Chapter 1

The voice on the other end of the line was deep and firm. “Mr. Ford, your return is approved. You’ve been granted the highest level of authority. You can mobilize the forces of the nearest military installation, and you have absolute discretion.”

My knuckles went white as I gripped the phone. I only made a single utterance of affirmation.

The moment I hung up, my assistant, Charlie Baker, pushed the door open and came in with a report.

“Mr. Ford, the private jet is on the runway awaiting you, and the flight path has been approved. You can take off at any time.”

“Alright.”

I took my seat in the private jet and called my butler, Mr. Jeffords.

The call was promptly answered. Mr. Jeffords asked deferentially, “Have you finished your negotiations, sir?” There was a smile in his voice.

“Yes.” I managed to suppress my rage and answered calmly. “How are the plans for Dad’s birthday banquet going? Is he happy with them?”

“Yes, very much so!” The cheer in Mr. Jefford’s voice rang hollow. “The master is overjoyed today. He’s been talking about you all morning. He’s even invited his old neighbors over.

“The mansion is so lively with all his family around. Your son is around him, and your adopted siblings are all home as well. They’re all with the master and singing him the birthday song. We’re just about to cut the cake. It’s most joyous!”

My grip tightened around the phone.

They were going to cut the cake, were they?

If I had not been watching the security footage, I would have even believed it. But with my own eyes, I had witnessed my father and son get mistreated and made to wash the dishes.

Mr. Jeffords had been working for our family for nearly two decades. He had been with us since I was a child. He had always been diligent, honest, and respectful. I had never suspected him one bit.

I never imagined that he would betray the Ford family.

I shoved down the rage and said in an even tone, “That’s good. Tell Dad not to drink so much. I’ll be back soon.”

“Of course! I will tell him that immediately!”

After ending the call, I called the caregiver I had hired for my father, Anderson Ford.

A year ago, Anderson had been complaining about how quiet the mansion was and had insisted on moving back to his old neighborhood home. He said that he missed the neighbors and that it was more lively over there. He would always have friends with him.

Since I could not talk him out of it, I let him go.

I had even hired a caregiver to look after his wants and needs.

The phone rang for a long while before it was picked up. A sharp and cruel voice came through the line. “Who is this?”

I frowned. “I’m Mr. Anderson Ford’s son. Mrs. Talbot, I just wanted to ask about my dad’s current health. What time did he go out today? Who did he go with to his birthday banquet?”

“Oh, you’re the useless wretch who keeps skipping out on paying me!”

Mrs. Talbot’s voice turned shriller, becoming taunting and angry.

“How dare you call me? What kind of an employer are you? All you do is make me work without paying me! You owe me months of pay, but you still have the gall to call me to ask about your father?

“Who knows when he went out? I quit a month ago! You’d better pay me the two months’ pay you owe me! I’ll call the police if you don’t!

“Are you still making yourself out to be a rich guy? You’re just a rubbish collector. What makes you think you can hire a caregiver? Did you know that the man who lives next door is the president of the Viapent Group? Now, that guy’s a generous one! You poor sod, you still think you’re rich, don’t you?”

Mrs. Talbot kept her tirade going. Before I could say anything more, she hung up.

I was furious.

I had only gone overseas on a business trip, but somehow my father’s identity had been stolen?

“Take off immediately. Also, look into the matter of Mrs. Talbot.”

I wanted to know who dared to try a scheme on me.