Rise Of The Disgraced Heir

Ian found himself aimlessly driving around the city. 

Right now he was parked outside of his old university. He couldn't help but look up at the imposing structure outside his window. It's white walls and Grecian pillars stood as a symbol of the university for generations.

He couldn't help but feel conflicted about this place.

It was the place that freed him from his poverty and yet it was also the place where he suffered the most.

He parked his car at the empty lot near his old university and started to walk, maybe that's what he needed, fresh air.

Ian glanced around and nodded at the two men that followed him at a distance. These were his bodyguards, they had become a constant presence around him and Camilla when they were outside of the Reyes Group grounds.

Even if it was an invasion of his privacy, Ian welcomed it. After the attack on him by some of the Dean family's hit men, he was relieved to have people protecting him.

It also helped that he knew that the Dean family would never send people after him now since he and Seth were friends.

The empty lot was only a block away from the University, as he passed by the old shops he used to hang around, several of the clerks waved at him.

"Well, if it isn't Ian Lim, working now?" One of them called out, making Ian smile. He was glad that they still remembered him.

"Yeah, I finally found a job." Ian announced.

"Where?" The man asked. "I hope it's in a good company, we are all rooting for you to make it big someday." He said proudly.

When Ian was still studying, he could only afford to eat one meal a day at most. Sometimes only half a meal. It was at these small restaurants where he would eat and study while waiting for his next class.

As he came to frequent these places, the staff became his friends, and soon enough they were giving him free food and letting him stay the whole day. Most students would be chased out after they finished their meals, but not Ian.

At one point when Ian didn't have the money to go to an internet shop to finish his schoolwork the restaurant owner suddenly had wifi installed.

The man said it was good for business, but he overheard the staff chatting about how they would convince their boss to install free wifi so they could help Ian.

When he had finally graduated, Ian came over and thanked all of them. It was a teary goodbye since he knew that he would rarely be able to visit.

Since landing his job he had been planning on coming over and giving back to the people who had helped him. Unfortunately life had other plans and he had ended up becoming busy with work and all the schemes that existed in his new reality.

"Yeah, I work at the Reyes Group." Ian told the man who was shocked to hear the news.

"Wow, we knew you would be amazing! As what?" The chef said as he came out with food in his hands. "Come, sit, for some reason I decided to make your favorite and here it is." He said proudly, making Ian smile.

It was a local breakfast made out of marinated beef served with garlic rice and eggs.

"I remember when you would cook this for me on my birthdays." Ian said happily. "Thank you."

"Well, tell us, what do you do?" One of the female staff asked.

"You might look down at this but in the Reyes Group it's a really important job." Ian said as he glanced back at the bodyguards standing outside of the small restaurant.

"Well?" The chef asked.

"I'm being trained to be the assistant of the future CEO of the Reyes Group." Ian announced proudly, much to the delight of the restaurant staff.

"That's amazing, Ian!" One of them praised.

"Yeah, we've never even dreamed of stepping foot in R-Tower, let alone working there." Another staff said.

"It's a miracle you came to visit us, I'm sure you are extremely busy. You should be earning quite well now, your hard work and suffering will finally be paying off!" The chef praised making Ian smile again.

"I actually wanted to come and visit sooner, but I couldn't find the time." Ian told them. "Things got busy with work and my personal life."

"Please don't tell us you are still dating that brat?" A waitress asked as she handed them all plates to eat. 

"Hey, he loves her." Another scolded.

"He might love her, but she wasn't the right girl for him. Ian deserves better. This kid has suffered enough and he has worked his ass off. He deserves someone that will appreciate him." The waitress said.

Ian didn't know whether he would be mad or he would laugh at her words. Many of the employees treated him like a younger sibling that they wanted to protect and he knew most of them hated Jas.

They didn't just dislike her, they hated her.

Jas rarely came with Ian to this place, she didn't like being seen here because it would pull down her family's value.

"Then who do you suggest he date?" The chef asked.

"Remember that drunk girl he saved once?" The waitress asked as Ian recalled the distant memory.

He did remember, there was once a girl that he had found in a bar, several men were planning on taking her so he pretended to be with her till they got away safely.

"Do you remember her name?" The waitress asked Ian.

Ian simply shook his head.

"Well she was the sweetest thing. She was clearly quite rich with her clothes and bag and shoes, but not once did she complain and she was kind even if she was drunk." The waitress said.

"She was drunk of course she wouldn't complain." The chef said as he rolled his eyes.

"Well a person's true attitude comes out when they are drunk so she is clearly a good one." The waitress argued.

Ian couldn't help but laugh at their discussion. It was taking him back to the years when he had nothing.

Back when he couldn't afford the fare to school and had to walk most days. Despite all the hardship he had lived through back then he wouldn't want to change a thing.

Those days shaped him and made him a better person. It was part of who he was now and he was happy with who he had become.

After they reminisced about some good memories, Ian told them that he had to leave to work on some things. He left them his number and set a plan to have dinner with them soon, his treat.

"I also have something for you guys." Ian said as he took out several envelopes from his pocket. "You gave me food when I was hungry, and a place to study when I thought everything was lost, so I owe you at least this."

"No. This is too much." The waitress said as she shook her head. "We didn't do it for money. We did it because you are a good kid and we have faith in you."

"Whether you take it or not, I'm leaving it here." Ian said in a stern tone as he placed the envelope on the table. "It's your money now, you decide where it goes.." Ian said as he got up and left.