Chapter 3

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• Decade of the Fool   Chapter 8

  “I misunderstood you before, but it was because I was deceived by Nathan. It wasn’t my intention.“You always loved the eggplant dish I made, right? I’ll cook it now. Let’s see if it tastes like it used to.”Seeing that I didn’t stop her, Lenora smiled in relief and quickly urged Lily.“Go chat with Daddy. I’ll go make some food.”Lily refused. “He’s not my Daddy! He’s a bad person. He wants to take Mommy away from Daddy! I hate him!” she protested.Before the words could even settle, Lenora slapped her.Lily’s delicate skin swelled, and she cried out in distress.Lenora’s shoulders shook as she squatted down, hiding her face in her hands, sobbing.“You’re still not listening, huh? Do you want to be thrown out and left to starve on the streets?”She displayed the heartbreak of a mother, but even the most pitiful figures had their flaws. Lenora’s downfall was entirely of her own making.I finished the eggplant, which tasted just like it used to, and before leaving, I told

• Decade of the Fool   Chapter 7

  I hadn’t expected one event to unravel so many hidden secrets.Ten years ago, when I was away, Nathan had gone over to our house for a meal. He had drugged Lenora’s drink, using the situation to threaten her into revealing my schedule. In the end, the two of them collaborated to send me to a lawless place overseas, intending to put me to death.“What deep hatred do you have with me?” I demanded, my anger rising as I slammed my fist into the wall just beside Nathan.He chuckled lightly, his eyes slowly filling with tears.“You were always the model child, the one everyone praised—good at studies, obedient, thoughtful. Parents adored you. And what about me?“I had to live cautiously under your shadow, pushing myself to keep up, just to get a little attention from my parents.“Even then, they were never satisfied. They kept saying, ‘If only Duncan were our child.’“Tell me, Duncan, shouldn’t I hate you?”“No,” I answered firmly.“Your misfortune was caused by your parents and

• Decade of the Fool   Chapter 6

  Fearing that Lenora and Lily might struggle financially, I'd sent every penny from my first overseas earnings back home. After confirming Lenora had received the funds, I hadn't given it another thought.But then, for some reason, Nathan suddenly acquired a set of expensive properties, which raised suspicions in my mind.I moved into the presidential suite, waiting for the paternity test results and for Lenora to finish her work handover.After the three days were up, I immediately went to the Zenith Horizon office.Fred came to find me. "Lenora hasn’t returned since she left three days ago," he said.I had Morgan investigate their movements, but a voice echoed in my mind."Who insulted me earlier? Step forward."The employees exchanged nervous glances, and in the end, the few people who had mocked me as "poverty-stricken" were pushed forward, trembling as they apologized."Sir… we didn’t know your identity. Please, forgive us. We beg you, don’t hold it against us."I igno

• Decade of the Fool   Chapter 5

  Lenora gasped in surprise, the doubt evident in her voice.But I was the Mr. Brooke they had been referring to.It was the deep-seated disdain from Lenora and Nathan that led them to automatically dismiss the correct answer.I chuckled lightly as Morgan paused his actions and returned to my side."Mr. Brooke, should I give her a beating too, to help relieve your frustration?"I sighed and smiled bitterly.Morgan was perfect in many ways—he was meticulous and efficient—but there was one flaw: his innate aggression, which he couldn't turn off, and it didn't matter if the person was male, female, young, or old.But… teaching her a lesson wouldn’t hurt.Just as I was about to nod at Morgan, Lenora’s phone rang.She took a few steps back, trembling in fear, and answered the call. It was Lily’s teacher, her voice frantic."Lily’s missing!"Missing?I rushed to the car and drove straight to the school, towering over the teacher as I grabbed her collar."Where is she? Have you f

• Decade of the Fool   Chapter 4

  A towering man, nearly two meters tall and built like a fortress of muscle, stepped into the room against the light.The moment Nathan saw him, his eyes lit up with glee. He hurried forward with an obsequious grin plastered on his face.“Mr. Morgan Williamson? Are you Mr. Williamson? Fantastic!“There’s a shameless fraud here pretending to be Mr. Brooke. Please, teach him a lesson—show him what happens to impostors!“Beat him to death for all I care. He has no parents and no background. He’s just a stray, despised by everyone.”Nathan was practically trembling with excitement, as if he already envisioned me bloodied and broken at Morgan’s feet.He remained blissfully unaware that Morgan, standing behind him, had clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles cracked, jaw rigid with fury.I opened my mouth to warn Nathan, but before I could say a word, Lenora descended the stairs, drawn by the commotion.With practiced elegance, she extended her hand to Morgan.“Welcome, Mr. Will

• Decade of the Fool   Chapter 3

  "Are you insane, Lenora? She's your daughter, too!"We were on the 26th floor. Panic surged through me as I let go of Nathan and rushed to the window. I yanked Lily from Lenora’s grasp before she could do something stupid.Suddenly, Lily’s palm crashed against my face."Let me go, you bad man! I want my Mommy and Daddy!"Why didn’t you just die out there? Why did you make Mommy and Daddy suffer? Lily wants you gone!"So, she knew who I was.And those words… no ten-year-old could speak like that unless they'd overheard adults saying it first.A deep unease settled in my chest. I discreetly sent a message to my assistant, Morgan Williamson, instructing him to investigate every “accident” that had happened to me over the years abroad.Just then, Lenora’s phone rang. She answered, then hung up with a pale, stricken face. Turning to Nathan, she said tightly, "Duncan is planning to acquire our company…"They both stared at me, then quickly looked away.Nathan frowned, baf