The Forsaken Heir

Chapter 5

Chapter 5.

The sound of pen scratching paper could be heard in the small room. Adrian sat in a fragile wooden chair, looking down, writing something on a shabby piece of paper. In front of him, Lucas leaned against the cold wall, his arms folded across his chest, looking at him intently.

"Make a map of your revenge," Lucas said, his voice heavy but controlled. "Write everything down. Who are the main enemies, who are the potential allies, and their weaknesses. Don't think too complicated, just write down what you know."

Adrian took a deep breath, his fingers hesitating. But then he wrote his first name at the top of the paper.

"Edward Blackwood."

His uncle. The man he had considered a mentor, family, even a surrogate father figure since childhood. And now, he was the one who was the mastermind of her destruction.

Underneath, she wrote more carefully.

Edward Blackwood. his uncle. He controls the council, has political connections, is ruthless, cunning, and always uses others to get his hands dirty. His weakness. greedy, he can't help himself when it comes to money.

Lucas nodded slightly. "Good. Moving on."

Other names started popping up.

Helen Blackwood his aunt, with her sweet face but venomous tongue. She was the source of gossip and knew all the social secrets.

Daniel Cross the family lawyer, Edward's puppet. He could be broken if there was strong evidence.

Some opportunistic company directors who could be bought or threatened.

Adrian's hand paused for a moment. His gaze was blank, but in his mind, the faces appeared clearly. They weren't just names, they were the people who had taken everything from him.

Lucas leaned in. "Allies? Who do you think you can trust?"

Adrian sighed. "It's hard. The business world is full of traitors."

"But there are always people who hate your enemies. Remember that."

Adrian wrote again, more slowly.

Ava Sinclair's childhood best friend. Her father was once destroyed by Edward. He hated the Blackwood family, but I don't know if he's still on my side.

Some of my father's old employees were loyal but were kicked out by Edward.

Lucas smiled faintly. "Allies don't have to be your friends. Sometimes, an enemy of your enemy is more useful than an old friend."

Adrian stopped writing, then looked at Lucas. "And you? Where should I put you?"

Lucas was silent for a moment, then smiled wryly. "I'm not an ally. I'm just a shadow. If you're smart enough, you'll know when to use me."

---

In the days that followed, Lucas began to uncover the veil of darkness bit by bit. Adrian sat at the table, looking at the data Lucas had brought in on a shabby piece of photocopy paper full of transfer numbers.

"Look at this," Lucas said, tapping on a particular section. "There's a suspicious flow of funds to an offshore shell company, then back to the Blackwood family project. Do you know who controls it?"

Adrian squinted. "The company is controlled by Edward?"

Lucas nodded. "Can't prove it yet, but all traces point to him. Unfortunately, the evidence is still sketchy and too neatly covered up."

Adrian clenched his fists. "He even laundered his own family's money, all to strengthen himself."

Lucas smiled slightly. "And that's the loophole. greed. People like him always leave a trail."

---

One night, Lucas took her to a hidden room in the wing of an old building. There, several people were already waiting. a bald man with a sharp gaze, a young woman with a laptop on her lap, and an old man with a face full of scars.

Lucas introduced them one by one.

"This is Marcus, a former agent who used to work for the government, now a shadow bodyguard."

Marcus just nodded briefly.

"This is Lila. The hacker. She used to be one of the best before she chose to live under the radar."

Lila looked at Adrian while typing quickly. "Don't think I'll take your word for it."

"And this is Jonas. The informant. He lost his family to Edward's game."

Jonas held out his hand with a bitter smile.

Adrian watched them closely. He felt strange, but also hopeful. For the first time, he realized that he was not alone.

Lucas patted him on the shoulder. "They're not angels, but they're still loyal to me. And from now on, some of their access is yours."

But Lucas had no intention of making things easy. He wanted to test Adrian.

One night, Lucas deliberately lets Adrian face a major attack-a scenario that somehow becomes real. A group of people stormed in, cornering Adrian in a darkened hallway.

Fists and kicks landed, Adrian nearly fell over. Pain radiated throughout his body, blood pouring from his temples.

Yet, something inside him refused to give up. He fought back, even as his body shook.

Adrian refused, even though his body was trembling. He remembered Lucas's words: "If you want revenge, never be afraid to bleed."

Adrian managed to knock one of the attackers down with a hard punch. The rest fled after seeing the fierce resistance.

Panting, Adrian stood up with a battered body. Lucas emerged from the shadows, clapping his hands gently.

"Almost lost, but you survived. That's enough." Lucas smiled coldly. "You're ready for the outside world."

---

But the outside world didn't give him long.

The court hearing ended with a final blow. The judge found Adrian guilty. All the evidence - which had clearly been falsified caught up with him mercilessly.

Charges of corruption, embezzlement, money laundering. Everything was thrown at him. His uncle had succeeded.

Adrian stood stiffly in the courtroom, hearing the verdict. Seven years in prison.

Everyone cheered sarcastically, whispering in satisfaction. For him, the world seemed to be crashing down. But as he was led out, Lucas leaned closer, whispering in his ear.

"Your punishment is just the beginning. Take your time. When you get out, the world won't know the old Adrian Blackwood anymore."

That night, behind bars, Adrian stared out the small window of his prison cell. The moon looked pale in the dark sky.

His body was limp, but his heart was burning.

A faint smile was etched on his lips.

From a broken heir, he would rise again. No longer as the innocent and trusting Adrian Blackwood.

But as a new man who is tougher, smarter, and unstoppable.

His journey of revenge has only just begun.