FROM RAGS TO RICHES

Chapter 8

Damian was feeding Darwin, who kept gazing at him with joy and affection.

“Where have you been all this time, son? What happened to you after that incident?”

Damian tried to dig through his memories, but his head throbbed in pain. “I don’t remember anything, Dad. All I recall is Lucius saving me. He was the one who raised me.”

“Then I owe him my deepest gratitude.”

Damian’s expression turned somber. “He’s already passed away, Dad.”

“Oh God…” Darwin was heartbroken, even more so when he saw Damian drowning in sorrow. No matter what, Lucius meant a lot to his son.

“Then what can I do to repay him?”

Damian thought for a moment, then said, “The Sanchez family business is on the brink of bankruptcy since Mr. Lucius passed away. They need a partnership.”

He still couldn’t forget the sins of his ex-wife and her family or the pain from Seraphina’s affair with Alston. Even so, Lucius had entrusted them to him before he died—asking Damian to protect them.

A promise is a promise. As a half-god, he would not break it.

This was the least he could do now—protect them quietly from the shadows, as a way to repay Lucius’s kindness.

“Alright. I’ll have the Vice CEO handle it.”

Damian smiled. “Thank you, Dad.”

Darwin beamed. “Once I’m discharged from the hospital, I’ll throw a party to celebrate your return and introduce you as the CEO to all the companies under Marinez Corp.”

Suddenly, a fragment of memory flashed before Damian’s eyes. He felt intense pain as several men beat and stomped on him.

“There’s no need,” Damian quickly declined.

“Why?” Darwin caught the fear in his son’s face.

“I don’t want to go through that horrible experience again. I’m sure those criminals will come after me once they find out I survived.”

Darwin grew worried. “You’re right, son. I wouldn’t survive losing you a second time.”

“That’s why I want you to keep my identity a secret until I find the mastermind behind all this.”

“Does that mean we can’t live together?” Darwin’s weary eyes showed his disappointment. “I’ve already lost so much time with you.”

Damian gave him a soft smile. “You don’t need to worry, Dad. I’ll stay by your side, pretending to be your personal nurse. That way, no one will suspect our blood relation.”

Darwin smiled again. “You’re very clever, dear. You truly inherited my intelligence.”

***

Two days later, Darwin was discharged as his condition had improved. Damian wheeled Darwin to his luxurious car parked in the hospital lobby.

Dozens of men in black suits, dark glasses, and earpieces immediately welcomed Darwin’s arrival.

Two aides quickly opened the doors of a sleek black Rolls-Royce as Darwin approached.

“What are you doing here, Damian?” Matthew glared at him. “How dare you accompany Mr. Darwin?”

“I’m his personal nurse now,” Damian replied.

“What?!” Roy was shocked. Matthew was displeased. Once again, they had failed.

“Permission to speak, Mr. Darwin. Are you certain about hiring a young man with an unclear background to be your nurse?” Matthew asked respectfully. “He hasn’t graduated from any medical school.”

“So what?” Darwin snapped, offended. How dare they insult his son.

“I fear your health may deteriorate if he remains your nurse. My son, Roy, is a medical school graduate, and I’m the hospital’s director and Mr. Kennedy’s former personal nurse. That makes Roy more qualified to care for you.”

“No need. I prefer Damian over you or your son. I’m not as stupid as Kennedy, hiring a bootlicker like you.”

Elisya held back her laughter as the two men stood silent, hit squarely by Darwin’s harsh words.

Damian showed no emotion. He just looked at them blankly.

Darwin ignored them and got into the car, leaving the hospital.

“Damn it! Why is that bastard always so lucky?!”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure Darwin will fall ill again. That’ll be our chance.”

Roy nodded in agreement.

***

Seraphina sighed in frustration as she read the financial report. “Damn it! Because of Damian, I lost my chance to work with Alston!”

Suddenly, the door burst open. Feira stormed in, her face panicked and furious.

“Seraphina, what’s going on?! Why is the bank planning to seize our mansion and all our assets?!” Feira ranted. She had just returned from a socialite wives’ gathering.

“Can you stop nagging, Mom?!” Seraphina snapped in frustration. “Besides, this is all your fault! You kept wasting money on luxury goods and expensive jewelry, even though our company is on the verge of collapse!”

Half an hour ago, Seraphina received a credit card notification—someone had spent a million dollars on jewelry. She was sure it was her mother. Her eyes locked on the green gemstone necklace around Feira’s neck.

“Why are you blaming me now? Where are your manners, huh? I’m your mother! Besides, it’s your job to manage the company, not mine!”

Seraphina growled in anger, but she had no energy to argue. Fighting with Feira never led to solutions.

“Get out. I’m busy.” Her voice turned flat. She pretended to type on her laptop.

“How dare you throw me out! I swear, I’ll never forgive you if you can’t fix this bank mess!” Feira slammed the door behind her.

“Ugh! Damn old woman!”

Suddenly, Seraphina’s phone lit up with a message notification. She immediately read it.

Her eyes widened in shock.