. “Call and confirm that the money has been received.”

Less than a minute later, the saleswoman ended the call, her eyes wide in shock. “He’s right! The money has been RECEIVED!”

CHAPTER 6 Those words sent shockwaves through everyone who had heard them. They couldn’t believe it, but the person who was most in disbelief was the first saleswoman. She snatched the phone from her colleague and dialed the number.

“Are you sure it was $500,000 received?” she yelled, her voice sharp with frustration.

Her tone was so rude that the person on the other end snapped back. “Why are you asking me an obvious question?!” he demanded. “$500,000 has been received! Is there some hotshot there or something?”

The saleswoman's words stuck in her throat as the confirmation hit her. The others who had belittled Tedmond earlier now remained silent, lips tightly sealed.

“Did you do something?” the voice on the phone asked, but the saleswoman quickly hung up, lowering her head.

She turned to Tedmond, bowing slightly. “I am extremely sorry for doubting you,” she stammered. “Can I get you a cup of tea as an apology while your things are packed?”

Tedmond glared down at her in silence. As she raised her head to meet his eyes, she flinched under his cold gaze.

“We made a deal, didn’t we?” Tedmond said calmly. “You were supposed to apologize while crawling around the store.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn’t actually expected to do it. “But... but…”

His eyebrows arched. “What are you waiting for? Did you forget what I asked you to do?”

Trembling slightly, she shook her head. “I never intended to do that. Couldn’t we just—”

“Your job or the deal?” Tedmond asked casually, cutting her off.

Without hesitation, she hurried away from the front desk and fell to her knees, shivering with embarrassment. She was about to start crawling when he stopped her with his foot.

“You seem to be forgetting something,” he said darkly. “I told you to apologize to your co-worker.”

She turned her head toward the salesman and yelled, “I’m sorry!”

The salesman was taken aback, awkwardly averting his gaze.

“Now, continue crawling,” Tedmond ordered.

The woman resumed, her face flushed with humiliation, while the other customers who had supported her earlier began recording the scene on their phones.

Tedmond glanced at the other saleswomen, and they all avoided his gaze in fear. “The one crawling could’ve been any of you,” he warned, and the women flinched.

“I’ll get your things ready,” the salesman said quickly, as though trying to rescue the situation. “Thank you for your help.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Tedmond replied. “I was only doing it for myself.”

Despite that, the salesman thanked him again and hurriedly packed Tedmond's purchases. Soon, Tedmond walked out of the store, and with the help of the staff, all of his items were loaded into the car.

“Should I drive you home, young master?” the driver asked, glancing back at Tedmond as he settled into the car.

Tedmond thought about it for a moment. He had left the house with only a few bags from his vacation, but he still had his things at the Griffin home.

“Drive me to Rolling Street,” he replied. “I have something to do there. Don’t wait for me—just drop me off.”

“Yes, young master.”

A few minutes later, Tedmond got out of the car far from his father's home to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. He waited for the driver to leave before walking toward the building.

The atmosphere was still cold, though not as biting as it had been earlier. After a short walk, he entered the Griffin compound. He wondered if his father had returned yet. Then, with a bitter thought, he corrected himself.

‘Ex-father.’

The man was no longer his father.

He pushed open the door and stepped inside, expecting to see his former family in the living room, but no one was there. He made his way toward the kitchen, glancing up the stairs as he walked.

His room wasn’t upstairs like the others'. Instead, it was in a small basement. The memory of the cramped space resurfaced as he approached.

“Didn’t you say he was in his room?!” a loud voice demanded, making Tedmond frown. It was Harold Griffin, his father—or rather, ex-father. “Where the hell is that brat?”

“He was here hours ago,” his stepmother, Evelyn, said, trying to calm him down.

“That brat!” Harold yelled.

Tedmond peeked through the open door. They were all in his room, no wonder the house had been quiet. Harold’s face was twisted in anger, the lines on his forehead prominent as he raged.

“Why are you looking for him?” Max, Tedmond's half-brother, asked. “We kicked him out of the family, like you said. He’s 19 now, and we no longer have to take care of him.”

Harold turned to glare at Max. “You should’ve done it while I was here!” he bellowed. “He has something important!”

Of course, Tedmond sighed. His father had no use for him unless it involved something valuable. Tedmond had considered giving them what they wanted and cutting all ties, but the next words made him pause.

“That stupid necklace his mother left him is valuable!” Harold claimed. “I just figured out its name and its worth!”

Tedmond’s hand instinctively reached for the necklace around his neck. It was the only thing his mother had left him, and for years, they had mocked it as something worthless. If they had known its value earlier, they would have sold it long ago.

His jaw clenched. Now, they wanted to find him only because they wanted something.

“I can get him back,” a voice said. It was Lisa, Tedmond’s ex-girlfriend, her face determined.

“And who the hell are you?” Harold demanded.

Apparently, he hadn’t attended the wedding.

“She’s my wife,” Max replied, and their sister Maxine nodded in agreement. “She’s Tedmond’s ex, and he’s still in love with her. She can trick him into giving us the necklace.”

Hearing that, Harold finally relaxed. “That’s settled then. We don’t need to bring him back here. That useless brat has caused enough trouble already. Get his stuff out of his room and toss it in the trash.”

“His room will become a storage space from now on,” Evelyn said, with a note of satisfaction. “I’ve wanted to get rid of him ever since he was brought here as a baby.”

Tedmond’s eyes darkened. He turned and left before they could notice him. Now he knew why they were looking for him, and he couldn’t wait for them to try. When they did, he would be ready with a nice surprise.

CHAPTER 7 The next day, Tedmond got ready for school with a newfound confidence. For the first time, he felt a sense of self-assurance heading to university, knowing it was better than the oppressive environment of home.

“When will you be back, brother?” Bianca asked, tugging at his trousers and clutching the rabbit doll he had bought for her.

He glanced down at her. “I’ll be back before 7,” he replied, squatting to smooth her hair. “I can’t pick you up from kindergarten today.”

She nodded slowly. “The nanny will pick me up,” she said.

“Okay.”

He stood up, grabbed his bag, and looked back at Thomas, who was watching him with concern. “Do you need a driver to take you?” Thomas asked. “You can choose any car from the garage if you’d like.”

Tedmond considered it for a moment before shaking his head. “No need. I can get there on my own like I used to.”

“By taking the bus?” Thomas asked, clearly worried.

“Yes.”

“No way!” Thomas exclaimed. “Not only did you take a taxi home yesterday, but now you’re planning to take the bus? That’s not happening. You’re coming to the garage with me today to pick a car.”

Tedmond didn’t want to waste time since he was already running late. “I’ll let the driver take me,” he said.

He knew that if he didn’t say that, Thomas wouldn’t let him leave. He gave Bianca a final smile and walked out of the mansion to where the driver was waiting. Minutes later, he exited the car several steps away from school.

He didn’t want anyone he knew to see him arriving in a luxury vehicle. As he walked towards the school gate, a car brushed past him, nearly hitting him if he hadn’t ducked out of the way.

“Get out of the way, loser!” a young man yelled, sticking his head out of the window and giving Tedmond the middle finger. “Bastard thinks he can waltz into school like nothing happened.”

Tedmond’s frown deepened as he recognized Kyle, a friend of his half-brother. His elder brother, half-sister, and his ex-girlfriend were all students at the school and were in their sophomore year, four years ahead of him.

As he walked down the hallway to his first class, other students avoided him and whispered as he passed by.

“Didn’t his girlfriend dump him to marry his brother, the cooler kid?”

“I heard they’re not even real brothers; he was just the son of their maid who they took in.”

“He wasn’t even invited to the wedding and was sent away while it took place.”

“Every poor man doesn’t deserve love.”

Ignoring the snide remarks from the girls who glared at him, Tedmond entered the classroom and made his way to his usual empty seat. He pulled out his notebook from his bag and settled in.

Before he could get comfortable, he was approached by three male students.

“You’re here,” one of them said.

“What do you want, Kyle?” Tedmond asked, not even looking up. “I thought you should be in class.”

Tedmond was a freshman, having graduated high school at eighteen and managed to start college a year later.

“How dare you talk to me like that?” Kyle demanded, his brows furrowing. “I heard what happened yesterday. How dare you act cocky after being kicked out of the Griffin family?”

Tedmond remained silent.

“Where did you sleep last night?” Kyle pressed. “I would have guessed at Lisa’s house, but she dumped you to marry your brother. You never knew she was cheating on you, using your little money for gifts for your brother! How pathetic have you been?”

“So it’s true,” one student murmured. “He was driven out of the house.”

“He’s daring to offend Kyle, the heir of a second-generation fortune. This could get us all in trouble if the class gets targeted.”

“Lisa really dodged a bullet; good for her for picking someone better.”

The murmurs filled the room, and Kyle grinned widely at Tedmond, who remained quiet. He knew Tedmond couldn’t look him in the eye or respond.

“Is that all you have to say?” Tedmond asked, finally meeting Kyle’s gaze. “How old are you, thirteen?”

Kyle’s face flushed with rage. “Are you mocking me?!”

“I only asked a question,” Tedmond replied calmly. “You talk like you’re thirteen.”

If the comment hadn’t come from Tedmond, it would have been a joke or a sharp comeback. Kyle’s face reddened further, his anger palpable.

“You dare speak to Kyle like that?” one of his friends demanded.

“When did a trash like you grow wings to look us in the eye?” another snarled.

Tedmond’s lips curled into a grin. “The professor will be here soon, and I don’t have time to argue with you. You can say whatever you want; it doesn’t matter to me.”

“You!” Kyle yelled, his fist clenching. He aimed a punch at Tedmond but stopped when the voice of the lecturer interrupted.

“What’s going on here?” Miss Scarlett, the lecturer, demanded. “Kyle? What are you doing in my class?”

Miss Scarlett was known for her strict demeanor, and no one dared act out of line in her class.

Kyle withdrew his hand. “We were about to leave,” he told Scarlett. “Just give me a moment.”

Irritated and fuming, Kyle glared at Tedmond. Unable to handle Tedmond in the classroom, he decided to challenge him another way.

“Tedmond’s been causing trouble,” Kyle announced. “Since he spoke to me like that, I’m challenging him to a basketball game!”

At the mention of the basketball game, the students flinched. Kyle was renowned as the best basketball player in the school, having led his team to numerous victories.

“You know the rules of my duel challenge,” Kyle added. “The loser becomes a slave to the winner.”

Fear gripped the class.

“I’ll be kind,” Kyle said with a sneer. “The people who team up with Tedmond won’t be punished, but he’ll be the slave of my entire team. Do you agree to play, Tedmond?”

Kyle grinned, expecting Tedmond to back down. Everyone else did too.

“I’ll play,” Tedmond said firmly.

“I knew you wouldn’t agree to—what?!” Kyle bellowed, stunned by Tedmond’s response.

“I’ll play,” Tedmond confirmed.

Hearing this, the class erupted in protests, angry at Tedmond for putting them in such a position. He ignored their cries.

“I don’t intend to pick my team from this class,” Tedmond announced, his eyes flashing. “I can’t wait to have five slaves.”

Kyle’s face turned red with anger. “You dare be so confident? You’ll regret this.” He glanced at his friends and gestured for them to leave. “Lunchtime, 2 PM. Meet us at the court.”

With that, Kyle stormed out of the class, leaving Scarlett to glare at Tedmond before starting the lesson. He had dared miss several of her classes, she was going to deal with that later.

CHAPTER 8 Before lunch, news of Tedmond accepting Kyle’s challenge had spread throughout the school. Everyone was talking about it, and it even reached the ears of his ex-girlfriend. She and his former siblings were eagerly anticipating the event.

They were seated in the cafeteria since it was lunchtime but not yet 2 PM.

“That bastard is going to show us how useless he is again,” Max sneered, gesturing with his hand and smirking. “He doesn’t even have great stamina, let alone the ability to win.”

Maxine chuckled. “He’s always been stupid. I’ll make another video of his embarrassment for my vlog.”

Lisa had the brightest smile on her face. “I’m so glad I chose you, Max,” she purred. “He was such a pain in the ass.”

Just then, Tedmond walked past them, catching the attention of many, including Lisa. The moment she saw him, a disgusted look appeared on her face.

‘Why is he so neatly dressed?’ she thought, scanning him from head to toe and noticing his new clothes and shoes. ‘Where did he get the money to buy those?’

Everyone else began to murmur, making sure that no empty seats were near them.

Tedmond paid no attention to the whispers and headed towards a group of four males sitting at a table. It was thirty minutes before 2 PM, and he still hadn’t formed his team.

When he reached the table, the four males, all dressed in nerdy outfits with large glasses, looked isolated from the others, like a bunch of nerds forced to do assignments for their classmates.

“Hello,” Tedmond said.

His voice drew their attention, and they looked up at him, their eyes widening in surprise.

“Oh, hello,” one of them replied, nervously fiddling with the bottle of water in his hands.

“Can I sit?” Tedmond asked.

“Sure!” they all chimed in unison, as if they’d been waiting for him to ask.

Tedmond knew all four of them from high school, though they hadn’t spoken much. Now, they were all freshmen at the same college. The four had been best friends since childhood and had never separated.

“Are you here to ask us to be your teammates for the basketball match?” Liam asked, the one who had first replied.

“If that’s the case,” Noah chimed in before Tedmond could respond, “then yes.”

“Definitely yes,” Oliver, the third one, added.

“Count me in,” James, the fourth one, said. “Do you know how long we’ve wanted you on our team?”

A smile crossed Tedmond’s face. He had approached them for that exact reason. These four were the best players on their high school basketball team. Even though it was a community school, they had won a few medals, though they weren’t very well-known.

They had seen Tedmond play basketball once and had asked him to join their team, but he had declined because he needed to work part-time to afford college.

“That’s exactly why I’m here,” Tedmond confirmed. “I’m surprised you agreed, considering I turned you down years ago.”

“That was nothing,” Liam said. “We’re more than happy to team up with you.”

“Thanks for reaching out,” Oliver added.

“We’re really glad,” Noah chimed in.

“We’ll be there by 2 PM,” James said. “We’ll make sure that rich kid eats his words. He called us losers, but he’ll regret it.”

Tedmond felt a bit out of place, considering he was now part of the “rich kids” group. “Thanks. I’ll see you on the court.” With that, he rose and left the cafeteria, leaving smiles on the faces of his new teammates.

“This is your chance to get the necklace,” Max told Lisa, frowning at the fact that there were still people willing to talk to Tedmond. “Make sure you get it from him.”

As Tedmond walked past, Lisa followed right after. Sensing that he was being followed, Tedmond changed course and headed toward the men’s restroom instead of his class as originally planned.

Seeing his direction, Lisa called out to him.

“Ted!” she yelled, running after him and blocking his path.

He glared down at her, raising an eyebrow, waiting for her to try and manipulate him like she had so many times before.

“Stop walking,” she said.

“What do you want, sister-in-law?” he asked, intentionally using the title to mock her.

Her eyes flickered with fake concern. “I was wondering where you slept last night,” she began. “I had no idea you’d been thrown out like that. If you need a place, you can stay at my old apartment. I’ll help you, out of the love we once shared. I know you still love me, so I’ll let you stay there until the rent I paid runs out.”

His glare intensified. “I don’t need your fake help.” He tried to walk past her, but she grabbed his arm.

“Stop being stubborn!” she shouted, her patience wearing thin. “You dared to accept Kyle’s challenge! Aren’t you terrified of being a slave for the rest of your life? I’m trying to help you, and you still won’t listen. This is why I left you.”

He pulled his arm free, fists clenching. Just yesterday, she’d said she left him because he was too poor, but now she was blaming his stubbornness.

“What I do with my life is none of your business!” he snapped. “Don’t ever talk to me again.”

Her teeth clenched. If it weren’t for the necklace, she wouldn’t have bothered clinging to him like this. But she hid her frustration. If she could get that necklace, she would be fully acknowledged by the Griffin family.

“If you don’t want the apartment, how about giving me something to remember you by?” she suggested. “Something I can wear all the time, like a necklace.”

She was trying to use his past feelings for her to get the necklace, but all he felt looking at her now was disgust. It made him wonder why he had ever liked her.

Just then, three males walked out of the restroom, and Tedmond smirked. “Why would a married woman want to remember her ex? Do you still want me as your boyfriend, even though you’re married to my brother?” he asked loudly, catching the attention of the other guys.

Lisa bit her lip. “Of course n...”

“Look behind you,” Tedmond said, cutting her off. “Don’t you dare speak to me again or call me ‘Ted.’ You’re not qualified to call me that. And tell Max that whatever he wants, he’ll never get.”

She glanced back, and the blood drained from her face when she saw the group of males. Tedmond took the opportunity to leave, while she scrambled to explain herself, trying to prevent any rumors from spreading.

CHAPTER 9 Kyle stood grinning on the court, his teammates gathered behind him. A crowd had gathered to watch the game, eager to see how it would play out. Kyle could hardly wait for the moment he would crush Tedmond.

“Isn’t he coming?” Kyle asked impatiently. Tedmond was two minutes late. “Don’t tell me he backed out at the last minute. Maybe he couldn’t find a team.”

His teammates snickered.

“He must’ve run home,” one of them said, shaking his head. “Oh wait, he doesn’t even have a home to run to.”

The others burst out laughing.

“He better not have backed out,” Kyle stated. “We should find him.”

Just as one of Kyle’s teammates offered to search for Tedmond, he appeared with his four friends. They were dressed in matching uniforms, their hair slicked back, looking like college heartbreakers. Tedmond wore an expressionless look as he stood a few feet away from Kyle.

“Here I am,” Tedmond said. “What made you think I fled?”

Kyle’s lips curled. “Eager to be a slave, aren’t you?”

“Not really. I could say the same for you,” Tedmond replied coolly.

“This isn’t the time for talk,” Liam interrupted. “Let’s get this over with.”

Kyle noticed Tedmond’s team wasn’t made up of players he recognized. This worried him; he wouldn’t be able to bribe them if he needed to cheat.

“Where’d you pick your team from?” Kyle sneered. “The trash can?”

Tedmond ignored him. “Let’s start the basketball match.”

“I see you’re eager to lose,” Kyle mocked. “Let’s go then.”

Kyle’s smirk deepened as he signaled his team to gather. The crowd around the court grew louder, their murmurs filled with anticipation. Most expected an easy victory for Kyle, confident that Tedmond had no chance.

“Alright, let’s get this over with,” Kyle barked, stepping forward. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you—this’ll be over quick.”

Tedmond stood unfazed, his eyes fixed on Kyle. “We’ll see.”

The referee, a student chosen for the event, blew the whistle, signaling both teams to take their positions. Tedmond and Kyle faced off at the center for the tip-off. Kyle’s eyes gleamed with overconfidence, while Tedmond remained cold and composed.

The ball was tossed into the air. Kyle jumped with all his strength, but Tedmond, surprisingly agile, outmaneuvered him, tapping the ball toward Liam, who quickly passed it down the court to Noah.

The crowd gasped. They hadn’t expected Tedmond’s team to be so quick on their feet. Kyle’s grin faltered briefly before he recovered.

“Get on them!” Kyle barked at his teammates.

Noah dribbled skillfully, weaving past one of Kyle’s defenders, then passed to Oliver, who was positioned near the three-point line. Without hesitation, Oliver took the shot, and the ball swished cleanly through the hoop.

The crowd erupted in surprise. Tedmond’s team had scored first. No one had expected that.

Kyle’s face twisted in anger. “Lucky shot,” he muttered, grabbing the ball to begin his team’s counterattack. He passed to a teammate, and they rushed down the court. Tedmond’s team quickly fell into defensive positions, but Kyle, desperate to show his dominance, took a risky shot from the free-throw line.

The ball hit the rim and bounced off.

Tedmond caught the rebound and, in a swift, coordinated movement, passed to James, who sped down the court. Kyle’s team scrambled to catch up, but Tedmond’s group was fast—faster than anyone had anticipated.

James faked a pass to Liam, confusing one of Kyle’s defenders, then drove toward the basket. He leaped into the air and slammed the ball through the hoop with a resounding dunk.

The crowd roared, and Tedmond’s team exchanged high-fives. Their confidence was growing with every play. A faint smile crossed Tedmond’s face—he had trusted his team’s skill, and they were delivering.

Kyle, now visibly furious, called for a timeout. He stormed over to his team, glaring at them. “What the hell are you guys doing? We can’t let them get away with this!”

His teammates, panting and disoriented, nodded, but the fear in their eyes was clear. Kyle’s plan to crush Tedmond wasn’t going as smoothly as he had imagined.

“We have to win, even if we have to cheat,” Kyle whispered. “Break one of their legs if you can. Especially Tedmond’s.”

His team nodded in agreement.

On the other side of the court, Tedmond’s team huddled up.

“Keep the pressure on,” Tedmond said calmly. “We’re not just here to win—we’re here to make Kyle regret ever challenging us.”

Liam grinned. “Let’s keep embarrassing him.”

When the timeout ended, Kyle’s team returned to the court with renewed determination to cheat their way to victory. Kyle, desperate, threw himself into the game recklessly, trying to overpower Tedmond’s team with brute force.

But it wasn’t enough. Tedmond’s group played with perfect synergy. Their passes were quick and precise, their defense impenetrable, and every time Kyle tried to break through, he was met with resistance.

As the clock ticked down, the score gap widened, and it became clear to everyone that Kyle’s team was outmatched.

Despite their efforts to injure Tedmond’s team, they couldn’t even get close enough to make a difference.

With only a few minutes left in the game, Tedmond caught the ball once more, dribbled past Kyle with ease, and approached the basket. He jumped and dunked the ball with such force that it left no doubt who the victor was.

The final whistle blew. Tedmond’s team had won.

The crowd erupted into applause. Kyle stood frozen, disbelief and humiliation etched across his face.

Tedmond walked up to him, his expression as cold and emotionless as ever. “Looks like you’re the one who’s going to be a slave now. You have to fulfill your part of the deal.”

Kyle clenched his fists, his face red with anger, but there was nothing he could do. The deal was sealed, and everyone knew it.

“How dare you ask me to—” Kyle began, but Tedmond cut him off.

“Now,” Tedmond said, placing a hand on Kyle’s shoulder, “call me Master.”

CHAPTER 10 The crowd went silent when they heard Tedmond’s words. Who would have thought the arrogant Kyle would lose to the so-called loser of college and have to become his slave?

“We made a deal,” Tedmond muttered. “You can’t go back on it. From now on, you’ll listen to me and do whatever I want.”

Kyle’s teeth gritted. He had never been this humiliated in his entire life.

“Do it!” the crowd yelled.

"A deal’s a deal—it must be upheld!"

"Don’t back out now!"

Kyle’s eyes darted to Max, who shook his head, before turning back to Tedmond.

“Master,” Kyle said, forcing the words out in a barely audible whisper.

“I can’t hear you,” Tedmond taunted.

“Master!” Kyle yelled, his body trembling slightly as embarrassment overwhelmed him.

Tedmond’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Now that you’ve called me master and have become my slave, go get me a milkshake,” he ordered.

Kyle’s teammates looked on in surprise, but Kyle turned to one of them.“Go get the milkshake like he asked,” he ordered.

The teammate hesitated, and Kyle glared at him.

“I meant you,” Tedmond said, poking Kyle in the chest. “Do it yourself.”

Kyle glared back, his anger rising. “Don’t—” he started but stopped, his fists clenched.

Tedmond arched his brow. “What?”

“No need. I’ll get the milkshake,” Kyle muttered, spinning around and storming off.

“Think he’ll do it?” Liam asked.

“Yes,” Tedmond replied.

In less than five minutes, Kyle returned with a milkshake and handed it to Tedmond.

“Good job,” Tedmond muttered. “I’ll see you later, Kyle.” He turned and walked off with his team, sipping the milkshake.

“How do you know it’s not poisoned?” Oliver asked, glancing at Tedmond.

“It’s not,” Tedmond reassured them. “Poisoning me would be too easy.”

“Still,” Liam began, “I couldn’t drink something he touched.”

Tedmond smiled. He hadn’t expected to gain friends so quickly, but now, he had four—the same people who once wanted nothing to do with him.

“Want to join us for dinner later?” James invited. “It’s at a restaurant that’s trending at school right now.”

“What time?” Tedmond asked, remembering his promise to Bianca to be home by seven.

“Nine,” James replied. “It’s kind of late, but since you’re not at home anymore, are you thinking about moving to the dorms?”

“We have space for one more roommate,” Noah added. “You could apply to join us.”

Tedmond shook his head. Even if he had nowhere else to go, he couldn’t afford a dorm on just $1—at least not without the inheritance.

“No, I have a place to stay,” he said. “But I’ll join you for dinner at nine.”

Night fell quickly, and soon it was time for Tedmond to leave for dinner. After putting Bianca to bed, he headed out, only to be startled by the butler standing outside his room.

“You scared me,” Tedmond said.

“My apologies, young master,” Thomas replied. “I just wanted to inform you that your card has been created. You seem to be going out, so I thought you might need it.”

Tedmond took the card with a curious look, noting his initials: T.J.W.

“I’ve also contacted your school,” Thomas added. “Griffin has been removed from your name, and you’re now officially listed as Julius Washington. I hope you’re okay with that?”

“I am,” Tedmond said. “Thanks for your help, Thomas.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

Tedmond smiled at the butler before walking past him and leaving the mansion.

A little later, Tedmond arrived at the restaurant, easily spotting his friends waving at him. He walked over and took the empty seat they’d saved.

“Hello,” he greeted, and they all replied in kind.

“We thought you weren’t coming,” Liam said.

“So did I,” Oliver added.

As they chatted, Tedmond looked around the restaurant, noting how grand it was. He could tell the meals were expensive, and he would never have dared enter such a place in the past.

Then someone sat down at a nearby table, and the relaxed expression on Tedmond’s face vanished. The people seated next to them were none other than his siblings and Lisa.

‘Why do I keep bumping into them?’ he thought, rolling his eyes and looking away.

Just as he turned, Maxine noticed him and whispered to her brother.

“He’s here,” Maxine said. “Is that why we couldn’t find him in the streets?”

“Maybe he’s staying with those four,” Max replied.

Lisa shook her head. “I asked around at school today. He’s not staying in the dorms with them. What are we going to do? We need the necklace.”

At the mention of the necklace, Max stood up. “I’ll handle it.”

Without hesitation, Max approached Tedmond’s table and leaned close to his ear. “Come with me—we need to talk.”

Tedmond looked up, glaring. “What do you want? Say whatever you have to say here.”

Max’s face twisted with anger. “This is a family matter. I’m not discussing it in front of a bunch of strangers.”

Tedmond glanced at his friends, who were all glaring at Max. As expected, they were on his side.

“They’re my friends,” Tedmond responded. “You’re the outsider here. Why would I care about anything that concerns your family?”

Max’s blood boiled. “Is this how you speak to your elder brother?” he spat. “I only came to help. You’re being taken advantage of. They’re just leeching off you, pretending to be your friends so you’ll pay for dinner.”

He sneered, his voice rising. “I’m sure they have no idea you’re just the child of a maid, with no money to your name.” His tone was taunting and loud enough to attract attention.

Tedmond felt like he’d been punched in the gut, his anger surging. How dare Max insult his mother?

“Your mother was so poor she gave birth to you in the streets after being kicked out of the family. You belong there, on the streets—where you came from,” Max continued, leaning closer, trying to intimidate him. “If only she hadn’t birthed a bastard like—”

Before Max could finish, Tedmond grabbed his head and slammed it against the table. It happened so fast, that no one saw it coming.

With his eyes dark and his hair tousled from the swift movement, Tedmond hissed, “Don’t you dare talk about my mother like that.”

CHAPTER 11 “How dare you talk about my mother like that?” Tedmond demanded, pinning Max against the table.

No matter how much they had talked about him, he hadn’t retaliated, but today they had gone too far. No one could talk about his mother now. That might have been possible in the past, but not anymore.

“What are you doing?” Maxine questioned. “How dare you hit your elder brother?”

Glaring back at her, Tedmond snarled, “You think of him as my elder brother now, don’t you? Why didn’t you say something when I was being insulted?” He released Max and stepped closer to Maxine.

Maxine trembled but stood her ground. ‘How can that bastard get so strong in just a day?’ she wondered. However, she quickly regained her composure.

“Why are you doing this to him when he just asked if you could afford to eat at the restaurant?!” Maxine yelled, switching the topic as fast as she could to make herself look less bad. “We all know you’ve been kicked out of the family without a penny! How can you afford to eat here?”

A smirk crossed her face as she spoke. “Isn’t that right? He was just offering to lend you some money so you could afford to eat here, and you insulted him!”

Tedmond paused, his glare unwavering. He wasn’t surprised she would say that. If the four boys couldn’t afford the restaurant, they wouldn’t have invited him.

‘So he can’t pay for the food here?’ someone from the crowd murmured. ‘I just heard him say his mother was a maid in their house.’

‘He’s not even grateful that they cared about him, even though he’s just the son of a maid who served them.’

Max rose to his feet, rubbing his face, which had been injured from being slammed against the table. Blood dripped from his face, staining his white shirt. Lisa hurriedly brushed past Tedmond and held Max.

“Are you alright?” Lisa asked Max before turning to glare at Tedmond. “How dare you hit Max? Who do you think you are? Are you jealous that I chose him instead of you? So jealous that you followed us here! You must’ve known he’d ask if you could afford to eat here!”

The murmurs filled the place.

‘That’s two people who have said the same thing. Why is he here if he can’t pay?’

‘We should kick him out.’

‘Where’s the security?’

Maxine grinned widely as she stepped closer to Tedmond. “You’ll be thrown out of this place like the trash you are.”

“Where’s the owner? I’d like to meet him!” Tedmond yelled.

Max, Maxine, and Lisa stared at him, eyes wide in shock and disbelief. But the moment of surprise was short-lived as laughter erupted around them. All three burst into laughter.

“You?!” Maxine mocked. “How can you ask to meet the owner of this restaurant?”

“Is that a joke or something?” Lisa asked. “You and I both know you couldn’t afford to buy me a meal here, even after saving up for three months. Who are you trying to fool?”

“Do you think doing this makes you look cool?” Max questioned, stepping closer to Tedmond. “Why would the owner of the restaurant come here in person?”

“You must be daydreaming.”

“What do you want to meet the owner for?” Maxine demanded, her lips curling in a mocking smile.

Tedmond returned her grin. “What else would I want to meet him for, except to ban the Griffin family from this restaurant?”

Hearing his words, Maxine’s grin widened. “Ban us from the restaurant?” She laughed. “How can someone like you convince the CEO to do that? Who do you think you are?”

Lisa was amused by his audacity to tell such a lie. Max, on the other hand, grinned from ear to ear.

“I’ll wait to see if the owner shows up for you!” he yelled. “You’re delusional! Has kicking you out of the house affected your mental health? Doesn’t living on the streets do that?”

Tedmond shook his head before pulling out his phone. He dialed the housekeeper’s number. Curious eyes lingered on him as he spoke.

“Tell the owner of Hans Restaurant to meet me here,” Tedmond ordered. “Give him ten minutes, or he won’t want to know what happens.”

“Okay,” Thomas replied.

The murmurs around the place increased as Tedmond ended the call.

“Did you just make a fake call?” Maxine taunted. “I didn’t know you’d stoop so low to get our attention.”

Just then, the manager hurried into the restaurant, his gaze trailing from Tedmond to Max.

“What’s happening here?” the manager questioned. “I was informed by an employee that someone here wants to meet the owner. If we’ve done anything to offend you, I’ll offer compensation.”

Max gritted his teeth. “Don’t you recognize me?” he growled at the manager.

Hearing Max’s voice, the manager was stunned. “Ah, Mr. Griffin! What happened to your face? Who did this to you?”

Max smiled, pointing his finger at Tedmond. “He did it. He punched me when I tried to pay for his meal. He can’t afford to eat here but tries to act all boastful.”

The manager’s head snapped in Tedmond’s direction. “Who are you? How dare you hit Mr. Griffin, and why are you here if you can’t afford to pay for our food?!”

Tedmond frowned. “Hey! Do you want to lose your job?” he threatened. “Why don’t you find out what happened before you judge?”

The manager flinched under Tedmond’s gaze and scanned him from head to toe. Seeing that Tedmond had no luxury on him, he concluded Tedmond was a nobody compared to Max.

“How dare you? I don’t need to know what transpired between you two! You’re a lowlife; you’re probably at fault!” the manager yelled. “Are you threatening me? Do you know who Mr. Griffin is?!”

Tedmond shrugged. “He’s just my former half-brother. Now, I don’t have someone as stupid as him as my brother.”

“Half-brother?” The manager paused, his eyes darting between Tedmond and Max. ‘They don’t look alike.’

Max glared at the manager. “Are you not doing your job? That boy is only a bastard! Kick him out, or you’ll be fired!”

The manager didn’t hesitate to call security, and when they arrived, he ordered, “Throw him out of the restaurant, and he is hereby banned!”

The security headed for Tedmond, but he began counting. “I told the owner of this restaurant to arrive in ten minutes.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “He’ll be here in three, two, one…"

As soon as Tedmond finished counting, the others hadn't had time to react when the door of the restaurant swung open. A man in a tailored creamy suit hurried in, followed by three others, with sweat dripping down his forehead.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the man who had just walked in, and the security guards froze in their tracks.

“What is going on?” Max demanded, glaring at the manager. “Throw him out!”

Blood drained from the manager’s face as he stared at the man. “He really came!” he yelled. “The owner of the restaurant is really here! How is that possible? I messed up!”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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Whoosh!

Honk honk.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching Quill Station. Please check your luggage and prepare to disembark.”

The train screeched to a halt, snow falling in silent sheets around the platform. I stepped out, shoulders hunched against the cold, my worn coat barely holding back the chill. My phone buzzed—Lisa. Again.

‘Where are you?’ her message read. ‘Hurry up. I don’t have time to waste.’

Something in her tone felt wrong. Cold. Calculating. But before I could reply, a hard shove knocked me sideways. Three men were chasing a little girl, shouting threats.

I turned away. Not my fight. Not my world.

Then I heard her scream: “My grandfather won’t let you get away with this!”

I stopped. Turned. And ran.

By the time I cornered them in an alley, blood already dripped from my nose. One thug swung—I dodged, tossed my backpack at his head.

“The cops are coming,” I lied, flashing my phone.

A siren wailed in the distance. They fled. The girl stared at me, trembling.

“Thank you,” she whispered, offering a handkerchief for my bleeding face.

I wiped the blood, nodded. “You okay?”

Before she could answer, a man appeared—her guardian. He thanked me, but I was already gone.

Back home, the truth hit harder than any punch.

Lisa sat on Max’s lap. Wearing his ring.

“You weren’t even worthy of attending,” my stepmother spat. “Get out. You’re worthless.”

I stood there, frozen. The brother I grew up with. The woman I loved. Both laughing at me.

And then I said it—the words that would change everything:

“You’re all going to regret this.”

Now, broken and penniless, I walk into the park, scrolling my empty bank app. One dollar left.

Then—ding.

A notification flashes:

'Your account has been credited with $10,000,000,000.'

I blink. Rub my eyes. Count the zeros.

Ten. Billion.

And then the phone rings.

Unknown number.

I answer.

“Hello, Mr. Tedmond Griffin. You’ve been selected as the heir to the Washington fortune.”

“Wait—what? Who is this?”

“Finsall’s Hospital. Room 509. Twenty minutes. Don’t be late.”

Beep.

The line dies.

I stare at the sky, snow melting on my lashes.

Do I run to the hospital?

Do I call Lisa and demand answers?

Or do I sit here, convinced it’s all a cruel joke?