CHAPTER THREE
James had given everything to the family: his loyalty, his love, his hard work. And yet, the moment Grandpa Ray passed away, the rest of the family turned against him.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
At first, he ignored it, assuming it was yet another message from Helen or Christopher, demanding that he sign the divorce papers. But when it vibrated again, curiosity got the best of him.
He pulled out his phone and saw a notification from an unknown number.
New Email: Urgent Financial Notice –
Deltacore Inc.
James frowned. Deltacore?
The name stirred a faint memory. He hadn't thought about that company in years. Back when he was still working in his father's company before he was falsely accused of embezzlement he had invested a small amount of money in Deltacore Inc., a rising tech company that had shown promise. However, soon after, Deltacore went bankrupt, and James had written off his investment as a loss.
His chest tightened as he opened the email.
> Dear Mr. James,
We are pleased to inform you that your investment in Deltacore Inc., which had previously been marked as a loss, has now yielded significant returns. Under new management, Deltacore Inc. has resumed operations and successfully expanded into international markets.
As an early investor, your stake originally valued at $50,000 has now grown exponentially, reaching a current market valuation of $2.7 billion.
Kindly contact our financial department at your earliest convenience to discuss the liquidation or management of your newfound assets.
Best Regards,
Jonathan Reed
CFO, Deltacore Inc.
James stopped dead in his tracks. His breath caught in his throat.
Two point seven billion dollars.
His eyes scanned the email over and over again, ensuring he wasn't hallucinating. But no, the numbers were real. His tiny investment had transformed into an unimaginable fortune.
A mixture of shock and disbelief rushed through him.
For years, he had been treated as a nobody, abandoned and looked down upon. But now… now, he was wealthier than the entire Ray family combined.
James' grip on his phone tightened.
Everything had changed.
The next morning, James wasted no time. He called the number listed in the email and scheduled an urgent meeting with Deltacore Inc.
By the afternoon, he was sitting in a high-rise office in the heart of the financial district. The company's top executives treated him with the utmost respect, referring to him as one of their founding investors.
"We've been trying to reach you for months,"
Jonathan Reed,
the CEO, explained. "But since your contact information had changed, it was difficult to locate you."
James leaned back in his chair. "I never imagined this would happen. I thought Deltacore was finished."
Reed chuckled. "It was. But a few years ago, new investors stepped in, acquired the company's patents, and relaunched operations. As an early investor, your small stake remained valid, and with our recent expansion into global markets, your shares skyrocketed."
James exhaled slowly, trying to process it all.
"I'd like to access my funds immediately," he said.
"Of course," Reed nodded. "Do you have any immediate plans for wealth?"
James smiled slightly. Oh, I have plans
A mixture of emotions surged within him shock, excitement, and most of all, vindication.
And yet… instead of feeling triumphant, an unsettling thought crept into his mind.
If they knew…
If the Ray family discovered his newfound wealth, they would come crawling back, pretending to care, pretending they had always loved him. Helen would try to manipulate him, Christopher would suddenly call him 'son,' and Stephen, who had never hidden his disdain, would act as if they were close brothers.
They would all turn against Rita, forcing her to beg for his forgiveness just to secure their own future.
James clenched his jaw.
No. They don't deserve to know.
Not yet.
Instead of revealing his fortune, he made a decision.
The once-thriving empire of Ray Enterprises stood on the edge of collapse. The financial crisis had drained the company's reserves, forcing them into a corner with no easy escape. Suppliers had begun cutting ties, employees whispered about mass layoffs, and investors were pulling out faster than anyone could stop them.
At the center of this storm was Robert Ray, the younger brother of the late Grandpa Ray. Unlike Helen, Christopher, and Stephen who had spent years living off the company's wealth without truly working for it, Robert had always valued the legacy built by his older brother.
So when the crisis deepened, he did something unthinkable.
He reached out to James.
James had been cast out of the family, humiliated, and disowned after Grandpa Ray's death. He had been treated as an outsider despite being the only person who had ever truly respected the company's values. And yet, despite it all, Robert knew that James was their only hope.
Late one evening, Robert arrived at James's side of the apartment, he was led inside the house, his hands sweating as he stepped into the living room, James sat, calm and unreadable.
James didn't offer him a seat.
"I assume you're not here for pleasantries," James said, his voice cold but controlled.
Robert hesitated before speaking. "James, I know… I know we don't deserve your help. I know what Helen and the others did to you. But Ray Enterprises is"
"Dying?" James finished for him.
Robert swallowed hard. "Yes."
James leaned back in his chair, studying the older man. There was no amusement in his expression, no gloating, just the sharp, analytical mind that had made him a billionaire in his own right.
"And now you come to me?" James asked. "After everything?"
Robert exhaled. "I won't make excuses. I won't even ask for forgiveness. But I'm asking for your help."
James was silent for a long moment.
Then, he spoke.
"I'll do it."
Robert's eyes widened. "You will?"
"But under one condition."
Robert tensed. "What is it?"
James's lips curled into a slight smirk.
"I want full control. I want to be the President of Ray Enterprises."
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.
Robert hadn't expected this, but he should have. James had been treated like nothing more than an outsider, a disposable nuisance. Now, he was making it clear that if they wanted his help, he would no longer be a guest in the Ray family business.
He would be its ruler.
After a long pause, Robert nodded.
"Fine," he said. "I'll make it happen."