Kevin sat on the edge of his king-sized bed in his penthouse, his gaze fixed on the glittering skyline of the city. The Baccarat Hotel deal had gone through, and Marcus Lyle had been silent since. For now, Kevin had won the battle, but he knew the war wasn't over. As the empire he was building grew larger, Kevin realized something was missing: his family.
In his relentless pursuit of wealth and power, he had neglected the very people who had been there for him when he had nothing. His parents, his sister… they had no idea how far he'd come. Kevin hadn't spoken to them in months—maybe a year. And the guilt was starting to gnaw at him.
Pulling out his phone, Kevin hesitated for a moment. He hadn't told them about his newfound wealth or how his life had changed since Jenny left him. All they knew was that he had moved to the city and taken a job. How could he explain the fact that he was now worth over a trillion dollars?
Taking a deep breath, Kevin dialed his mother's number.
It rang a few times before his mother's familiar voice answered, soft and loving as always. "Hello? Kevin, is that you?"
"Yeah, Mom, it's me," Kevin replied, his voice carrying a mixture of nervousness and relief.
"Oh my goodness! Kevin! It's been so long. We were getting worried, son. How are you? Are you eating properly? Working too hard?" Her voice was full of concern, the kind that only a mother could express.
Kevin smiled, feeling a pang of warmth. He had missed her more than he realized. "I'm fine, Mom. More than fine, actually. Things have been… really good."
His mom paused, her tone softening. "You sound different. What's been going on? You've been out of touch for so long."
Kevin glanced around his lavish penthouse. How was he supposed to explain this? How could he tell his family that he had gone from struggling to make ends meet to becoming one of the wealthiest men in the world?
"There's something I need to tell you and Dad. Is he home?" Kevin asked, his heart racing slightly.
"He's outside fixing the car. Let me get him," his mom said, her voice filled with anticipation.
Kevin heard her call his father from the distance, and a few moments later, his dad's gruff voice came on the line.
"Hey, Kev! Long time, son. What's going on? You okay?"
Kevin took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "I'm okay, Dad. Actually, I'm more than okay. I… I've been doing really well, and there's something I need to tell you both. It's kind of a long story, but… I'm not the same guy who left for the city."
"Son, whatever it is, we're proud of you. You've always worked hard, and we know you'll make it. But what's this about?" his father asked, his tone more serious now.
Kevin laughed nervously. "Well, it's going to sound unbelievable, but I've been really successful. I mean, really successful."
His mother chimed in, confused. "Successful how? Did you get a promotion or something?"
Kevin's heart raced. "Not exactly. You see, I've started my own businesses. I've made a lot of money, more than I ever thought possible. And… well, I'm kind of a billionaire now."
There was stunned silence on the other end of the line.
"Kevin, are you joking?" his dad finally said, disbelief lacing his voice.
"I'm not, Dad," Kevin said, laughing nervously. "I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. I've built a huge business empire. Real estate, luxury brands, tech—you name it. I've invested in all of them, and I'm now worth over a trillion dollars."
His mom gasped. "A trillion? Kevin, that's… that's impossible! Are you sure? How… how could this happen?"
"I know it sounds insane, Mom. But I got really lucky. I had some opportunities come my way, and I took advantage of them. I've been working with some of the most powerful people in the world, and it's all paid off. I wanted to tell you sooner, but… I didn't know how."
Kevin's dad cleared his throat, still processing what his son had said. "Kevin, this is… I don't even know what to say. You're telling us you're a billionaire? A trillionaire?"
"Yeah, Dad. I am."
There was another pause before his father spoke again, this time in a tone filled with both pride and awe. "Well, son, I don't know what to say other than… we're proud of you. I don't understand how you did it, but if anyone could, it'd be you."
His mother chimed in, her voice filled with emotion. "Kevin, I can't believe it. This is incredible. We're so proud of you. But… why didn't you tell us sooner? We would have loved to be part of your journey."
Kevin's chest tightened at the thought. "I know, Mom. I just… I was so focused on work, and things were moving so fast. I didn't want to overwhelm you. But I want to make it right. I want you guys to see everything—where I live, the businesses I own. I want to bring you here."
His mother's voice softened, still full of disbelief. "We'd love that, Kevin. But are you sure we belong in that kind of world? We're just simple people."
Kevin smiled, feeling a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time. "Mom, you guys are the reason I'm here. I did all of this for us—for our family. I want to take care of you, give you everything you deserve. I'm flying you both out here. You'll stay with me, see everything I've built. I've already got a place for you—your own mansion."
"A mansion?" His dad's voice was full of disbelief. "Kevin, we don't need a mansion. We've always been fine with what we have."
"I know, Dad," Kevin replied gently. "But you deserve more. You both worked so hard to give me a good life, to make sure I had everything I needed. Now it's my turn to give back."
There was a long pause before his mom finally spoke, her voice trembling slightly. "We love you, Kevin. We always knew you'd make something of yourself, but this… this is beyond anything we could have imagined."
Kevin felt his throat tighten. "I love you guys too. And I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you. But we're going to make up for lost time."
They talked for a while longer, his parents slowly beginning to comprehend the magnitude of Kevin's success. His dad asked more practical questions about his businesses, while his mom couldn't stop asking about the mansion he had bought for them. Kevin promised them a life of luxury, one they had never dreamed possible.
The next week, Kevin flew his parents and his sister, Sophie, out to the city in a private jet. When they arrived, they were greeted by Kevin's chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce Phantom. His family's eyes were wide with disbelief as they were driven to Kevin's mansion—a sprawling estate nestled in the hills, complete with infinity pools, a private cinema, and views that stretched as far as the eye could see.
"Kevin… this is unbelievable," Sophie whispered as she stepped out of the car, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Welcome to your new home," Kevin said, smiling as he hugged his sister. "It's all yours."
His mom was speechless, tears of joy streaming down her face as she took in the grandeur of their new life. His dad, though stunned, couldn't help but smile as he placed a hand on Kevin's shoulder.
"You did good, son," his father said quietly. "You did more than good."
Kevin felt a wave of pride and relief wash over him. For the first time in a long time, everything felt right. He had fought hard for success, built an empire, and now, with his family by his side, Kevin knew that this was only the beginning of a new chapter—one where his wealth would change their lives forever.
As they toured the mansion, Kevin realized that, no matter how much money he made or how many businesses he conquered, his family would always be his greatest success. And now, they would share in the luxury he had fought so hard to achieve.