The Heiress They Lost Came Back Overpowered

Jones Manor.

Deloria was kneeling in the living room, weeping. "Father, Henry must have been framed! You’ve watched him grow up since he was a child. Don’t you know how well-behaved he is?"

The old man seated at the head of the room felt not a shred of pity, only a headache from her racket.

"Nonsense! These are international police! Do you think they’d make an arrest across national borders without sufficient evidence?! They’ve already thrown the proof in your face, and you’re still spouting lies with your eyes wide open?!"

’That good-for-nothing, well-behaved? Well-behaved my ass!’

’A bunch of idiots! Not a single one of them gives me a moment’s peace!’

’Only this stupid daughter of mine, seeing through the biased eyes of a mother, would think her son was any good.’

He had never liked that grandson. The boy had been disingenuous since childhood, his eyes full of cunning and deceit. He and that imposter granddaughter of his were two of a kind.

All they’d ever done was cause trouble for him. Hadn’t he cleaned up their messes enough times?!

As long as the dirty deeds of that brother-and-sister duo weren’t flaunted in his face, he had always turned a blind eye, simply waiting for the day they would crash and burn. He just never imagined they would go even further than he’d expected.

Every time this sort of mess occurred, he found himself desperately missing his own eldest son and grandson.

If these good-for-nothings hadn’t interfered—while also being completely hopeless themselves—he wouldn’t still be struggling to hold on at his age, unable to step down.

"This must be a frame-up! Vena must have done it. They never got along, and Vena has always wanted him dead! Besides, Henry is busy with company business every day. How could he possibly do something like this?!"

Deloria wailed even louder, like an overgrown child.

"Please, I’m begging you, save him! He’s the only grandson you have left now. He’s the sole heir to the Jones Family!"

Old Man Cole lifted his eyelids and shot her a cold glance. "Hmph! That’s what you really wanted to say, isn’t it? After all, you’ve always been covetously eyeing my position, haven’t you?"

’Didn’t she marry a commoner into the family precisely so she could get a bigger piece of the pie and fight for the inheritance?’

Deloria choked on his words, but since he had called her out, she decided to drop the act and lay her cards on the table.

Her makeup was smeared into clumps by her tears, but she spoke between sobs, her tone defiant.

"Am I wrong, Father? Vena is just a bastard, and who knows if Cole is even dead or alive. Besides Henry, do you have any other heirs?"

Old Man Cole didn’t want to speak with her any further and simply closed his eyes.

"In any case, I will not save Henry, nor do I have the ability to! You may leave. If you can behave yourself from now on, your branch of the family will always have a share of the family business’s profits."

The implication was clear: her branch of the family would never have the right of inheritance. And if they wanted to continue living a life of wealth, they had to be obedient.

"Father, I promise you, our branch of the family won’t covet the inheritance anymore. I only ask that you save Henry! He’s only twenty-three, he’s just a kid!"

Behind her back, Deloria’s nails dug deep into her flesh. She kept her head bowed, hiding the sinister malice and resentment in her eyes.

’You old bastard. If I didn’t want to cultivate my son’s abilities—needing you to keep supporting the family business so he could take over—do you think you’d still be alive right now?’

’But it doesn’t matter. As soon as Henry gets out, this promise will be null and void, and it will be time for my dear father to ’abdicate his position and enjoy his golden years.’’

Old Man Cole finally lost all patience. He snatched the teacup from the table and hurled it at her.

"You imbecile! Are you incapable of understanding human speech? These are international police!

The ICPO!

Once something involves an international organization, do you still think you can save someone just because you want to?!

Do you think your good-for-nothing son was thrown in a detention center for some petty squabble?! The way I see it, the reason he’s so stupid is that he inherited your idiotic genes!

If you don’t get the hell out now, then don’t ever come back!"

Unable to dodge in time, Deloria was splashed with tea and collapsed to the floor.

Unfortunately, the tea was only lukewarm.

The old butler, who had been standing by impassively, was about to step forward and escort her out when the deputy butler, who had been waiting outside, came in to announce something.

"Sir, the Duke of Baelen and the leader of the Mercenary Corps have arrived together."

The Duke of Baelen was Cole’s maternal uncle, who had inherited the title from Cole’s maternal grandfather.

Old Man Cole froze for a second, then quickly recovered. "Show them in at once," he said.

"Yes, sir." The deputy butler hurried out to escort the guests in.

The old butler hauled Deloria to one side, positioning himself to block her from view.

Before Old Man Cole could even offer a greeting, the Duke of Baelen sat down on the sofa and spoke first.

"Old Man Cole, I won’t waste words. I came today to ask you for a person."

Although their families were connected by marriage, the Duke of Baelen was close to Old Man Cole in age. Coupled with his short temper, he had no patience for insincere pleasantries or beating around the bush.

Old Man Cole barely managed to suppress the anger Deloria had just stirred up. "Oh? And who might the Duke be looking for?"

"The murderer who killed my sister and my young nephew. Your daughter—Deloria."

An icy glint shone in the Duke of Baelen’s eyes as his gaze drifted vaguely toward the spot behind the old butler.

Hearing this, Deloria felt a surge of panic, but she quickly calmed herself with the thought that after so many years, it would be impossible for them to find any evidence.

’As long as I don’t admit it, what can the Duke do? Nothing. Besides, Father will definitely side with me. I’m his only living child!’

The color drained from Old Man Cole’s face. "Baelen, you need evidence to make such a claim."

Even though he himself looked down on his pig-stupid daughter, he couldn’t allow someone to slander her without proof—not even his late daughter-in-law’s own brother.

"You want evidence? I have it." Cole stepped forward.

Old Man Cole looked up at the masked man. The man’s eyes were so strikingly similar to his own; he could never mistake them.

He stood up in agitation, pointing a finger at the man. "You..."

Cole removed his mask. His gaze toward his grandfather was complicated. He placed the evidence in his hand before him, then took a few steps back.

"Grandfather. It’s been a long time. All the evidence you wanted is right here."

"Cole..."

Seeing his grandson’s distant attitude, Old Man Cole gave a bitter smile.

He looked at the thick stack of documents on the table and simply picked them up and began to read.

Meanwhile, Deloria, who had been playing dead on the floor, suddenly scrambled forward when she heard the familiar exchange.

Seeing that familiar face, Deloria’s expression twisted into a snarl. "Cole? You already left the family, you have nothing to do with us anymore! What are you doing back here?!"

Cole made no attempt to hide the murderous intent in his eyes. His icy gaze stabbed into her like a physical blade.

"What am I doing back here? I’m back to get revenge on my mother’s murderer, of course. My dear aunt."