The Heir Returns Home 2

"You'll regret every moment you've made a fool out of me!" Levi Monroe snarled, his voice echoing through the lavish hall. 

Two security guards moved toward him, ready to force him out of the estate, but a commanding voice rang out before they could reach him. 

"Hold on," Griffin Gluck's calm yet authoritative voice cut through the tension.

The entire room seemed to pause, and every head turned in the direction of Griffin, who was descending the grand staircase. Respect and silence immediately followed; no one dared to speak when the chairman's closest confidant entered the scene. 

Levi's muscles tensed, bracing himself for more humiliation, but when he locked eyes with Griffin, something unexpected happened. Griffin, ignoring everyone around them, approached Levi and greeted him with a deep bow. 

"Welcome home, young master," Griffin said, his voice full of reverence. 

Gasps erupted from the crowd, disbelief evident on every face. Even Ben, who stood smugly nearby, was left speechless. 

"Did he just call that guy the heir?" 

"Has Griffin lost his mind?" 

The murmurs grew louder, but nobody dared challenge Griffin openly. 

Levi could feel the shift in the atmosphere, and a smirk curled on his lips. Watching Ben's stunned expression made this moment all the sweeter. 

Ben's face paled as reality began to sink in. Everyone knew that Griffin practically ran the Monroe Estate while the chairman was away. That kind of respect wasn't given lightly. Seeing Griffin bow to Levi, a man he thought was beneath him, was a crushing blow. 

"This has to be a joke," Ben muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening in frustration. 

Griffin straightened, smiling warmly. "I'm relieved you've returned. Your grandfather's overseas handling some business, but allow me to take you to the family estate. There's much to show you." 

Without hesitation, Levi followed Griffin outside, where a sleek black car awaited. As they drove toward the estate, he couldn't help but notice Ben lingering at a distance, clearly unwilling to let things go. 

Arriving at the sprawling Monroe headquarters, Levi was struck by the sheer size of the place. It was easily the most powerful company in the region, and now, it was his. Yet, even as he took it all in, he could feel Ben's bitter gaze on him. 

"Who is that guy?" Levi asked, glancing over his shoulder toward Ben. 

Griffin followed his gaze and scoffed lightly. "Ben Hartford. Just a temporary manager here," he said dismissively. "He's nothing you need to concern yourself with."

Levi narrowed his eyes. "That man's trouble. Why is someone like him working here?" 

The secretary, who had been listening nearby, blinked in surprise. Who was Levi to question Griffin's hiring decisions so openly? Yet, no one said a word against him, especially not when Griffin was showing such respect. 

Griffin's expression hardened. He didn't need more than a few words to understand Levi's disdain for Ben. "Why was this man hired in the first place?" he demanded, turning to the secretary. 

"Sir, he passed the interview, and we brought him in to cover for the manager on leave," the secretary stammered, clearly uncomfortable under the weight of Griffin's glare. 

Griffin raised an eyebrow, recalling the hiring process but vaguely. "I approved that?" he asked, more to himself than anyone else, though the tone was still accusing. 

Levi said nothing, but inwardly, he revelled in how easily the tables were turning. One step closer to bringing down those who had wronged him. 

The secretary, now acutely aware of Levi's standing, began piecing things together. This man wasn't just anyone—he had to be from the highest of circles. But why would someone from such a prestigious background dress so plainly? The entire situation was baffling. 

For Levi, the strangeness of the day hadn't fully set in. Just a short while ago, he was an outsider, a nobody. Now, he stood at the heart of his family's legacy, with Griffin treating him as if he'd always belonged. It felt surreal. 

As for Ben, he stood frozen, trying to wrap his mind around what was happening. Why was the most influential man in the company treating Levi as if he were royalty? The realization that his rival was the true heir was slowly sinking in, and it made him furious. 

Griffin turned on Ben with a withering look. "Why are you still here?" 

"Sir, this… this man," Ben stuttered, gesturing at Levi, "he's lying about me! I don't even know him! How can you listen to—" 

"Quiet!" Griffin's voice cut through Ben's protests like a blade. "You dare insult the young master?" 

The tension in the room became suffocating as Griffin turned to the secretary. "Prepare his termination papers. I want him gone. If the young master does not want him, neither do I."

The secretary nodded, scurrying to make the necessary arrangements, while Ben's mouth hung open in disbelief. 

"You can't be serious," Ben muttered, his eyes darting between Levi and Griffin. "I need this job!" 

But Griffin was already walking away, leading Levi toward the estate's inner offices, paying no attention to Ben's desperate pleas. For Levi, this was just the beginning. There would be no mercy for those who had crossed him.