All Chapters of Returning Heir: I Enforce the Family Rules: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

The family chapel fell silent. The family elder who was holding the fountain pen kept it suspended over the family records, unable to bring himself to make the next stroke.Mom was the first to recover. "Cameron isn't an outsider. He's lived with us for 25 years and calls us Mom and Dad. You've only been back for a year. I can understand that you're still getting used to things."I looked at her. "So, I'm the one who's supposed to get used to things?""That's not what I meant."What did you mean, then?"Mom parted her lips, but no words came out.My elder sister, Vivian Sylvester, stepped forward and stood between us."Harry, Mom hasn't been feeling well lately. Stop putting her on edge. Today is supposed to be a happy day. Do you really have to make things uncomfortable for everyone?"I turned to her. "This past year, how many times did you guys postpone my family recognition ceremony because you were allegedly too busy?"Vivian's expression shifted.I answered for her. "Thr

Chapter 2

The family recognition ceremony ended on a sour note.When we returned to the Sylvester residence, the butler carried my stuff into the guest room. A year had passed, yet the plaque on the door still read "Guest Room".Mom said they had been too busy to change it, yet Cameron's suite, the one traditionally reserved for the eldest son, had been renovated twice in the past six months.The first time was because Serena thought his study didn't get enough natural light. The second time was because Zoe was worried his old back injury couldn't handle the humidity.Vivian personally oversaw the renovations. She had even picked out his curtains.I asked the butler, "Who lives in the east wing?"He lowered his head. "Every eldest son of the Sylvester family has lived there.""Am I the eldest son of the Sylvester family?"Mom followed me into the room, sounding increasingly impatient. "There you go again. Camera has lived there for 25 years. If you make him move out, what would people sa

Chapter 3

Dad had no idea I was planning to leave. The next day, he called me into the Sylvester Group conference room.The Westside Data Center was our biggest project of the year. Cameron was in charge of getting it off the ground, while I was responsible for the risk assessment.Dad said it was meant to help me get familiar with the family business as quickly as possible, but for the past three months, every risk report I prepared had been submitted under Cameron's name.If the project went smoothly, it was because of his ability. If something went wrong with the paperwork, I was the one expected to sign off as the head of risk management.This time was no different. Cameron slid the project commencement approval across the table. "Harry, sign here."I went through the documents. "The fire safety inspection is forged. The contractor was blacklisted last month. I can't sign this."Dad tapped his fingers against the table. "Start construction first. We'll sort out the paperwork afterward.

Chapter 4

The day I moved out of the Sylvester residence, I told no one. Calling it a move was generous because I only had two suitcases.A year ago, I had arrived with the same suitcases. Mom had bought the suits hanging in my closet. She accidentally ordered them in Cameron's sizes and decided to give them to me instead.The ties Vivian had given me were originally meant for Cameron. Even the family portrait on my desk was later re-edited to include me in the far right corner. Of course, Cameron sat in the center.I only took my identification documents and my laptop. I left the watch Serena had given me on the desk. The plaque on the door still read "Guest Room".It was fine. Once I was gone, they wouldn't have to change anything.The day I returned to my previous company, the data center officially broke ground.Cameron stood onstage in a tailored suit and cut the ribbon. Vivian handled the project's legal paperwork. Serena stood beside him and announced an additional investment from S

Chapter 5

Mom's face went white. "Yesterday morning? Why didn't you stop him?"The butler sounded hesitant. "Mr. Sylvester Senior said that if Mr. Harry wanted to leave, I was to let him go…"Dad's expression darkened. "I didn't mean it literally. I was angry!"Vivian went back to my bedroom. She came back out holding the watch Serena had gifted me. The gift box was still unopened."He also left behind the watch."When Serena heard that, her fingers tightened a little."Maybe he's just staying somewhere else for a few days," Cameron whispered. "Once we get the project sorted out, I'll bring him home."Vivian spoke up. "No. He turned in his employee ID. His resignation has already gone through. He wasn't throwing a tantrum. He actually left us behind."Dad sneered. "Fine. He wants to prove how tough he is, doesn't he? When the project blows up, he can't blame us for refusing to clean up his mess."…At 10:00 am, Sylvester Group issued an internal notice."The fire safety documentation

Chapter 6

The next day, Dad came to my company in person. He stood at the reception desk with Mom and Vivian behind him.The receptionist asked if he had an appointment. His face darkened. "I'm Harry Sylvester's father."She remained polite. "You'll still need an appointment, sir."When I came out of the conference room, Dad was already on the verge of losing his temper. The second he saw me, he lowered his voice. "Let's talk somewhere private.""We can talk right inside."Employees passing by began slowing down.Dad clenched his jaw. "Fine. I'll agree to what you wanted with the family records. Your name will be written above Cameron's, and you can have the suite in the east wing."Mom quickly added, "But Cameron's back is still bad. It'll take him some time to move out."I nodded. "So, I still have to wait."Her expression stiffened.Vivian handed me a document. "We're willing to hire you as a special consultant. If you get the project back on track, we'll give you 3% of the company'

Chapter 7

Consequently, Cameron was suspended from his position. Vivian was also ordered to cooperate with the investigation.Mom sent me dozens of messages every day. One moment, she was telling me about Dad's dangerously high blood pressure. The next, she was telling me how Cameron hadn't slept all night.Not once did she ask how I had been doing over the past year. In the end, I blocked her.On the third day of the project investigation, the contractor came to see me.He slid a bank card across the table. "Mr. Sylvester, none of us are having an easy time. The materials were changed, sure, but nothing actually caught fire. Right?"I didn't touch the card. "What's the PIN?"He froze for a second, then smiled. "Six eights.""Smart."I picked up my phone and spoke to the regulator. "Did you hear that?"The smile disappeared from the contractor's face. He lunged for my phone.Nathan immediately hit the panic button beside the desk. Within moments, security arrived.I placed the bank ca

Chapter 8

Mitchell was soon taken in for questioning. 30% of the data center's material payments had been funneled into his personal account.Dad sank back into his chair, his face ashen. "I didn't know. Cameron was in charge of the project."Cameron looked up. "You chose the contractor yourself. You said Uncle Mitchell had worked for the family for 20 years and that we couldn't turn our backs on him."Dad snapped, "I told you to work with him. I never told you to help him falsify anything!""I warned you," Cameron said hoarsely. "You told us to start construction first and said Harry would take care of the risks."No one in the conference room spoke again.Dad had always despised me for insisting on following the rules. But from the beginning, he had expected me to clean up after everyone who refused to follow them.One of the directors tapped the table. "We'll proceed with the vote. First, suspend the CEO from his duties. Second, remove Cameron Sylvester from the board. Third, hold ever

Chapter 9

The day the family chapel was reopened, I still went—not to be formally recognized as part of the family, but to finish what needed to be said.The family elder opened the family records again.Cameron stood behind Mom and Dad, no longer wearing the ceremonial robes of the eldest son. He placed the keys to the east wing suite before me."The room is empty now. I'll return everything that belongs to you."I didn't take the keys. "Where are you sleeping?""The west wing, where the guest rooms are."Mom's expression shifted. "Those rooms are tiny and so humid."Cameron smiled faintly. "Harry lived in one of those for a year. Surely, I can do the same."She fell silent.The family elder picked up the fountain pen. "Harry will be listed as the eldest son, while Cameron will be listed second. Once this is amended, you'll officially be entered into the family records."I looked at the page. "Add one more rule."The elder frowned. "What?""The family records should record bloodline

Chapter 10

Three months later, construction on the data center resumed. Every non-compliant material had been removed.Sylvester Group sold two unused properties to cover the funding shortfall. Dad stepped down as the CEO. Vivian left the legal department and accepted the professional sanctions against her.She never tried to defend herself.Cameron cooperated with the investigation, returned his board compensation, and started over with a junior project team.The Sadler family formally called off the engagement. Serena gave the luxury watch meant for me to Cameron. I heard he refused to accept it.Zoe withdrew from the project and voluntarily accepted responsibility for the losses caused by her investment decision.Everyone paid a price, including me. I lost a family I had reunited with just a year ago.Still, looking back, I realized something. From the day I walked through their door to the day I left, I had only lived in the guest room. Technically, I never truly had a home there to be

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