CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 183 THE ORPHAN’S REVENGE

Ryan’s POV

The afternoon sun slanted through my office windows as Simon carefully laid out the investigation files on my desk.

"Mr. Blackwood, here’s what we’ve found about Lucian West," Simon reported, his voice pulling me back to the present. "He was placed in an orphanage fifteen years ago in June. However, due to the time that’s elapsed, we haven’t been able to confirm exactly how he ended up there."

I leafed through the documents, scanning the sparse details of Lucian’s early life.

"These are the records from the orphanage," Simon continued. "Most of the staff from that period have retired. We’re doing our best to track them down, but it may take a few days to get more concrete information."

Something tugged at my memory as I stared at the date—fifteen years ago, June. Where had I heard that timeframe before? Then it hit me. Sophie had once questioned me about the northeast quadrant venture, which had fallen apart around that same time.

"Get me all the files on The northeast quadrant venture from fifteen years ago," I ordered, standing abruptly. "No, I’ll go myself."

The records department manager looked startled when I appeared in person. His eyes widened slightly at my request for the Royal Gardens files.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, noticing his hesitation.

After a moment’s pause, he nodded. "Mr. Blackwood, Miss Hart also requested these files recently. But without your authorization, we didn’t release them to her."

That confirmed my suspicion. This couldn’t be coincidence.

The manager quickly located the files in the database and retrieved them. For fifteen-year-old documents, they looked surprisingly well-preserved—almost as if they’d been accessed regularly.

"These files look remarkably clean for their age," I observed, my suspicion deepening. "Has anyone else been reviewing them?"

The manager shifted uncomfortably under my gaze. "Well, sir... your uncle, Mr. Kane Blackwood, had his assistant check them a while back."

The pieces were starting to align in a disturbing pattern. Both Sophie and Kane had taken interest in this particular project before Lucian began his campaign against me.

"From now on, no one accesses any company project files without my explicit authorization," I instructed firmly. "Absolutely no one."

"Yes, Mr. Blackwood," he replied with a respectful nod. "I understand completely."

Back in my office, I spread the northeast quadrant venture documents across my desk. As I combed through the details, the truth began to emerge—my parents had made a critical error in judgment with this project, resulting in substantial losses for a company called Ansett Industries.

Something about this didn’t add up.

"Simon, I need you to investigate what happened to Ansett Industries after this project collapsed. Everything—the company, the owners, their families. Leave no stone unturned."

"Right away, sir."

Hours later, I opened Simon’s report on my tablet, what I read made my hands shake with fury.

The Ansett family had lost everything after the northeast quadrant venture collapsed. Unable to cope with financial ruin, the parents took their own lives. Their only son vanished—presumably traumatized by witnessing their deaths.

A son who would be about Lucian West’s age now.

The adoption records suddenly made perfect sense. The timeline aligned perfectly—Lucian West was almost certainly the orphaned Ansett heir, adopted by the West family six months after his parents’ deaths.

This wasn’t just business for him. It was vengeance.

My phone buzzed with a news alert:

【Blackwood CEO accused of crippling uncle in power struggle. Kane Blackwood confined to wheelchair after alleged attack ordered by nephew. Press conference scheduled.】

Author’s POV

The barrage of news reports about Ryan’s alleged attack on his uncle left Serena pacing anxiously around her room.

"I need to see him," she muttered to herself as she hailed a taxi outside the hospital. "This doesn’t add up."

During the ride to Blackwood Enterprises, Serena’s thoughts whirled chaotically. These accusations would inevitably connect to the circumstances surrounding Ryan’s parents’ deaths. Though she didn’t understand all the complexities, she knew Ryan well enough to realize that if he had concrete evidence his uncle was responsible for his parents’ accident, Kane would have faced far worse than just being confined to a wheelchair.

The taxi pulled up to the imposing glass building, and Serena made her way directly to the executive elevator. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she ascended to Ryan’s floor.

"Knock, knock," she rapped gently on Ryan’s office door, but no response came from within.

Ryan’s executive assistant approached her with an apologetic expression. "Mrs. Blackwood, Mr. Blackwood isn’t in the office right now."

Serena furrowed her brow. "Where did he go?"

"He went to the hospital. I believe Mrs. Evelyn Blackwood has fallen ill," the assistant explained, clearly not privy to all the details.

Serena nodded, not pressing for more information. Instead, she headed straight for Mercy General—the private hospital where Evelyn typically received treatment. As she rode in another taxi, her mind raced with possibilities. Would this revelation further damage the already strained relationship between grandmother and grandson?

After all, this news had completely torn away the veil of family secrecy that had concealed these tensions for years.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Serena quickly inquired at the reception desk and was directed to Evelyn’s private suite. Ryan’s personal assistant stood vigilantly outside the door, while Ryan and his grandmother were alone inside. The hallway was eerily quiet, giving no indication of what might be transpiring within.

"Mrs. Blackwood, I didn’t expect to see you here," the assistant said with evident surprise.

"Is Evelyn seriously ill? Is her condition critical?" Serena asked worriedly, her eyes drifting toward the closed door.

The assistant shook his head. "Mrs. Blackwood’s condition isn’t life-threatening. She’s experiencing some weakness and requires rest, but the doctors aren’t concerned."

"How long have they been talking?" Serena asked, glancing at the closed door.

The assistant checked his watch. "About ten minutes now, but..." he lowered his voice, "there hasn’t been much conversation that I could hear."

Serena raised an eyebrow. Had they been sitting in silence all this time?

"I see. I’ll go in and check on them," she decided.

The assistant hesitated briefly before stepping aside to allow her entry.

Without knocking, Serena plastered on a warm smile and pushed the door open.

"Evelyn, how are you feeling?" she asked gently as she entered.

The elderly woman lifted her gaze, her expression remaining coolly detached. "Serena," she acknowledged flatly.

Serena nodded in greeting and positioned herself behind Ryan, resting her hand supportively on his shoulder. She could feel the tension radiating from his body.

"When I heard you were unwell, I came immediately," Serena said. "I’m relieved to see it’s nothing too serious."

Evelyn averted her eyes, refusing to soften at Serena’s presence or concern.

"You should both leave," she said tonelessly. "I have nothing to say."

Her voice hardened as she added, "The Blackwood name being dragged through scandal like this—you’ll be the death of me yet."

Ryan’s expression darkened at the accusation, and Serena’s smile faltered. Neither responded to the cutting remark.

Ryan stood abruptly, unwilling to endure further recrimination. "Serena, we’re leaving."