Bloodline Reckoning: The System Made Me Filthy Rich

Just as Noah was about to head to the kitchen for a quick coffee, his phone buzzed on the nightstand.

He glanced at the screen, 'Grandma...?' His brows furrowed.

They had just seen each other last night. Why was she calling so early? It was barely seven in the morning.

He picked up immediately. "Hello, Grandma?"

Isabel Reid's voice trembled on the other end. "Noah… I'm sorry to call you so early, but… It's about your grandfather."

Noah's heart skipped. He knew his Grandpa was unwell, but last night when they talked, he seemed alright.

"What happened? Is he okay?"

Isabel Reid's voice cracked, revealing her vulnerability and the depth of her shock.

"Oh dear... your grandfather's been rushed to the hospital. His condition suddenly worsened early this morning. The doctor said… after hearing about what Jared did to you, his heart just couldn't take it."

Noah stood beside his bed, the phone pressed tightly against his ear. He already knows this will happen. But, of course, he pretends to be shocked.

"What?" His voice was hoarse. "Grandpa already knew about that?"

"Yes," she replied faintly. "I told him last night after you left. He insisted on knowing the truth. I... I didn't think it would affect him this badly. The doctor says... he might not make it, Noah."

"Grandma… I'm so sorry. Do you need me to come? Should I do anything?" He offered.

But Isabel replied softly, "No, dear. Just pray. That's all I ask. Pray for your grandfather. He loved you... even when others doubted."

The call ended before Noah could speak again.

He stood there, staring at his phone screen. Silence filled the room until he finally decided to have his breakfast and meet with Matthew and the others in the dining room.

...

When Noah entered the dining room, he found Matthew and Edgar already waiting for him.

He joined them at the table, sipping his coffee in silence as he listened to Matthew's report regarding Jared Morgan's fate.

They were determined to make sure Jared remained behind bars for a very long time.

Noah said nothing while they spoke, imagining the chaos currently tearing through the Morgan family.

A hint of guilt gnawed at him for being the mastermind behind all this, but in truth, he'd had no choice. If Jared Morgan hadn't pushed him into a corner, he wouldn't have acted the way he did.

Now, all he could do was pray his grandfather would pull through. If the old man died now, Noah knew the guilt would crush him.

And how could he face his father when, if... he ever woke from his coma?

"What do you think, sir?" Edgar's voice cut through Noah's troubling thoughts, snapping him back to the present.

Noah blinked, caught off guard. He stared at Edgar while quickly asking Zoe in his mind, 'What did they just say?'

'Sir, Edgar asked if you still want them to proceed with the lawsuits against Jared,' Zoe responded promptly.

Noah didn't hesitate long. "Edgar, stick to the plan. I already told Andrew that you and Matthew are handling the lawsuits. He might reach out to you later."

"I understand, sir," Edgar replied with a respectful nod. He agreed that it was essential for the Morgans to understand their position. "I'll move forward as planned and make myself available in case Andrew Morgan contacts me."

"Andrew won't be calling you anytime soon. They are in trouble..." Noah said flatly, setting his coffee cup down.

"Trouble?" Matthew asked, raising an eyebrow at Noah. Edgar and Jason turned their attention to him as well.

Noah paused briefly, then looked up, his voice steady but heavy.

"Alexander Morgan is in critical condition. He might..." Noah didn't finish his sentence. He let them draw their own conclusions from the weight behind his silence.

A faint, bitter smile crept onto his lips as he noticed the three pairs of eyes staring at him, wide and full of unspoken worry.

He could tell exactly what they were thinking just from their expressions, and with subtle gestures, he encouraged them to keep exploring their own thoughts. But he didn't intend to answer them directly.

Instead, he asked them to leave him alone.

As they started to walk away, something crossed his mind, and he suddenly called out to Edgar.

"Any other instructions, sir?" Edgar halted his step, waiting for Noah.

"Let me walk you to your car..." Noah walked alongside Edgar to the front yard, silence stretching for a moment between them until he finally expressed his worry.

"I feel terrible about what happened to the Morgans' family..." His voice was heavy. "What if my dad scolds me or is disappointed in me after learning his father died... because I caused it?"

Edgar gave him a gentle smile and a slight shake of his head, clearly about to speak, but before he could, Noah cut in.

"Please be honest with me. Don't just give me comforting words," Noah said with a brief, dry chuckle, noticing Edgar's nervous glance.

"How do you know that, sir? Don't tell me... you've learned how to read my mind now?" Edgar asked, his tone carrying just enough unease to make Noah raise an eyebrow in amusement.

Noah's upper lip curled slightly, forming a small, knowing smile. "So my dad can read your mind, too?"

Edgar remained silent, but the look on his face said everything.

A flicker of regret passed through Edgar's features, regret for revealing more than he should have, regret for underestimating how perceptive Noah had become since the day they first met.

"Sir, you don't have to worry... your dad will never scold you."

...

Edgar quickly left Noah's house and headed to the Golden Phoenix Tower. He needed to check on his master's condition.

He went straight to the sixty-ninth floor, and just before entering Anderson Morgan's room, he saw the lead doctor in charge, Dr. Stone, emerging from inside.

"Doctor Stone, have you checked his condition?" Edgar asked, surprised to see him arrive earlier than usual.

"Good morning, Edgar..." Dr. Stone smiled broadly, gently patting Edgar's shoulder, then continued walking without answering his question.

Edgar frowned as he watched him go. That was strange... Dr. Stone rarely looked that cheerful.

"Did something happen in there?" he muttered, quickly looking at the door before him.

When Edgar opened the door, he was stunned to see Anderson Morgan no longer lying unconscious but sitting at the edge of the bed. His face, though slightly gaunt, was flush with healthy color, showing no sign of illness.

He wore lightweight clothes that subtly revealed his sculpted figure. The muscles on his body remained well-defined, a clear sign of the strength he still had.

This man was supposed to be a comatose patient, but he looked like someone who had just woken from a peaceful rest.

"G-Good morning, Master..." Edgar greeted politely, pausing a few steps from the door.

A deep, gravelly voice returned the greeting, morning. "You finally came…"

"Master, I'm sorry I'm late… young master Noah called me early this morning for the sudden meeting at his house..."

A small smile formed on Edgar's lips as he stepped further in and quietly closed the door behind him.

Anderson didn't respond. He stood up and walked to the window, remaining there for several minutes, quietly watching the sprawling city below.

Edgar waited respectfully in silence, unsure what his master would say or do next.

But after a few long minutes, he finally dared to ask, "Master… you finally decided to wake up now?"

A soft chuckle escaped Anderson Morgan's lips before he answered, still not looking back.

"I got tired of just sleeping, Edgar…" His tone turned serious. "What's the situation with Morgan?"

Edgar's fingers turned cold at the question, worry rising in his chest, but he couldn't hide the truth. He said quietly, "Sir, your father is in critical condition…"

Silence lingered.

It took a few more minutes before Anderson Morgan finally turned to face Edgar; his expression remained unchanged, calm and unreadable.

Still, no words left his lips, leaving Edgar unsure where or how to begin his explanation.

But in the end, Edgar spoke anyway. "Sir, don't blame the young master. It wasn't him who caused the problem... It was Jared who provoked him. You already know Jared sent an assassin to kill him, but last night he rechallenged him. So, the young master had no choice but to respond adequately, sir…"

"I'm not concerned about that, Edgar. I decided to wake up because this is the right time."

Anderson chuckled before continuing.

"Noah will learn the truth sooner or later. Perhaps you haven't noticed, but I've seen that my son has gained his power much more quickly than I expected… We can't keep this hidden from him much longer."

Then, he walked toward a door in the corner. After scanning his fingerprint, the door unlocked and revealed a cozy bedroom with a vast worktable and a library tucked into the far corner.

The room looked like a luxurious personal chamber, its wooden and earth-toned colors dominating the space. It resembled a high-end suite far more than a hospital ward.

"I understand, sir…"

"Alright, you can go now. And ask Noah to come see me at dinner time," Anderson said, waving a hand at Edgar to signal him to leave.