Unveiling the Heir: The Rise of Henry Carson

Dust swirled amidst the dilapidated construction site in King City. Henry Carson, muscles rippling beneath a soaked tank top, pushed a cart loaded with bricks. Once he moved these bricks, he’d have enough money to buy a gift for his wife. Gritty wind gusts slashed across his chiseled face, but his determination never wavered, his steps always moving forward.

Beside him stood a stooped old man, Elder Bennett, who watched Henry with a piercing gaze. "Your spirit reminds me of your father in his youth," he mused.

After a moment, the old man sighed and said, “Young Master, when your father abandoned you and your mother, he had his reasons. Over the years, he’s been walking on thin ice within our family. Now that he’s become the head, he wishes to make amends. Come back with me."

"Reasons?" Henry stopped abruptly, thoughts swirling. "For his ambitions, he abandoned his wife and child! Where was he when my mother was ill, when she was driven out of our family? Where was he when I was scavenging trash to make ends meet during her final days?”

Elder Bennett flinched at the raw emotion in Henry's voice, attempting to interject but was quickly silenced.

"And my sister?" Henry changed the subject abruptly.

Henry's "sister" wasn't his blood relative. She was an abandoned baby his mother found by the village road when he was eight. The two of them had been inseparable ever since. But two years ago, she vanished mysteriously the night before a crucial surgery. Since then, Henry had been searching for her, to no avail.

"Master Henry, your father genuinely cares for you,” Elder Bennett implored. “And with your return, you would be the heir apparent. And, given your current situation, you could use his support. Do you really want to be a kept man forever?”

Henry's mind raced back to all the hardships he had endured over the years. "To those who raised me, I owe my life. To those who gave me life but never raised me, we owe nothing to each other. Father? What right does he have?"

With that, a rush of emotions overwhelmed Henry, and whether it was exhaustion or pure distress, he crumpled to the ground.

Meanwhile, Sophie Mitchell was chatting with her best friend, Lily Turner, in her living room. The sky rumbled ominously outside. "Where could Henry be at this hour?" Sophie mused aloud.

“Honestly, it wouldn’t be such a loss if he were struck by lightning," Lily responded with a smirk.

Sophie shot her a glare, "No matter how I feel about him, he's still my husband."

Lily looked at Sophie skeptically, "You haven't actually fallen for that loser, have you?"

But before Sophie could retort, her phone rang. Picking it up, her face paled. "Henry's had an accident. He's at King City First Hospital."

Panicking, Sophie sprang from her seat, "Lily, drive me to the hospital!"

Lily, still in shock, muttered, “Did I jinx it?”

Sophie's worried glance silenced her further complaints. With a deep sigh, Lily grabbed her purse, “This guy, always causing you trouble. You should really think about dumping him."

"Just drive," Sophie snapped, her brow furrowed in concern.

Upon her arrival at the hospital, Sophie Mitchell quickly inquired about Henry's room and made her way there. After undergoing treatment, Henry had already come to, with medical staff having vacated the room.

"You're here," Henry remarked, a warmth filling him as Sophie stepped inside. Though their relationship was based on a contract, he had, over the last couple of years, found himself genuinely drawn to her. There was no denying it; Sophie was a beauty, radiating an intelligent allure, her presence reminiscent of a pristine lily.

Her worry for Henry had been so immediate that she had forgotten the rain outside, rushing to his side without even an umbrella. Seeing her soaked appearance, Henry felt a warm tug at his heart.

Catching her breath, Sophie, observing Henry's pallid complexion, demanded, "What happened?"

"Oh... It was dark, raining. I was rushing home and got hit." Henry tried to brush it off, but there was an underlying fondness in his gaze, appreciating the presence of the woman he had grown to cherish.

"Why didn't it just finish you off?!" she snapped, her annoyance evident at his nonchalant tone.

He chuckled wryly, "If it had, wouldn’t you be without a husband to look after you?"

"Shut it. Remember, it's just a contract between us! If not for that, I'd hardly care if you were alive or dead." she retorted sharply. "And remember, there's plenty of chores waiting for you at home."

Sophie’s gaze swept across the spacious hospital suite, noting its luxurious details. She couldn’t help but wonder how Henry, given his financial situation, could afford such an opulent room.

In the face of her skepticism, Henry tried to offer an explanation, "Relax, I won’t be left with any permanent injuries. I’ll handle the chores just fine. As for the room, it was arranged by the guy who hit me. Must be someone with deep pockets."

But Sophie was far from convinced. Just as she was about to press further, the door opened to reveal Lily Turner, her expression one of pure disdain as she regarded Henry.

"And in three days, the international superstar Ava Evans will be performing in King City. Let's go together!" Lily Turner exclaimed, suddenly remembering and eager to share the news.

"Really?" Sophie's face lit up upon hearing this.

"Absolutely, but I've heard the tickets are pricey. Standing room alone is over ten thousand, and the front row is going for a whopping one hundred and eighty thousand."

Sophie's enthusiasm deflated slightly. With a rueful smile, she said, "Maybe another time. Given my current position in the family, I can't even afford the cheapest ticket."

"But Sophie, Ava Evans is coming to King City on an invite from the Emerald Melody Jewelry Group!" Lily leaned in conspiratorially. "You know, they're the biggest jewelry conglomerate in King City. They've been booming these past few years, and they're on track to be the top in the country. This concert is to promote their new collection."

"So?"

"Don't forget, Gavin Smith has been chasing after you. Rumor has it he's tight with the heir of the Emerald Melody Jewelry Group. I'm sure he could snag a couple of tickets for us without breaking a sweat."

Sophie couldn’t help but cast a discreet glance towards Henry, who appeared to be sleeping. The mere sight of him, feigning obliviousness, irritated her.

"Alright then, I'll leave you two lovebirds alone," Lily teased, though her voice held an edge. With one last look at Sophie, she left.

After Lily departed, Sophie turned her gaze back to Henry, her face deliberately impassive. "I never imagined our first night sharing a bed would be in a hospital room."

"Get lost! I'm here because I was worried they'd let you die," Henry shot back, his tone playful yet stubborn.

Sophie gritted her teeth in annoyance. "Need I remind you of our agreement?"

Henry lifted an eyebrow, "Just a contractual relationship?"

Sophie remained silent, the weight of their past and current situation hanging heavily between them.