Chapter 1 I Don't Want the Inheritance

"Make way! Move aside!"

Edison Whitlock rushed into Joburg Hospital holding an unconscious little girl in his arms, shouting desperately, "Doctor! Doctor! Please save my daughter!"

Several nurses and doctors ran out, quickly taking the child from his arms and rushing her into the emergency room.

"Hey! You can't go in!" A nurse in a sky-blue uniform and a mask stopped Edison as he tried to follow.

At that moment, the sharp sound of high heels on tiles echoed behind him, each step hammering his heart.

"Edison!" A sharp reprimand rang out.

Then, a crisp slap landed squarely on his face.

Standing before him was Justina Cooper, her face full of anger and tears welling in her beautiful eyes. "If anything happens to my daughter, I won't forgive you!"

Her voice was cold and filled with rage.

This scene stunned the other patients and their families in the hospital.

Edison hung his head in shame, not offering any explanation.

"Hmph!" Justina snorted coldly, her disdain and displeasure evident to everyone around.

Like a scolded child, Edison stood silently with his head bowed, not daring to speak. He only glanced occasionally at the woman two or three yards away—his wife.

A woman with whom he had already signed the divorce papers, ready to end their marriage at any time.

Justina was stunning, with delicate features, a tall figure, enviable curves, and a cultured demeanor. She had been the campus belle during their college days. Unexpectedly, she fell for Edison, leading to a whirlwind marriage and the birth of their daughter, Mia Whitlock.

However, married life was far from ideal. He struggled at work, his business ventures failed, and Mia was born with a congenital heart defect. The medical expenses drained all their savings. Now, he made a living delivering food.

On the other hand, Justina was the deputy manager of a listed company's marketing department.

Edison had no standing in the Cooper family. For the past two years, he had been virtually invisible.

To make matters worse, Justina's parents strongly opposed their marriage. They clarified that they would only help with Mia's medical expenses if the couple divorced, and even then, custody of the child had to go to the Cooper family.

This impasse had lasted a year.

When the emergency room doors opened, Edison watched as Mia was wheeled out. He wanted to rush over, but Justina was already by her side.

He paused in his tracks, standing at a distance to look at his adorable daughter.

Mia, wearing an oxygen mask, stretched out her pale hand. Her bright, gem-like eyes glimmered as she murmured, "Daddy..."

Edison walked over, gently holding her cold little hand. He brushed her hair from her forehead and smiled. "I'm here."

"Mommy, don't fight with Daddy anymore. It's my fault. I wanted him to take me to the amusement park," the three-year-old Mia said weakly, defending him.

Justina smiled slightly and said, "Alright, I'll listen to you. I won't fight with your father."

Just then, her cold voice interrupted the tender moment between Edison and Mia. "Edison, pay the hospital fees."

He glanced at Justina, who gave him a fleeting, indifferent look before following Mia into the ward. He quickly went to the billing office and pulled out his bank card to pay.

"Excuse me, there's no money in your account," the nurse said coldly, casting a disdainful glance.

So, it was Edison—a penniless nobody who always made his wife cover the medical expenses. He could have asked his in-laws for help, but his pride stopped him.

What a useless man. Trash!

"No money?" Edison flushed with embarrassment.

He forced a smile, bending over slightly. "Miss, could you give me a few days to settle this?"

The nurse sneered at him, her eyes full of contempt. "You have no money? Ask your wife, then. You're living off her anyway."

"You!" His expression darkened.

But the nurse folded her arms, snorting. "If you don't pay by tomorrow, we'll discharge the patient."

With that, she turned her back on him, unwilling to waste another word on someone like him.

Did being poor mean one had to be bullied? Edison clenched his fists tightly in frustration. Just as he turned around, he saw Justina standing behind him. Her expression was cold and elegant, and her icy demeanor was filled with resentment.

"Tina, don't worry. I'll raise the money," Edison said with a weak smile.

All of their savings had been spent.

Tears streamed down Justina's face as she clenched her delicate fists. "Edison, if you're still a man, ask my parents for help!"

"I…" Edison froze, his throat choked with unspoken words.

Justina wiped her tears, a self-mocking smile appearing on her face. "I knew it. You're always like this. Is your pride more important than Mia?"

She turned and walked away as though she had seen through him completely, leaving only a cold silhouette.

Edison sighed helplessly. Just then, his phone buzzed with a new delivery order. He rushed to the ward to say a few words to Mia before leaving.

Before he left, Justina gave him a final warning. "Edison, this weekend is my father's birthday. If you don't want a divorce, go and ask my parents for help."

There was no room for negotiation. Edison knew this was the last shred of patience she had for him.

A haughty male voice stopped him as he was about to leave the hospital. "Well, well, if it isn't Edison? Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

Edison looked up and saw a handsome man standing before him. The man wore a tailored suit and held a fruit basket and a Peggy stuffed toy.

"Casper! Who invited you here?" Edison's expression immediately darkened.

Since Edison married Justina, Casper Huckle, his old college friend, had become a sworn enemy. Casper had always been in love with her.

"I invited him," Justina said as she approached. She walked right past Edison, her expression apologetic as she smiled at Casper. "Casper, I'm sorry to trouble you again."

The scorn on Casper's face melted into a magnanimous smile when he saw her. "It's nothing. I'm concerned about Mia too. This is for her. I'll cover the hospital fees right away."

With that, he cast a smug glance at Edison, his eyes brimming with disdain.

Edison's fists tightened, his expression dark. He asked Justina coldly, "Why did you ask him for money?"

"Do you have any? Or would you rather Mia be thrown out of the hospital tomorrow?" She shot him an icy glare before walking away with Casper, chatting and laughing with him.

Edison watched the scene unfold, his eyes burning with anger. His pride had been utterly crushed.

Money! Money! Money! It was always about money!

He stood at the hospital entrance for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh. He looked up at the sky, then pulled out his phone and made a call. "Mason, where are you? Let's meet up."

…

Edison and Mason Polaski sat across from each other in a small rental apartment. Mason, a lean man with a tanned complexion, handed Edison a bank card. "There's 60 thousand in here. Take it for now."

Edison took the card, his hands trembling. "Mason, thank you. Thank you!"

"Come on. What's there to thank me for? We're best friends!" Mason said with a grin.

"No way!" The door slammed open, and a tall woman stormed in angrily. "Mason! That's the money for our betrothal gift! How dare you give it to him?"

This woman was Mason's girlfriend, Renee Gracie. She was fairly attractive, but her personality was haughty and materialistic.

"Renee, Mia is in the hospital. I'm just lending Edison the money for now." Mason tried to explain as he reached out to her.

She brushed him off and sneered at Edison, "Oh, look who it is! Edison, how many times have you borrowed money from Mason? You might not care about your dignity, but I mind your lack of it!"

"Renee!" Mason said sternly, tugging on her sleeve.

She didn't relent, jabbing a finger at him. "Mason, if you lend him that money, we're done!"

Seeing that the argument was about to escalate, Edison placed the card back on the table, stood up, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry. Mason, I'll come to your wedding next time. I'll leave now."

"Goodbye!" Renee said coldly.

Before Mason could stop him, Edison had already left the apartment.

Behind him, the door slammed shut, followed by Renee and Mason arguing.

Walking aimlessly down the street, Edison squatted by the roadside with his phone in hand. He smoked a cigarette as his mind raced. Being poor felt like a sin. Without money, nothing was possible.

After a moment's hesitation, Edison made a decision. He dialed a number he hadn't called in seven years.

The call connected.

"Hello? Mr. Whitlock, is that you? Mr. Whitlock, you finally called!" The voice on the other end was excited and emotional, tinged with age and even faint sobs.

Edison sighed. "Logan, I need money. Can you transfer 100 thousand to me?"

"Mr. Whitlock, what are you saying? Even if you need a billion, I'll transfer it to you!" The old man's excitement turned to hesitation. "But Mr. Whitlock, per your agreement with Mr. Whitlock Senior, you'll need to return and inherit the family business to access family funds or resources. Why don't you come by the office, and we'll discuss it?"

After a brief pause, Edison replied, "Alright. I'll go over."

"Excellent! I'll send someone to pick you up!" Logan's voice trembled with excitement.

"No need. I'll go over on my own," Edison said. Then, he asked, "By the way, which company is it?"

"Prosper Group. I'll wait for you in the boardroom," Logan replied.

After hanging up, Edison stared at the bustling crowd around him.

Well, it was time to come clean. He was actually the heir to a top-tier wealthy family. His family's assets spanned the globe, with about 70% of industries under their control. For the past seven years, he had been running from his inheritance, choosing instead to live a humble, ordinary life.

But today, he gave in to reality. If he didn't work hard, he would have to return and inherit a trillion-dollar fortune.

Riding his electric scooter, he soon arrived at Prosper Group. The building towered over 900 feet and ranked seventh among the world's top 500 companies. Of course, all the companies in the top 500 were either owned or invested by the Whitlock family.

A sharp female voice stopped him as soon as he entered the lobby.

"Hey! Who are you? Who let you in? Get out! Deliverymen aren't allowed in here. Call whoever ordered it to come down and get it!"

A stunning woman in a black business suit blocked his way, her tone reprimanding. This woman had an air of authority and a strikingly mature appearance.

"What are you looking at? You're disgusting! Get out now!"

Aubri Caddel glared at Edison with disdain.

Chapter 2 Who Says I Have No Money

Edison's expression stiffened slightly as he frowned.

Aubri looked at his scruffy delivery uniform and pointed toward the door. "Leave now. Deliverymen aren't allowed inside."

"I'm not a deliveryman," he explained.

She brushed her bangs aside and crossed her arms, her expression cold. "I've heard that excuse a thousand times. Everyone who tries to sneak in says they're not a deliveryman. Do you think it's funny?"

"I really am not. I'm here to see Logan Quilton," Edison replied, annoyed as he tried to step forward.

"Didn't you hear me?" Aubri was furious. This was the first time she had encountered such a shameless deliveryman, barging in even after being told to leave.

Just then, a department manager heard the commotion and walked over, his expression dark. "What's going on here?"

"Mr. Dodson, this deliveryman is trying to force his way into our company!" Aubri pointed at Edison with a look of disgust. "I'll call security right now to throw him out!"

Giovanni Dodson frowned as he glanced at Edison. In a stern voice, he said, "Our company doesn't allow deliverymen inside. Please leave."

Though his tone was polite, his attitude clearly conveyed that he didn't think much of Edison. After all, he was a department manager at a top 500 global company. Speaking this civilly to a mere deliveryman was already enough courtesy.

Seeing Edison standing there, Aubri, eager to impress, stepped forward and pointed at his nose. "Did you hear him? Get out!"

Edison was getting annoyed. What was with this woman? Did she wake up on the wrong side of the bed today, or was it her time of the month?

This company belonged to his family.

Why was she, a guard dog, barking at her master? She was asking for trouble.

"I'm not a deliveryman. I'm here to see Logan," Edison said coldly.

Logan?

Giovanni froze, looking at Edison in surprise before bursting into laughter. "You're here to see our chairman?"

"Logan is your chairman?" Edison was momentarily stunned.

That old man was just a secretary back in the day. When did he sneak his way into becoming chairman? No wonder he had the guts to negotiate terms with Edison now.

When he met Logan, there was no chance he would give in.

Edison vowed not to inherit the family business. He would take the money and leave.

Giovanni smirked and shook his head. "You don't even know Mr. Quilton is our chairman, yet you're here to see him? Do you have an appointment?"

"Mr. Dodson, you've got to be kidding. A loser like him having an appointment with our chairman?" Aubri mocked, her lips curling in disdain.

"Enough, Aubri. Call security," Giovanni said impatiently, waving her off.

"Right away, Mr. Dodson," she responded sweetly, then ran to the front desk phone. She picked it up and began dialing security.

Giovanni turned to leave.

Suddenly, a calm but commanding voice rang out at the front desk.

"Logan Quilton, get down here right now. Your receptionist is stopping me. I'm leaving if I don't see you in three minutes."

Both Giovanni and Aubri turned to see Edison casually hanging up the call. He then looked around the lobby as if he were inspecting the place.

Aubri's smirk deepened. "Serves you right for what comes next, deliveryman," she thought.

She decided not to rush making the call to security and instead snapped a photo of Edison, uploading it to her social media with the caption, "Gross! Just caught a deliveryman trying to sneak in. Security's about to throw him out…"

Giovanni frowned at her, prompting her to flash him an "OK" hand gesture before calling security. "Hey, send someone to the reception to deal with an intruder."

After hanging up, she sat back at the front desk, ignoring Edison as she touched up her makeup.

Meanwhile, Logan, the chairman of Prosper Group, burst out of the elevator with his secretary and nearly ran toward the lobby. From a distance, he spotted Edison standing at the reception.

However, what made his blood boil was the sight of three security guards attempting to shove Edison out of the building! That was the sole heir to this empire!

"Stop!" Logan roared.

The three security guards stopped mid-action and turned in shock to see the furious chairman storming toward them.

Why was Logan here?

"Mr. Quilton!" The guards immediately stood at attention and saluted.

Logan ignored them completely and rushed straight to Edison, smiling.

Aubri, startled by Logan's sudden appearance, quickly ran over, especially when she saw Edison still standing there. Her anger flared again.

"Mr. Quilton," she greeted respectfully before glaring at Edison disgustingly. "Why are you still here? Why haven't they thrown you out?"

She was furious.

Couldn't the security guards read the room? Logan was right there, and they were letting this trash linger in the lobby. What if he offended Logan?

However, Logan's expression darkened as he scolded Aubri, "What are you doing? This is the young heir of our company—the future chairman! Why are you so rude?"

Y-Young heir? Him? A useless deliveryman? How could that be?

Stunned, Aubri muttered angrily, "Mr. Quilton, you must be mistaken. How could this man be the young heir?"

"I'm not mistaken," Logan replied coldly, clearly displeased with her.

What kind of tone and attitude was this? Was that how she should speak to him?

Realizing her mistake, Aubri immediately apologized, "Mr. Quilton, I'm sorry. I…"

At that moment, Giovanni also rushed over, looking eager to flatter. "Mr. Quilton, what brings you down here?"

As he spoke, he noticed Edison. Without sensing the tension in the room, he frowned and barked, "Why are you still here? Didn't I tell you that deliverymen aren't allowed inside? Get out!"

The words had barely left his mouth when he felt a cold, piercing gaze directed at him. There was no shortage of fools, but there seemed to be even more today.

"Enough!" Logan roared, his fury erupting. "He's the young heir of this company. Both of you are fired!"

Edison shook his head in exasperation. "Such shallow people. What a shame."

"Mr. Whitlock, this way, please." Logan lowered his posture slightly, gesturing politely.

This scene left both Giovanni and Aubri completely stunned.

The young heir? Was he really the young heir?

Giovanni hurriedly ran over as he watched Edison and Logan prepare to leave. He had a groveling smile on his face. "Mr. Whitlock, it was my fault for failing to recognize you. Please forgive me this once."

He could tell that Logan was extremely deferential to this young man.

Prosper Group ranked seventh among the world's top 500 companies, and Logan was worth billions. If he said that this young man was the young heir, then there was no doubt about it.

Aubri also ran over, her expression ingratiating. "Mr. Whitlock, I was wrong. I promise I won't do it again."

Edison glanced indifferently at Logan, who immediately instructed the security guards, "What are you waiting for? Throw them both out! From now on, they're banned from stepping foot in this company."

"Mr. Whitlock! Please, we're sorry! Have mercy!"

Despite Giovanni's and Aubri's pleas, the security guards escorted them out.

…

Inside the chairman's office, Edison sat on a luxurious leather couch while Logan stood respectfully nearby with his hands clasped before him.

"Logan, you're living quite the refined life here. An ostrich leather couch from Colombostile—nice taste."

He patted the couch beneath him, clearly impressed.

Logan lowered his head slightly, his demeanor humble. "Mr. Whitlock, please don't tease me. All of this will belong to you as long as you sign this document."

The tall, elegantly dressed secretary beside him handed over a file at his signal.

Edison gave it a disdainful glance. "You know I have no interest in inheriting my father's fortune. I came today just to borrow 100 thousand."

Logan smiled politely but firmly. "I can't do that."

"Say that again, old man!" Edison snapped, standing up abruptly.

"I can't lend you the money," Logan repeated, smiling as he added, "But if you sign this document, you can have ten billion—or even 100 billion."

"No means no! I will never sign this document!" Edison retorted.

Five minutes later, Logan said, "Congratulations, Mr. Whitlock. You've officially inherited all the Whitlock family's businesses and assets. Here's your 100 thousand."

It tasted sweeter than expected.

Logan beamed as he held the signed document, his joy evident. Meanwhile, his secretary brought over a suitcase and opened it, revealing 100 thousand in cash.

"Logan, you really went all out. Using such a big case for 100 thousand? People might think it's a million," Edison joked as he grabbed a plastic bag and stuffed the cash into it. "Alright. I'm off."

"Shall I arrange a car for you, Mr. Whitlock?" Logan asked respectfully.

"No need. I came on my electric scooter," Edison replied, casually carrying the plastic bag out of the office.

Once Edison had left, Logan hurried to the top-floor conference room while holding the signed document. He started a video call.

"Mr. Whitlock Senior, Mr. Whitlock has finally signed," he announced with reverence.

An elderly man in a wheelchair appeared on the screen. After a few coughs, he slowly raised his hand and said in a frail voice, "Make… the announcement."

"Alright, Mr. Whitlock Senior," Logan replied, wiping away tears.

A moment later, an email was sent to the executives of all Whitlock family-owned companies announcing that Edison had officially become the sole heir to the Whitlock family's empire. Their businesses spanned real estate, entertainment, finance, investment, internet technology, and more.

…

Meanwhile, Edison returned to the hospital and hurried to the ward, only to see Justina sitting close to Casper, chatting and laughing. His brows furrowed together as he clenched his fists.

"Edison, where did you go?" Justina asked coldly as soon as she saw him.

Did he have time to run around while Mia was hospitalized? Her disappointment in him was written all over her face.

Casper smirked and said mockingly, "Edison, were you out trying to borrow money? Don't worry, I'll cover the medical bills. After all, I'm close to Mia."

"My daughter's medical expenses are none of your concern. I can handle them myself," Edison replied, his expression indifferent as he stepped inside.

"Edison, what kind of attitude is that? Apologize to Casper!" Justina snapped.

She knew his capabilities—or lack thereof.

Casper had offered to cover the bills out of kindness, yet Edison had the nerve to be rude. It was embarrassing.

Casper feigned modesty. "Tina, don't be upset. Maybe Edison couldn't borrow money and is in a bad mood."

She glared at Edison angrily, her opinion of him sinking even lower.

Edison held back his rage, his fists clenching tightly. He stared at the two of them, itching to punch Casper in the face.

Tina? How dare he call her by her nickname so casually?

"Justina, I'm still your husband. Do you feel no shame at all?" he thought.

Chapter 3 You're Fired

#"Who says I can't get the money?" Edison stared coldly at Casper.

Casper froze for a moment, his expression stiffening. Then, under his and Justina's shocked gaze, Edison tossed a plastic bag in front of them.

The bag burst open, and ten neat stacks of cash spilled out. The bills gleamed in their eyes.

Casper's face twitched, his mouth quivered slightly, and his fists clenched unconsciously.

Justina was even more surprised. She stared at the scattered money in disbelief before her expression turned cold, her gaze filled with anger.

Where did Edison get this money? If he had it, why hadn't he taken it out sooner?

Didn't he know how exhausting it was for her to stay here, laughing and chatting with other men?

"Here's 100 thousand. This should cover everything you've paid before. Don't bother us again," Edison said coldly.

Casper didn't immediately take the money.

A hundred thousand was nothing to him—it was mere pocket change.

"Well done, Edison. You managed to scrape together this much money so quickly. I'm curious who in the world lent it to you?" he said in a sarcastic tone, struggling to maintain his composure.

He had stayed behind to wait for Edison to return, intending to mock him thoroughly. At the same time, he wanted Justina to see just how useless the man she chose truly was!

But now, Casper found his words stuck in his throat, causing unbearable discomfort and leaving him restless and uneasy!

Edison shot him an indifferent look. "What does that have to do with you?"

Justina couldn't stand it anymore. She stood up and scolded, "Edison, that's enough! Casper has helped us many times, and this is how you treat him?"

"Did I ask for his help? Don't you know why he's doing all this?" he retorted, his tone sharp and his eyes faintly showing anger.

Justina froze. She knew very well why Casper was so attentive to Mia.

But being called out so directly by Edison left her embarrassed. She snapped, "What are you trying to say, Edison?"

Edison took a deep breath to calm himself. Lately, arguments between him and Justina had become far too frequent.

He turned his attention back to Casper. "Why are you still here?"

Casper chuckled bitterly, grabbed the money without a word, and stormed out.

Justina glared at Edison furiously before rushing after Casper. "Casper, let me walk you out."

With that, peace was restored.

Edison sat by Mia's hospital bed, looking at her sleeping face. Guilt weighed heavily in his heart.

"Mia, being with me must've been so hard for you. But I promise that from now on, you'll be my little princess," he whispered gently, stroking her forehead with a look full of love.

At that moment, Justina returned. Her tone was icy. "Where did you get that money?"

"I borrowed it," he replied without looking up.

"From who?"

"Mason."

She breathed a sigh of relief. She had feared he had borrowed it from loan sharks. "You've borrowed from him so many times already. You can't keep troubling him. He's getting married soon."

"I know. I'll pay him back when I have the money," he said, finally turning to look at her.

She was truly beautiful. Even with her brows furrowed, she had a unique allure. She probably didn't realize that her once hopeless husband had now become the sole heir to the world's wealthiest family. Changing the world would be as easy as snapping his fingers.

Justina's gaze turned cold as she glanced at Mia's bed. "Edison, you managed to gather money this time, but what about next time? Are we going to rely on borrowing money every time Mia needs treatment?"

She remembered the ambitious and confident man Edison had been. It was the reason she had fallen in love with him. But since his business failure, he had become a shadow of himself—defeated and spineless.

Edison's frustration flared. "I'll figure it out."

She was momentarily silent before saying, "Edison, if not for yourself, at least for Mia's sake. My dad's birthday is this weekend. Come with me and apologize to him."

Edison said nothing, his fists clenching tightly.

Seeing him so stubbornly silent, Justina became even more irritated. She grabbed her bag and shouted, "Fine! Stay like this for the rest of your life!"

Slamming the door as she left, she stormed out.

Edison sighed heavily. Life without money or status was truly unbearable.

Could Justina's father ever see Edison as anything more than a failure?

Edison had some errands that afternoon, so he asked a nurse to watch over Mia. Justina had already left for work earlier in the day.

Riding his delivery scooter, he refreshed his app for new orders and started delivering food. One order was for the Intercontinental Hotel. Those who could stay there were wealthy.

Edison knocked on the door of Room 8808 and said, "Your delivery is here."

"Hello, here's your..." Edison started, smiling as he handed over the food, but he stopped abruptly. "Renee?"

"Edison?"

The woman in front of him was Mason's girlfriend, Renee. At that moment, she looked stunned, but her expression quickly shifted to annoyance and suspicion.

"Renee, are you ready yet?" A middle-aged man's voice called out from inside the room.

Renee glared at Edison, snatched the food from his hands, and slammed the door shut.

Edison stood outside the door for a long while before fully processing what had just happened.

What was Renee doing here?

Should he tell Mason about this?

Half an hour later, in the hotel lobby, Edison saw Renee again.

This time, she was dressed in a sleek black coat and high heels. She sat across from him with a cold expression. She pulled 300 dollars from her wallet and pressed the bills onto the coffee table.

"For you," she said flatly.

Edison glanced at the money and let out a mocking laugh. "Are you trying to bribe me?"

She frowned. Without hesitation, she added another 200 dollars to the pile and tossed the bills down. "Five hundred. That's two days of your wages. Is that enough?"

Edison shot to his feet, his face filled with anger as he clenched his teeth. "Renee, does Mason deserve this? He's breaking his back for you, and the two of you are supposed to get married by the end of the year!"

"So what? Who said I'd marry him?" she sneered, lighting a slim cigarette. She looked at Edison with disdain. "You should worry about yourself instead. You run to Mason for money every time. It's pathetic. Don't you have any self-respect? No wonder your wife wants to divorce you. Loser!"

She stood up, crossed her arms, and smirked arrogantly. "And don't you dare say a word about today!"

Renee strutted off, heading toward the middle-aged man waiting nearby. The two walked off together with their arms intertwined, leaving the hotel.

Edison clenched his fists tightly, pocketed the money on the table, and left the hotel.

He had to warn Mason.

Just then, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen—it was Wilson White, his manager.

The moment he answered, a furious roar erupted from the other end. "Edison! What the hell are you doing? I've gotten over ten complaints in the last half hour! Did you deliver the food to space? Finish your deliveries and get back here to pack your stuff. You're fired!"

Wilson was livid. Receiving so many complaints in such a short time had nearly driven him insane. This loser—did he even want to keep his job?

"Wilson, don't you dare shout at me! I quit! You're the one who's fired!"

"What did you say? Edison, you—"

Edison ended the call without another word. He had reached his limit. How dare a lowly manager yell at him? He only endured it in the past because of his circumstances.

But things were different now. He was, after all, the heir to the world's wealthiest family. Not just anyone could talk down to him anymore.

He immediately called Logan. "Logan, I want to buy back my old company. Can you make that happen?"

"Of course, Mr. Whitlock," Logan replied. "You originally founded that company. Even though you declared bankruptcy and it was sold off, reacquiring it is no issue."

"Good. I want to be the boss again in ten minutes," Edison said calmly.

Two minutes later, Logan texted, "Mr. Whitlock, it's done. You're now the official owner of Speedy Express."

Edison nodded. Logan was as efficient as always. He hopped on his scooter and headed straight for the company.

"Wilson, you'd better brace yourself. Let's see how you like this!" he thought.

Edison founded Speedy Express. However, the company went bankrupt due to poor management and was sold off. He went from being the boss to a regular employee overnight. Gone were the days of glory. What remained were endless ridicule and disdain.

At Speedy Express, Wilson was pacing furiously in the lobby, the phone call still on his mind.

"That Edison has a death wish! How dare he talk to me like that!"

The other employees nearby huddled in silence, afraid to provoke his wrath.

Suddenly, the front door opened, and a middle-aged man walked in.

Wilson's scowl instantly morphed into a sycophantic grin. "Mr. Padilla, you should've let me know you were coming! I could've picked you up."

It was Speedy Express' owner, Marvin Padilla.

Marvin glanced at him and said, "Everyone, prepare to welcome the new boss."

Wilson froze. "New boss?"

Marvin explained, "Someone bought the company for ten million."

Nervously, Wilson asked, "Who's the new boss? Should we prepare anything special?"

"I'm not too familiar with him. Just be on your best behavior," Marvin replied curtly.

Shortly after, dozens of employees gathered at the entrance, following Marvin's lead.

Wilson seized the opportunity to bark orders, "Straighten up, everyone! The new boss will be here any moment. If you make a good impression, it could mean promotions and raises!"

"Ha! Says the bootlicker!"

"Exactly. This guy's a total suck-up. He's probably looking for a raise."

A few employees discussed softly.

Wilson's unpopularity was no secret. Once just a deliveryman like the rest of them, he clawed his way into the manager's position by shamelessly currying favor.

At that moment, a sleek black Bentley pulled up to the entrance.

Inside, Logan debated whether to intervene if Edison faced any challenges. Smoothing things over would encourage Edison to return to the family.

Standing behind Marvin, Wilson rubbed his hands eagerly, his face full of anticipation. "He's here! He's here!"

Seeing the new boss arrive, he knew this was his big moment.

Just then, a scooter pulled up next to the Bentley.

When Wilson saw Edison dismounting, his entire body trembled with rage. Pointing at him, he shouted, "Edison! How dare you show your face here? Get out of the way!"

Chapter 4 I'm the New Boss

Wilson was livid.

That idiot, Edison, was actually blocking the Bentley, stopping the new boss from getting out.

Was he courting death?

"Edison, why are you just standing there? Get over here!" Wilson barked, pointing angrily at Edison.

Edison had just parked his scooter when he was met with Wilson's tirade.

"He's done for! Look at how furious Wilson is!"

"How dare he still return after getting all those complaints?"

"That's at least a 200-dollar fine. He worked for nothing today."

The employees whispered among themselves, many smirking at Edison's misfortune.

Some of the employees were Edison's former subordinates when he was still the boss. Seeing him reduced to delivering takeout alongside them gave them plenty of opportunities to mock him.

Edison was used to it by now.

Even Marvin looked at him coldly and asked Wilson with a frown, "Is he one of your employees?"

Wilson quickly sneered, "Mr. Padilla, you probably don't remember since you don't visit often. This is Edison, the former owner of the company. Now? He's just a deliveryman."

He emphasized "former owner", his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Edison, oh Edison, karma's finally caught up with you. This is what you deserve!" Wilson thought.

Marvin's expression darkened as he said, "Clear out any unnecessary people. We're here to welcome the new boss."

Only then did he vaguely remember Edison as the down-and-out young man who had sold the company. But Marvin, being the type to forget anyone unimportant, had never given Edison a second thought.

Adjusting his suit, Marvin strode toward the Bentley, his face lighting up with a smile.

Eager to impress, Wilson took the order as a command and smugly pointed at Edison. "Edison, pack up your stuff and get lost!"

Edison rolled his eyes and looked at him like he was an idiot. "Moron."

Everyone heard it, and the room fell into an awkward silence.

Wilson exploded, his finger almost touching Edison's nose. "I dare you to say that again!"

Edison chuckled coldly. "Sure. Moron! Your whole family are morons!"

"Edison, you're dead meat! You're fired right now. You'll also have to pay for the company's losses!" Wilson yelled, his face twisting in fury.

"Edison, you really have no clue what position you're in. You're not the boss anymore, so where did you get the nerve to act so cocky? Let's see how I deal with you later!" he thought.

Suddenly, the Bentley's door opened, and an older man with a cane stepped out. His face was stern and angry as he declared, "Who dares fire him?"

The man then ignored the grinning Marvin and, to everyone's shock, briskly made his way to Edison. Once there, he stopped, lowered his posture slightly, and bowed his head. His movements were smooth and filled with deference.

"Mr. Whitlock, my apologies for being late," he said respectfully.

His voice was calm yet carried enough weight to silence the room.

Mr. Whitlock?

Everyone was stunned.

Why was this man addressing Edison so respectfully? What was going on?

Marvin stood frozen, the smile on his face slowly fading.

Meanwhile, Wilson gaped in disbelief. "Sir, you're our new boss, right? Edison is just a low-level deliveryman at our company. You must have the wrong person!"

Logan gave him a cold glance.

How could a common fellow read the mind of a great man?

Marvin's expression shifted. Quickly stepping forward, he addressed Logan with a respectful smile, "Mr. Quilton, surely, you're joking. Let's head inside to discuss things further."

As a businessman, he knew exactly who Logan was—the chairman of Prosper Group, a man whose influence dominated Joburg City.

But Logan didn't move. His gaze swept coldly over Marvin and Wilson before he said, "Who's joking with you? This is your company's new boss!"

What? New boss?

Wilson was in disbelief, and so was Marvin.

Edison looked at Wilson with a faint smile. "Son, didn't you just say you'd fire me?"

"Edison, you're courting death! Stop calling me that!" Wilson snapped, his anger flaring. He hated that nickname more than anything.

"Get lost already! And don't forget to pay the company for damages—ten thousand!" he sneered.

There was no way Edison could be the new boss. Just look at him!

Edison chuckled lightly, still watching Wilson with a half-smile.

"You've really got a death wish, don't you, Edison? I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't fire you after what you just said," Wilson sneered, confident in his authority. As the company manager, he had every right to fire anyone beneath him.

"Let me tell you this—Wilson, you're fired. Get out," Edison said calmly, leaning against his scooter with his hands in his pockets.

Wilson was really clueless. Even now, he couldn't see the situation clearly.

Meanwhile, Marvin suddenly realized something, and his face went pale.

Oh no!

Edison really was the new boss of the company!

Cold sweat broke out on Marvin's forehead as he lowered his head. He was too afraid to even look at Edison. Inside, he cursed Wilson for putting him in this mess.

"What did you just say? You're firing me?" Wilson laughed, his expression twisting with disbelief.

Was Edison insane? How could he even say such a thing?

At that moment, Logan, who was standing silently by Edison's side, shot Wilson a frosty glare. "When Mr. Whitlock says you're fired, you're fired!"

Logan's face was stern, radiating authority. Wilson had insulted Edison and was now going to face the consequences.

It wasn't until then that Wilson remembered the new boss was present. But before he could react, Marvin stepped forward and slapped him hard. "Wilson! Get out of this company immediately. You're fired!"

Wilson really was an idiot!

How could Marvin have trusted someone like him and promoted him to manager?

"Mr. Padilla, what's the meaning of this?" Wilson asked, clutching his face in shock.

"It means Edison is our new boss, and since he said you're fired, that means you're fired."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Wilson's entire body trembled as he shouted, "Impossible! He's bankrupt, a broke loser! How could he be the new boss?"

Marvin frowned. "He's not as simple as you think."

Wilson turned to look at Edison, his expression deflated. Only then did he realize the elderly man standing next to Edison was Logan, the chairman of Prosper Group. Logan was a billionaire, the wealthiest man in Joburg City.

And he was addressing Edison so respectfully. That could only mean…

"Wilson, from this moment on, you're fired. Get out," Edison said, straightening up.

Wilson froze, utterly stunned.

"Weren't you enjoying yourself when you were mocking me just now? You were even threatening to fire me. Well, sorry to disappoint you—I'm the new boss now. If I tell you to leave, you have no choice but to go!" Edison thought.

Wilson dropped to his knees with a loud thud and clung to Edison's leg. "Mr. Whitlock, I was blind. I was stupid. Please don't fire me. Given that we've been working together, let me stay, even if it means I can only deliver takeout!"

Edison chuckled. "You're regretting it now? If the tables were turned, would you have spared me? Evil deeds never go unpunished."

Wilson felt like he had been plunged into an abyss with those words.

Edison turned to the rest of the employees and said, "I know many of you looked down on me when I was at my lowest, but it's fine. Starting today, everyone's salary will be doubled!"

The announcement sent the crowd into an uproar.

He doubled their salary!

"Mr. Whitlock, you're amazing!"

"Mr. Whitlock, we love you!"

Then, Edison's gaze landed on a beautiful woman standing at the back of the crowd. "And as for the manager position Wilson vacated, it'll now go to Queena."

Everyone turned to look at Queena Caddel, who was dressed in a sleek black business suit that perfectly highlighted her figure.

She stared at him in astonishment, unable to catch her breath. Even as he left, she was still in a daze. Watching his silhouette as he entered the Bentley, her eyes shimmered with complex emotions.

She quickly ran to the car, bending slightly to peer into the window. "Edison… I mean, Mr. Whitlock, are you really making me the manager?"

Edison glanced at her briefly and smiled. "Queena, what's wrong? Don't believe in yourself?"

She was a capable, level-headed woman with stunning looks who had worked with him. Promoting her was only fitting.

This was the privilege of being the boss.

"I… I'm just afraid I might not do a good job," she said hesitantly.

She never expected Edison to suddenly become the owner of the company. While he had been the boss before, the company had only been a small operation then. Now, the business brought in over five million in annual revenue!

For Edison to buy it back, it must have cost tens of millions!

"Don't worry, Queena. Take your time. You'll do great," Edison said, giving her a reassuring smile.

As the Bentley drove away, Queena bit her lip and murmured, "What's his real identity? If he's so wealthy, why pretend to be poor?"

…

Inside the Bentley, Logan said with a cheerful smile, "Mr. Whitlock, there's an investment project tomorrow. You'll need to meet with the other party."

"I'm not going," Edison replied flatly. He had no interest in these matters.

He was being forced to inherit his family's fortune, so he had no intention of participating.

"In that case, Mr. Whitlock, please return the 100 thousand to me," Logan said casually.

Edison froze, then sighed reluctantly. "Fine. Fine. I'll go, okay?"

As the heir to a massive fortune, he was threatened with a mere 100 thousand.

How tragic!

"Understood, Mr. Whitlock. I'll pick you up tomorrow," Logan replied, beaming.

As Edison exited the car, a voice called out in surprise, "Edison? What are you doing here?"

He turned instinctively and froze. Justina stood there, puzzled, staring at him with curiosity.

Panic shot through him. Oh no! What would happen if she found out about his real identity?

Chapter 5 It's Just A Million-Dollar Deal

"Why are you here?" Justina furrowed her brows, glancing at the Bentley beside Edison. Had he just gotten out of that car?

"Is this really my useless husband? Or do delivery companies now hand out Bentleys for their drivers?" she wondered.

"I-I was just..." Edison stammered, glancing at Logan, who was smiling smugly from inside the car.

The old man immediately extended his hand and said, "Young man, thank you so much. It's all thanks to you that I found this place. Next time, when you're free, I'll treat you to a meal as a token of my appreciation."

Edison nodded and said politely, "No need. Please head back."

His tone carried a hint of urgency.

Logan didn't say much, simply nodding and smiling at Justina before instructing the driver to leave quickly.

Justina stared after the car, her eyes widening in shock.

Wait... Wasn't that Logan Quilton, the chairman of Prosper Group? He was the richest man in Joburg City!

Did Edison ride in the same car as him?

"Do you know Mr. Quilton?" Justina asked, looking back at Edison in surprise.

Edison shrugged. "I don't know him. The old man got lost, so I helped him find his way."

Old man?

Justina's lips twitched in irritation. He called Joburg City's richest man an "old man"? That was incredibly rude!

"Watch your words! He's the richest man in Joburg, the chairman of Prosper Group!" Justina glared at Edison.

This guy just kept getting more clueless. The more she thought about it, the more disdain she felt for Edison. In a cold tone, she said, "Edison, don't forget, my dad is hosting a dinner at Gusto Bistro this weekend. You have to buy a gift."

"I haven't agreed to go yet," Edison replied.

"You!"

Now, Justina was furious. She had finally convinced her dad that Edison would show up to apologize, hoping her dad wouldn't make it too difficult for him. But now, Edison was acting like this?

Forget it. She wouldn't bother with him. She had been blind to have ever fallen for him in the first place.

"Whatever!" Justina snapped, turning around and walking away, her hips swaying. She must have sprayed perfume and done her makeup.

Edison stared at her as she entered a building, his mind racing.

Hadn't she gone back to the company? Why was she here?

Where was this?

The Hopton Hotel!

Was Justina secretly meeting another man behind his back?

Thinking about it, Edison's temper flared. He worked tirelessly every day, yet she came to a hotel?

No, he had to follow her and see what was going on.

Justina was having a rough day. First, her daughter had a relapse with her heart condition because of Edison's irresponsibility, then she was upset by Caspar's issues. After returning to the company, another project had gone off track.

The company's CEO had backed out, saying they needed to meet at the Hopton Hotel to discuss the project.

She hadn't wanted to come, but the client had threatened to break off the deal, so she had no choice.

After all, it was a one-million-dollar order.

Just then, her phone rang. "Hello, Mr. Tucker, I'm here. Where are you?"

"I'm at the restaurant on the sixth floor," a hoarse voice said on the other end.

"Alright, Mr. Tucker. I'll be right up." Justina smiled and hung up.

She sighed, hesitated for a moment, and then decided to go up.

The moment the elevator doors closed, Edison walked into the lobby and saw Justina stepping into the elevator. He quickly ran over but was interrupted by a cold, mocking voice.

"Well, well, isn't this the delivery guy? You even made it to the Hopton Hotel?"

Edison turned around to see a glamorous couple standing together. The woman had her arms crossed and was leaning on a tall, handsome man with a mocking look on her face.

"Melissa?" Edison frowned and glanced at the elevator, which had stopped on the sixth floor.

The woman walked over with a smirk. "Edison, what a coincidence, bumping into you here. Looks like your business covers a large area."

She was Melissa Cooper, Justina's cousin. She was in her first year of college and had already grown into a striking young woman.

"Who's this?" the handsome guy beside Melissa asked with a teasing look.

Melissa sneered, "My cousin's husband. Didn't I tell you about him last time? He failed at his business and now delivers food. He borrowed a few thousand dollars from me but still hasn't paid me back."

Melissa had always looked down on Edison. She thought he was a loser. She felt like he had climbed into Justina's life and was nothing more than a burden on her. He seemed more like a live-in husband. What a shameless man!

"So, this is the guy you were talking about?" The man laughed, his eyes full of mockery.

Edison felt a bit irritated. After all, he was still Justina's husband. Why was Melissa humiliating him in front of her boyfriend?

He forced a smile. "I'll pay you back. I have something else to do, so I won't stay here."

After all, she was Justina's cousin, so he had to hold his temper.

If Melissa knew he was now the heir to the world's largest conglomerate, what would her reaction be?

People were always so shallow and ignorant.

"Pay me back? I never expected you to. With your wages, do you even make enough to pay for Mia's medical bills?" Melissa mocked.

Edison was completely useless, and Mia shouldn't even exist. Melissa looked down on Edison, so naturally, she looked down on Mia as well.

When Edison heard this, his expression slowly turned cold. "Melissa, I'm still your cousin's husband no matter what. Isn't it a bit disrespectful to talk to me like this?"

Melissa sneered, "I've never considered you my cousin's husband. You just wormed your way into her life and are now clinging to the Cooper family."

How shameless! Who did he think he was?

"Oh, he's a live-in husband?" The man beside her laughed mockingly.

Edison was such a pathetic man!

Melissa waved her hand dismissively and pulled her boyfriend away. "Forget it. Harvey, let's go. Standing next to someone like him makes me wanna gag."

Edison's eyes grew cold, and his fists clenched as he watched Melissa leave with her boyfriend.

They were still gossiping. "Your cousin's husband is really pathetic."

"He's not my cousin's husband. If you say that again, I'll be angry."

Edison took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He couldn't stoop to the level of these youngsters. He turned around and immediately headed to the elevator.

Edison circled around for a while before finally spotting Justina through the glass wall of a restaurant on the sixth floor. The most frustrating part was that he could see Justina sitting across from a bald, fat man, who was lecherously trying to touch her hand.

She was cheating on him!

Edison was furious. He immediately pulled out his phone and called Justina.

Inside the restaurant, Justina had rejected Wyatt Tucker's advances multiple times, but he refused to give up and kept trying to touch her hand.

It was at this moment that her phone rang, offering her a brief chance to breathe.

"Sorry, Mr. Tucker. I need to take this call."

With that, Justina stood up and walked toward the restaurant entrance.

Wyatt squinted his small eyes and kept his gaze fixed on Justina's back.

"Hello, Edison. What's up?" Justina asked, standing outside the restaurant.

"I'm across from you."

Justina quickly looked up and saw Edison staring at her coldly from across the corridor. She furrowed her brows, puzzled. How did he end up here?

"Are you following me?" Justina asked coldly as she walked over.

She had run into him downstairs earlier, and now, she bumped into him here.

If he wasn't following her, what else could it be?

How bold of him! He had actually followed her all the way here?

Edison chuckled. "I don't have the time to follow you. I just happened to pass by."

He glanced at the fat man inside the restaurant and asked, "Who's he? Is he more important than Mia?"

Instead of going to the hospital, Justina was out meeting a fat man. She really had some nerve.

Justina was irritated by Edison's interrogative tone but still explained, "He's a business partner. We're negotiating a deal."

"A deal?" Edison asked sarcastically. "I saw him touching you. Are you negotiating or flirting?"

Justina's expression darkened as she crossed her arms, her voice dripping with disdain. "Edison, what's your problem? Do you think I'm cheating? I work hard every day to earn money for Mia's treatment!

"And you? You're delivering food every day. What have you achieved? I asked you to apologize to my parents, but you still haven't. You're just a coward!"

As she spoke, Justina's emotions flared, and tears welled up in her eyes. She turned her head away, sniffing. "Forget it. It's useless talking to you. I'm not going back tonight."

Not going back?

Edison froze. Was she planning to stay the night out here? With that fat guy?

"What if I can help you?" Edison asked.

Seeing Justina's expression, Edison guessed that the business deal wasn't going smoothly. The client was probably threatening her. At the same time, he felt guilty for his earlier attitude.

"What can you help me with? Can you bring in a million-dollar deal?" Justina scoffed.

She had never expected Edison to be able to help her with anything.

"It's just a million-dollar deal. I can—" Edison didn't lack money. With a word from him, he could buy her company, let alone secure a million-dollar deal.

"Enough, Edison. Don't worry about my matters," Justina said coldly before turning and heading back into the restaurant.

"Don't worry about your matters? But you're my wife," Edison thought.

Edison looked at Justina's back and gave a bitter smile. He then took out his phone.