C2 Celestial King Mountain!

The old man on the other end of the line fell silent in an instant, waiting for Duane to go on.

Duane had been concealing a significant part of his identity all along—he was the heir to Celestial King Mountain, one of the world's most enigmatic organizations. A haven for the powerful, it was as wealthy as a nation, controlling over half the global wealth!

At the age of five, he was cast out. He had thought his ties to Celestial King Mountain were severed for good.

But recently, Christian, the butler of Celestial King Mountain, sought him out, revealing that his years of hardship were a test. Having passed, he was now eligible to become the new Celestial King, with access to untold riches.

Yet, he declined.

He was all too aware of the deceit and manipulation among the elite. He had no desire to get entangled in their web. He wanted to stay by his wife's side, leading the simple life of an ordinary citizen.

But now, he was on the brink of divorce. If he maintained his "calm," he would lose his wife.

He was left with no choice.

After hanging up the phone and crushing his cigarette underfoot, Duane let out a sigh.

"Being an ordinary person is just too hard."

The next morning, Jolene woke up and immediately pressed Lavinia, "Hurry and take Melvin to meet Young Master Ludlow."

"Mom, I really don't want to," Lavinia replied, heartbroken.

"Young Master Ludlow's favor is a blessing for our family. And it's for Melvin's sake," Jolene insisted.

"Even grandma agrees with this arrangement. Don't you want to seize the chance to leave Duane?" Jolene added.

Duane, donning an apron, came out of the kitchen with a bowl of rice, his smile beaming. "Honey, dinner's ready."

Lavinia, despondent, asked, "Duane, don't you have anything to say?"

Her spirits were low.

Even now, he remained unfazed.

"Honey," Duane said with a reassuring smile, flashing his white teeth, "don't worry, good people get their due. The Almighty is on our side."

Was he truly pinning all his hopes on divine intervention?

"You've let me down so much!" Lavinia exclaimed in frustration.

Just then, her father-in-law Austin, who was watching TV in the living room, suddenly called out, "There's been an incident! Come quick, watch the news!"

The broadcast reported a violent brawl at the Sandstorm Nightclub the previous night.

In total, 127 people were seriously injured, all of them nightclub security staff. Alvin, the son of the Ludlow Group's chairman, suffered the worst injuries. The initial diagnosis was grim: he would be unable to father children for life.

Jolene's bowl crashed to the floor.

Her mind went blank.

Young Master Ludlow was in this state.

Was all their hope now shattered?

Lavinia was momentarily speechless.

Then, another news story left them astounded.

"Just an hour ago, a drugging and assault case was cracked. There's ample evidence that Xavier drugged a woman and committed the crime. Xavier is now in custody."

Indeed.

This "Xavier" was none other than Melvin!

After the news segments ended, Lavinia was so stunned she couldn't utter a single word.

Young Master Ludlow was beaten to a pulp, and Melvin had been arrested. Was it all over just like that?

She had merely slept through the night!

Duane shrugged, grinning, "I always said the heavens would be on my side."

Jolene, on the verge of tears, screamed, "Duane, you're good for nothing but trouble. Get over here, I'm going to kill you!"

A single night's sleep, and her dreams of a life of luxury had vanished. The shock was too much for her.

The crisis was averted.

Lavinia breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Regardless, she was relieved she wouldn't have to marry Young Master Ludlow.

Duane's phone rang at that moment.

"Young Lord, I'm at your doorstep. Are you in? I've come to have you sign the Celestial King Mountain inheritance agreement."

"You're outside?"

Duane was startled and hastily replied, "Don't come in, I'll come out to you!"

He hung up and quickly made an excuse to leave the house.

One of Lavinia's close friends called, her voice dripping with envy, "Lavinia, I never imagined you knew someone so formidable. To stand up to the Ludlow family like that, he's truly incredible!"

"I have no idea who that is!" Lavinia exclaimed, taken aback.

"Rumor has it that the mysterious individual who stirred up trouble at the Sandstorm Nightclub last night dropped your name. He's got to be smitten with you. You're the envy of many."

Lavinia's surprise deepened.

She didn't recognize the enigmatic figure, yet the mention triggered a memory.

Over the past three years, she had encountered several men who had tried to take liberties with her.

Each one had been dealt with by an unknown protector.

This shadowy guardian had never shown himself.

"Could there really be someone out there, secretly watching over me?" Lavinia pondered, her cheeks warming with a blush.

What girl hasn't fantasized about a hero secretly adoring and safeguarding her?

Thinking of Duane, she let out a forlorn sigh, "Such a shame he's so hopeless."

Duane stepped out of the neighborhood to find a black stretch Lincoln with the license plate 88888 waiting by the curb.

As he climbed in, an elderly man in a tailcoat with silver hair embraced him. Christian, overcome with emotion, exclaimed, "Young lord, you've finally seen the light. It's wonderful."

"Back off! You're revolting!"

Duane shoved him away, repulsed.

Christian chuckled nervously and produced a contract. "Just sign here, and the vast fortune of Celestial King Mountain is yours."

"All I asked was for you to warn Young Master Ludlow, and you turn it into this spectacle?" Duane grumbled.

"Was it too much?" Christian asked, feigning innocence. "I was actually considering wiping the Ludlow family off the map. But I held back, following your instructions. Rest assured, I've kept your identity under wraps."

Duane was at a loss for words.

He hadn't anticipated Celestial King Mountain's methods to be so domineering.

Well, no matter. Young Master Ludlow was no saint; consider it a public service.

Besides, the more uproar there is, the more the Ludlow family will think twice before seeking retribution.

And it serves as a stark warning to anyone coveting his wife.

"Young lord, shall we proceed with the signing?" Christian urged, beaming.

Duane leaned in, fixing Christian with an unwavering gaze, and demanded, "Tell me, what exactly has transpired at Celestial King Mountain?"

Christian was visibly troubled, his gaze shifting uneasily.

Duane let out a cold, mocking smile.

He wasn't naive enough to believe in pies falling from the sky, nor did he buy the idea that Celestial King Mountain would choose a wanderer of over a decade as their heir. Clearly, something was up!

"If you're not going to spill the beans, then it's over. We'll go our separate ways."

Duane made a show of walking away.

Christian hastily grabbed him, his expression pained. "This is Celestial King Mountain's utmost secret. You must keep it confidential."

Having said his piece,

Duane's brows knitted together before he exhaled deeply.

"I see. This so-called pie from the sky isn't as delicious as it seems."

"Young lord, you simply must agree! Without you, Celestial King Mountain is doomed. You're our only hope for salvation!"

"I have one more condition. My identity must remain a secret."

Duane stated, reclining in his seat.

"I get it," Christian said with a grin. "Young lord, you want to stay under the radar to handle other matters more effectively, right? No one would guess that the new Celestial King is actually a son-in-law. Young lord, your foresight is remarkable! You have my utmost respect!"

Duane had no interest in engaging further.

He just didn't want his wife, Lavinia, to be swiftly drawn into the brutal battle for supremacy.

Christian presented him with another contract, saying, "Young lord, very few are aware that Valeview Entertainment Group is a subsidiary of Celestial King Mountain, and now you'll be the power behind the throne."

"It looks like Celestial King Mountain isn't putting full faith in me. They're putting me in charge of this company to test my abilities, aren't they?" Duane remarked with a smile as he perused the contract.

Christian cleared his throat nervously, fearing Duane's refusal if displeased. Reluctantly, he produced a bank card, his face contorted with distress. "Young lord, please don't make this hard for me. I'm personally offering you 800 million. I implore you."

"I never said I was opposed."

Without hesitation, Duane pocketed the bank card and signed the contract.

They agreed to finalize the handover at the new company in two days.

Afterward,

Duane was about to get into his car when he caught sight of his wife, Lavinia, just as she was stepping out of the complex.

Their gazes locked, and both were momentarily frozen in surprise.

"Why are you here?" Lavinia asked, her eyes blinking in bewilderment.

How could someone who was always at home, deemed useless, be sitting in such a luxurious car?