The Heir Returns Home.

Levi Monroe stepped out of the cab and showed the driver a card with an address scrawled in elegant handwriting. The card had been handed to him by Griffin Gluck, a mysterious man who had appeared in Levi's life at just the right moment—or perhaps, Levi mused, at the most inconvenient. 

"Take me here," Levi instructed, his voice steady, though his mind was racing. 

The driver nodded, and within minutes, Levi found himself standing in front of a silver gate that gleamed like a polished mirror. He stared at his reflection, noting the dishevelled state of his clothes—three days without a change and it showed. He looked every bit like a man who had lost everything. 

Yet, he was here to meet Griffin Gluck, the man who had promised him a future far different from the bleak present. Levi hesitated before knocking lightly on the gate, but before his knuckles made contact, the gate swung open, seemingly of its own accord. 

"Whoa," Levi muttered, his voice trailing off as he took in the scene before him. 

He was greeted by an immaculate garden, with heart-shaped topiaries lining the path and a fountain at the centre, water sparkling under the sunlight. It was as if he had stepped into a different world, a paradise so far removed from the reality he had known. 

Levi was jolted out of his reverie by a voice behind him. "Young man, are you lost?"

Levi turned to see a man approaching, his posture slightly hunched, though not due to age but perhaps the weight of responsibility. The man's eyes were sharp, taking in every detail of Levi's appearance. 

"I'm trying to find my way in," Levi replied politely, aware that he was a stranger in this place. 

The man nodded, his expression softening slightly. "This is The House of the Monroes. You'll need a vehicle to reach the main house from here." 

Levi's eyes widened in surprise. A vehicle just to reach the main building? This place truly was something out of a dream. He thanked the man and walked towards a row of parked cars, marvelling at the supermarkets and neatly tiled roads along the way. This estate, this empire, it was all his—if what Griffin had said was true. Could all this really belong to him? 

He reached a sleek black car and climbed in, the driver nodding curtly as he confirmed Levi's destination. As they drove towards the main building, Levi's thoughts drifted to Griffin's words about being the rightful heir to the Monroe legacy. Could this really be his destiny? 

The car pulled up in front of a towering structure of glass and steel, a sign overhead welcoming him to The House of the Monroes. The sheer scale of the mansion left him speechless. It was worth billions, possibly more, and Levi could feel the weight of it all pressing down on him. 

As he stepped out, he noticed the stares from people passing by. Dressed in designer clothes, they looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. Levi's tattered clothes marked him as an outsider, someone who didn't belong in their world. He ignored their looks and pushed open the grand doors, entering a lobby that was more like a palace than a home. 

Everyone inside turned to look at him, their faces registering shock at the sight of a man who looked like he had crawled out of the gutter. Levi kept his head high, his mind focused on finding Griffin. He approached a woman seated at a desk, her expression one of barely concealed contempt. 

"Excuse me, ma'am," Levi began, trying to keep his voice calm. "I'm here to see a man—" 

Before he could finish, the woman cut him off, her tone icy. "You're here to see the Butler?" she asked, her brow furrowing as she looked him up and down. 

"Yes, Griffin Gluck," Levi confirmed. 

"And what business do you have with Mr. Gluck?" she demanded, her frown deepening. 

Before Levi could respond, she unleashed a torrent of insults, belittling him for daring to set foot in such a place. Levi stood there, absorbing her words, but they barely registered. He had endured worse, far worse.

Finally, he pulled out his phone and called Griffin, using the number on the card. After a few rings, Griffin answered, his voice warm and welcoming. 

"Levi! I'm so glad you made it. I'll be right there." 

Levi could hear the excitement in Griffin's voice and decided not to mention the unpleasant encounter. As he ended the call, a familiar figure walked through the door, instantly catching Levi's attention. It was the man he had seen with his ex-girlfriend, the man who had shattered his world. 

Levi's blood boiled as their eyes met. The man sneered, his lip curling in disgust. "Well, well, look who's here. Did you come all this way to prove you're a man?" 

Levi clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. The man's mocking tone only fuelled the fire inside him. 

"You think you can walk in here, dressed like that?" The man's voice dripped with disdain as he adjusted his tailored suit. "This isn't a place for the likes of you." 

Levi stared him down, a newfound confidence rising within him. "You have no idea who you're dealing with," Levi said, his voice steady. 

"Oh, I know exactly who you are," the man retorted. "A nobody. A pauper who doesn't belong here." 

He signalled to a group of security guards. "Get him out of here." 

The guards moved towards Levi, ready to escort him out, when a commanding voice echoed through the lobby, halting them in their tracks.