Chapter 1: CHAPTER ONE THE ACCIDENT
Mr. Alan Carson, a famous and successful billionaire, was the proud owner of The Carson Group of Industries. He had three sons—two biological and one adopted. The eldest, Leo Carson, the middle son, Luca Carson, and the youngest, Liam Carson. Luca, his adopted son, was an upright, willful, and determined man who had earned his father's favor. Because of this, Mr. Alan Carson made him the CEO of the company, a decision that did not sit well with his eldest son, Leo.
To Leo, as the firstborn, the position of CEO was his birthright. He had spent years preparing to take over, only for his father to hand the company to Luca. The resentment in his heart burned fiercely.
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A Call in the Night
The night was windy, the sky heavy with storm clouds, and the air thick with the scent of rain. Luca had just finished a meeting with some investors at the company and was preparing to leave when his phone rang.
The number was unknown.
Curious, he answered.
"The downfall of Carson Group of Industries is about to begin," a deep voice sneered, followed by a sinister laugh.
Luca rolled his eyes. Another coward.
"A spineless fool calling from a hidden number? You expect me to be scared? Get a real job," Luca scoffed.
"Why don't you come and say that to my face?" the voice taunted.
Luca smirked. A challenge.
"Tell me where, Mr. Coward," he said.
"There's an abandoned warehouse near Downhills Hotel. Meet me there… if you have the guts."
Luca ended the call. Without hesitation, he turned to his driver.
"Get out. I'll be driving myself tonight."
His personal assistant, Miss Mia, frowned. "Sir, it's getting late, and the weather is terrible. Let the driver take you home."
"I have something to handle," Luca replied, taking the keys. "You should head home and rest too."
Before Mia could protest further, he got into the car and drove off.
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The Storm and the Crash
The rain began as a drizzle, then quickly turned into a downpour. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and lightning illuminated the darkened roads.
Luca focused on the road ahead, but suddenly, his windshield wipers stopped working. His vision blurred as the rain lashed against the glass.
Then, out of nowhere, a massive truck appeared before him, its headlights blinding.
The truck blared its horn, flashing its lights, signaling for him to move. But he couldn't see.
His hands tightened on the wheel.
Too close. Too fast.
The wipers suddenly came back to life, clearing the view just in time. Luca's heart pounded as he yanked the steering wheel, trying to avoid the truck—only to realize too late that he was veering toward the edge of a cliff.
The car skidded.
Then—air.
Luca's instincts kicked in, and he threw himself out just as the vehicle went over the edge, crashing down into the river below.
He barely managed to grab onto a tree branch, his body swinging dangerously over the abyss. Pain shot through him as blood trickled from a wound on his forehead. His grip weakened. The rain poured relentlessly, blurring his vision.
With every ounce of strength, he pulled himself up, clawing his way back to the road. His breath was ragged, his limbs trembling.
Then—blinding headlights.
A motorbike.
The driver, unable to see clearly in the storm, didn't have time to react.
The impact was brutal.
Luca collapsed to the ground, his head slamming against a jagged rock.
The bike skidded, and the rider—Rhea, a delivery girl—was thrown off, hitting the ground hard.
Shaken but conscious, Rhea scrambled up, her eyes widening at the sight of Luca's limp body.
"Sir! Hey, can you hear me?" she cried, shaking him.
No response.
Blood poured from his forehead and the back of his head.
"Oh no… No, no, no! You're losing too much blood!"
Panic surged through her, but she forced herself to think.
"I need to get him to a hospital!"
Ignoring the pain in her own body, she rushed to her bike, grabbed a rope from her delivery bag, and ran back to Luca.
With great difficulty, she hoisted him onto the bike, securing him tightly with the rope to keep him from falling.
"Stay with me, sir. Just a little longer," she whispered as she revved the engine and sped off through the storm.
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The World Mourns a Dead Man
Moments later, the media and several associates of Luca arrived at the accident scene.
The wreckage of his car had been pulled from the river, but Luca was nowhere to be found.
Speculation spread like wildfire.
"He must have drowned," someone murmured.
The news hit the airwaves instantly.
BREAKING NEWS: CARSON GROUP CEO, LUCA CARSON, DEAD IN TRAGIC ACCIDENT.
Back at the Carson estate, Mr. Alan Carson sat in his study, reading a newspaper when his youngest son, Liam, burst in, his face pale with shock.
"Dad, have you seen the news?" Liam's voice trembled.
Alan lowered his newspaper. "What happened?"
Liam snatched the remote, turning on the television.
The words on the screen sent a chill through the old man's veins.
Luca. Dead.
His chest tightened. A sharp pain shot through him.
"Arghhh!" Alan clutched his heart, his body convulsing.
"Dad!" Liam screamed, rushing to his side. "Someone help! Leo! Where are you?"
Hearing the commotion, Leo ran into the room.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"It's Luca," Liam choked out. "He's… he's gone. And now Dad—he's—"
Alan's breathing grew ragged. His vision blurred.
"L-Luca… s-save Luca…" he murmured before his consciousness faded.
Doctors and nurses were called in immediately.
As they carried Alan to another room for emergency treatment, Leo stood frozen.
"Luca is dead?" he whispered.
He clenched his fists.
"I wanted to lead the company… but not like this."
A storm of emotions brewed within him. But then—he exhaled.
"Still, maybe this is fate."
A slow, cold smirk formed on his lips.
"No one can stop me now."
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A Lingering Mystery
Across the city, Miss Lyla sat in her luxurious home, sipping tea when the news flashed on her screen.
The cup slipped from her hands, shattering against the floor.
"No… No, this can't be!" she sobbed, collapsing onto her knees.
Her mother rushed in. "Lyla, what's wrong?"
Tears streamed down her face. "Luca… he's… he's dead."
Her mother's heart ached as she held her daughter close. "I'm so sorry, my dear."
Meanwhile, back at the accident scene, Mia stood in the rain, watching the wreckage being cleared.
Her mind raced.
"Before Mr. Luca left, someone called him. After that call, he insisted on driving himself."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Who was that person?"
She glanced at the muddy ground—and froze.
Luca's phone.
It was still ringing.
A single name flashed on the screen.
UNKNOWN CALLER.
Mia's heart pounded.
"Could Luca still be alive?"
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