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@ ODILI ONUOHA
2025-05-15 05:01:00CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Please! I’m your sister! I just needed a little help!” she cried dramatically. “How could you do this to your own blood?!”
Gasps echoed through the grand hall.
Guests froze in place, their judgmental stares directed at James. Cameraman didn’t hesitate to raise their lenses. Phones were pulled out. A social media storm was already brewing in real time.
James stood still, eyes narrowed. He didn’t move, didn’t speak.
Tracy, standing beside Helen, discreetly snapped more photos, already typing up the next round of false headlines to feed into the media engine.
Helen smirked at the chaos and whispered, “This is it. The downfall begins.”
But James wasn’t shaken.
With quiet authority, he raised his hand, and two personal bodyguards appeared from the sidelines. He looked Evelyn square in the eye, then said, loud enough for the nearest guests to hear, “Escort this woman outside. She is not my sister. And she has no place here.”
Evelyn’s cries turned more dramatic, but it was clear to the more discerning eyes in the room that something about her act was off. Her appearance was too deliberate, her performance too exaggerated.
As security led her away, some guests began to murmur with skepticism.
“Wait… that woman doesn’t even resemble him.” “Isn’t it strange she showed up right after that story went viral?” “Could this be a setup?”
Suddenly, a hush fell over the grand hall. The doors swung open and in walked Mr. and Mrs. JP, their presence commanding immediate respect and admiration. The atmosphere shifted, charged with reverence. The orchestra paused, and every individual in the room instinctively rose to their feet.
The couple moved with elegance and dignity, their attire speaking volumes of their legacy Mr. JP in a classic black suit with golden cufflinks, and Mrs. JP in an emerald silk gown that shimmered under the chandeliers.
As they made their way toward the stage, hosts and VIPs bowed subtly, showing deference. Whispers rippled through the audience.
"That’s the founder himself..." "And she’s the matriarch elegance personified." "Do you think they know about the scandal?"
When the couple finally ascended the stage, Mr. JP gestured politely for the crowd to take their seats. The applause lingered like a standing ovation for royalty.
Taking the microphone with a measured breath, Mr. JP began, his voice calm, dignified, and layered with authority.
“Distinguished guests,” he said, scanning the crowd with a nod. “Tonight marks a milestone not just in our company’s journey, but in our personal lives. Sixteen years ago, this empire was only a dream... Today, it is a reality that spans borders and inspires millions.”
The audience clapped again, some even rising briefly in acknowledgment.
“We did not build this alone,” he continued, eyes softening. “From those who’ve been with us from the beginning, to the new minds who’ve steered us through recent storms this success belongs to all of you.”
Then, a slight pause.
Mr. JP took a breath, his tone shifting to something deeper.
“Among those responsible for the rebirth of JP Enterprises… is someone very close to me. Someone many of you may not recognize today, but who has been pivotal in our turnaround.”
People exchanged curious glances.
Helen furrowed her brows. Mark leaned forward, visibly tense. Even Tracy, who had been busy on her phone, paused, sensing something big.
Mr. JP looked toward James in the crowd. “Please rise.”
James stood up slowly, every eye in the room locking on him.
Gasps echoed across the hall.
“That’s him?” “The guy from the news?” “The so-called cruel brother?”
Mr. JP smiled proudly.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, his voice growing firm, “the man you see before you is not only the current President of JP Enterprises… but he is also my son James JP.”
Silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Helen's wine glass slipped slightly in her grip. Mark's jaw dropped. Tracy froze.
Mr. JP continued, “Some of you may have seen recent headlines. Falsehoods spread by those who fear his rise. But let me be clear this man was once wrongly accused, cast aside, and even disowned. A mistake I will regret all my life. Yet despite all that, he rebuilt everything. He turned loss into legacy.”
He turned to James, emotion glistening in his eyes. “Son, I’m proud of you. You are not just a worthy heir, you are a better man than I ever was.”
A standing ovation erupted.
The audience rose again, this time with sincere admiration. Applause thundered across the hall.
James slowly approached the stage, his head held high, the moment heavy with vindication. He took the microphone, looked across the sea of faces, some still stunned, some clapping with tears in their eyes.
“Thank you,” he began, his voice steady. “There was a time I stood outside this very building, invisible, broken, and ignored. Today, I stand here not for revenge… but to remind us all: never underestimate the strength of the overlooked.”
The applause grew louder.
“I will protect this company with everything I have,” he declared. “But let it also be known betrayal has no place in this legacy. Truth always finds a way to rise.”
Helen swallowed hard.
Mark clenched his fists beneath the table.
Tracy shrank slightly into her seat.
The atmosphere in the grand ballroom of the JP Enterprises Headquarters was thick with suspense. Mr. JP stood tall behind the polished podium, his presence commanding silence. The air practically crackled with curiosity as the crowd leaned forward in their seats, eager to hear the revelation everyone had been waiting for.
“I know many of you are wondering who my son is,” Mr. JP said, his voice deep and firm, echoing through the hall. “The one who will inherit not just my fortune, but my legacy. The heir to JP Enterprises and everything I have worked for in my lifetime.”