TROUBLE'S VISIT.
*Chapter 1: [ The Funeral of a Legend ]
The rain poured down like a funeral shroud, drowning the mourners in a sea of grief and designer umbrellas. The epitaph on Richard's tombstone seemed to mock them all : "A man of vision, a man of power, a man of secrets." He was indeed a man of secrets, even his own wife wondered too many times if she knew what him at all. Too many secrets, too many closed doors, too many webs of unknown tales.
Sophia, Richard's widow, stood at the gravesite, her eyes dry but her soul shattered. She'd spent years perfecting the art of pretending, and now, as she gazed into the empty hole that would swallow her husband whole, she wondered if anyone had ever truly known him, even herself.
Jin, Richard's son, stood beside her, his face carved from stone. He'd always been the image of his father, strong, unyielding, and ruthless. But the whispers had begun, even before the coffin was lowered into the ground. Whispers of a will, of a secret life, of a legacy that might not be as solid as it seemed. Jin felt irritated by the conversations carried in the whispers that flew around. Did people have not even a single respect for a dead person. All they could speak of at the moment was rumours, rumours for heaven's sake, rumours they were unsure of.
Aisha, Jin's sister, clugged to her mother's side, her eyes red-rimmed from tears. She was the baby of the family, her father's baby especially, his favourite little girl, always protected and pampered, and the thought of living without her father's guidance was thought unbearable. She remembered times where it felt like no one would pay attention to her because they were too busy, not her mother, not Jin. But her father would drop whatever important work it was that he had to do just to listen to her rant or cry to her satisfaction, then he would calmly suit her and solve whatever it was that bothered his little angel. Aisha could have grown up to be a spoil brat had it not been for Jin's stern coaching, making sure she was physically strong a woman and intellectually guided. Still she would always play spoiled brat whenever her father was present.
As the eulogy ended, a woman emerged from the shadows, her face cold and calculating. Helena's eyes locked onto Sophia, a spark of triumph flashing across her face. Sofia knew perfectly well who Helena was. Richard's ex wife.
"I think it's time we talked about Richard's will," Helena said, her voice dripping with venom, as she handed Sophia a thick envelope. Sophia was sure it was another paper filled with scheming rubbish, but what was contained in the envelope shocked her to the bones, she had truly underestimated Helena.
Sophia's eyes widened as she scanned the contents. Her face paled, and for a moment, it seemed like she might collapse. But she was far stronger than that.
Jin's eyes narrowed as he snatched the papers from his mother's hand. He scanned the documents, his face growing darker with each passing second.
Helena smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "I'm here to claim my rightful place in this family's dynasty. And I'm not leaving until I get it."
Jin's eyes blazed with fury, but he kept his cool. "You think you can just wade in here, Helena, and claim a share of our wealth? You'll have to go through the proper channels. Lawyers, courts, the works."
Jin in his head was already calculating so many ways to counter Helena's new scheme. The calls to make, the routes to follow. He was willing to do this however way would work best. Illegal, dirty. Whatever path it went down to, he could get there. That was why he was his father's son, only, he was tougher than his father.
Helena's smile never wipped. "Oh, I'll play by the rules, Jin. But I have a feeling the courts will be very... enlightening." She sounded very confident, looking them straight up in the eyes, showing them she had not changed one bit.
Jin's jaw cliked, but he didn't back down. "We'll see about that. Tarry , escort Helena off the premises."
Tarry, Jin's most trusted and strongest bodyguard nodded, his eyes flashing with determination, as he stepped forward to lead Helena away.
Helena's eyes lingered on Jin, a spark of challenge dancing in their depths. "This isn't over, Jin. Not by a long shot."
And it certainly was not. Everyone was ready to fight this dirty battle, no matter the cost, there can only be one winner at the end of the day.
As Tarry led her away, Helena turned back to Jin and smiled. "You'll find out soon enough that Richard's legacy is far more complicated than you think." she said this out boldly and Jin restrained the urge to kick her right in the face, bruising her five tongued mouth. This woman was really a trigger expert.
Jin's eyes narrowed, his heart pounding in his chest but he could never let it show. What did she mean?
Helena leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, Jin. And I'm not going to let you or anyone else stand in my way."
Jin's eyes locked onto hers, a silent promise passing between them. He would stop her, no matter what it took.
Helena's smile grew wider, and she nodded almost imperceptibly. "I'm counting on it."
As she turned to leave, Jin's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his eyes scanning the screen.
It was a message from an unknown sender: "The truth about Richard's empire is hidden in the vault. And I'm the only one who knows the combination."
Jin's eyes widened as he looked up to see Helena smiling at him, her eyes glinning with triumph.
The battle for the Richard's empire had just begun.
What do you think the paper Helena brought contains?
JJ'S PEN.