Chapter 4: The Awakening
Adrian woke before dawn, his body drenched in cold sweat. The strange dreams had left him with an unsettling feeling, though he couldn't recall the details. What he did remember clearly was the conversation from dinner—every calculated word, every veiled threat, every predatory smile.
He sat up in bed, his mind unusually sharp despite the early hour. Something had changed overnight. Where yesterday he might have felt anxiety or uncertainty about his family's schemes, today he felt something else entirely: cold, calculating clarity.
The ring on his nightstand caught the first rays of sunlight streaming through his window. Adrian picked it up, studying the intricate carvings that seemed to shift and dance in the morning light. Without really thinking about it, he slipped it onto his finger.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. "Young Master? Are you awake?" Aunt Minah's gentle voice called from outside.
"Come in, Aunty."
She entered with a breakfast tray, her kind face creased with concern. "You look tired, dear. Did you sleep poorly?"
Adrian smiled warmly at the elderly woman—genuine affection flooding through him. "I'm fine, Aunty. Just thinking about business matters."
As Aunt Minah set down the tray, Adrian caught a fragment of thought that seemed to drift from her mind: Poor boy, carrying such a heavy burden so young. His father would be worried about all this family tension...
Adrian blinked in surprise. For a moment, he could have sworn he'd heard Aunt Minah's thoughts as clearly as if she'd spoken them aloud. But that was impossible.
"Aunty," he said carefully, "what do you think about Uncle Asong's suggestions last night?"
The elderly woman's expression darkened. "That man has been plotting since the day your father died," she said bluntly, her usual diplomatic nature falling away. "He thinks I'm just an old servant who doesn't understand business, but I have ears. I know what he's planning."
They think they can push Adrian aside like he's still a child. But this boy has steel in him, just like his father.
Again, Adrian heard the words as clearly as if they'd been spoken. His heart raced, but he forced himself to remain calm.
"What have you heard, Aunty?"
"Phone calls late at night. Meetings with strangers. Yesterday, before you came home, that lawyer from Jakarta visited. They were discussing legal documents, something about proving you're unfit to manage the company."
Adrian felt a cold anger settling in his chest. "Thank you for telling me, Aunty. You've always been loyal to our family."
After she left, Adrian sat in contemplative silence. Either he was losing his mind, or something extraordinary was happening to him. He decided to test his theory.
An hour later, Adrian found Tono in the family study, hunched over his laptop with legal documents spread across the desk. His cousin looked up with barely concealed hostility.
"Morning, cousin. Still playing CEO?"
Adrian approached casually, his expression neutral. "Just checking on some company files. Mind if I sit?"
"It's your house," Tono replied with mock politeness.
As Adrian settled into a chair across from his cousin, he focused intently on the young man's face, trying to sense... something. Anything.
...if this competency hearing goes well, I'll finally get the recognition I deserve. Adrian's just a lucky brat who inherited everything. Once we prove he's mentally unstable or incompetent, the board will have to consider other family members for leadership roles...
Adrian's blood ran cold, but his expression remained perfectly calm. The thoughts had come through as clearly as spoken words, tinged with Tono's smug satisfaction and bitter resentment.
"What are you working on?" Adrian asked conversationally.
"Oh, just some research. Economic projections, industry analysis. You know, the kind of detailed work that goes into responsible business management."
...the medical records we're fabricating should be enough. A few documented incidents of 'erratic behavior,' some testimony from concerned family members about his mental state...
Adrian felt something dark and cold crystallizing inside him. These weren't just greedy relatives anymore—they were enemies actively working to destroy him. And if they succeeded, they wouldn't just steal his inheritance; they'd ruin his father's legacy and destroy everything the family had built.
"Sounds important," Adrian said mildly. "I should let you get back to it."
He stood to leave, then paused at the door. "Tono?"
"Yeah?"
"Be careful with your research. Sometimes when you dig too deep into someone's business, you might find they're digging into yours as well."
The threat was delivered with such casual pleasantness that it took a moment for Tono to process it. By the time he looked up, Adrian was already gone.
Over the next few hours, Adrian moved through the house like a predator studying his prey. Each interaction confirmed what he was beginning to accept: he could hear people's thoughts. Not all the time, and not everyone's, but when he focused on someone while they were thinking about him or the family business, their mental voice came through with startling clarity.
From Aunt Sari, as she applied her makeup: ...once we get control of the company, the first thing I'm doing is firing that old hag Minah. And Adrian can find somewhere else to live. This house is too good for that arrogant boy...
From Bobi, as he worked out in the garage: ...cousin thinks he's so smart, but he's never dealt with real muscle before. If the legal stuff doesn't work, I know some guys who can make problems disappear permanently. Accidents happen all the time...
From Uncle Asong, during a hushed phone conversation: ...yes, the psychiatric evaluation is scheduled for next week. Dr. Hartono owes me several favors. Adrian won't even know what hit him until he's being declared mentally incompetent in front of the board...
By afternoon, Adrian had heard enough. The scope of their conspiracy was breathtaking—forged medical records, bribed psychiatrists, planted evidence of mismanagement, and if all else failed, the implicit threat of physical violence through Bobi's gang connections.
They weren't just trying to steal his inheritance. They were planning to systematically destroy his reputation, his mental health records, and potentially his life if he resisted.
Adrian retreated to his room and called Uncle Suryo.
"Uncle, I need you to come up here. We have a problem."
When Uncle Suryo arrived, Adrian was sitting calmly at his desk, making notes in a leather journal.
"Young Master, you look different. What's happened?"
"I've been thinking about our conversation last night," Adrian said without looking up from his writing. "And I've realized something important."
"What's that?"
Adrian finally looked up, and Uncle Suryo was startled by the cold steel he saw in the young man's eyes.
"I've been playing defense when I should be playing offense. These people aren't just greedy relatives—they're criminals actively conspiring to commit fraud, forgery, and potentially worse. And I've been treating them like misguided family members instead of the threats they actually are."
Uncle Suryo nodded slowly. "What do you want to do?"
"I want you to contact that private investigation firm you mentioned once—the discrete one that handles sensitive corporate matters. I want them to start building files on Uncle Asong, Aunt Sari, Tono, and Bobi. Financial records, communication logs, criminal associations—everything."
"That could take weeks, Young Master."
"Then we start with what we can do immediately." Adrian's smile was sharp as a blade. "Uncle, how much do you know about corporate law regarding hostile takeover attempts by family members?"
"Enough to know it's complicated."
"It's about to become very uncomplicated." Adrian pulled out his phone. "I'm calling an emergency board meeting for tomorrow morning. Full board, all major shareholders."
Uncle Suryo looked concerned. "That's risky, Young Master. If they're prepared and you're not..."
"Oh, I'm prepared." Adrian's voice carried a quiet confidence that hadn't been there before. "Uncle Asong has made a critical error. He's been so focused on playing politics and conspiracies that he's forgotten something fundamental about business."
"Which is?"
"I'm not just the heir to this company—I'm the majority shareholder. I inherited 51% of the shares directly from my father. As long as I'm mentally competent and not convicted of any crimes, my position is unassailable."
Adrian stood up, pacing to the window where he could see Uncle Asong's car pulling into the driveway.
"But they're planning to challenge your competency—"
"With forged medical records and bought testimony." Adrian's voice was ice-cold now. "Which becomes criminal conspiracy the moment they present fraudulent evidence to a court or corporate board."
Uncle Suryo began to understand. "You're going to let them make the first move, then destroy them with their own crimes."
"Exactly. But first, I'm going to make some changes to ensure they can't do any real damage." Adrian picked up his phone again. "I'm also calling the company's head of security. As of tomorrow, Uncle Asong and his family will no longer have access to any company facilities or records."
"That will provoke them into moving faster."
"Good. The faster they move, the more mistakes they'll make." Adrian's expression was ruthless now. "These people have declared war on me, Uncle. They just don't realize that I'm not the confused, grieving young man they think I am."
They want to play games with my inheritance, my father's legacy, my life itself, Adrian thought as he watched his uncle get out of his car below. They're about to learn that some games have consequences they never imagined.
The ring on his finger felt warm, but Adrian barely noticed it now. The strange new ability to hear thoughts was just another tool in his arsenal—one that his enemies would never see coming.
Tomorrow, the real battle would begin. And Adrian Bong was no longer interested in playing defense.
Outside, storm clouds continued to gather over the mountain city, but Adrian welcomed the approaching tempest. After all, storms were excellent cover for the kind of work that needed to be done in the shadows.
His enemies had wanted to see what he was truly capable of.
They were about to find out.