Chapter 1: The Unseen Legacy
David Hall, a young man of seventeen, sat quietly in the corner of a pub. His eyes were focused intently on the grizzled old man before him, who was regaling his audience with tales of the city’s past. The old man was a regular at the local pub, and was known for his love of ale and his captivating stories that seemed to breathe life into Dalton’s rich history. Tonight, he was detailing the drama of the family empires that ruled Dalton and how the Halls had stepped in from out of nowhere, completely flipping the power dynamic and becoming the greatest family empire the city had ever seen.
For his audience, tonight’s tales were just another episode in the saga of Dalton city. From the insidious schemes to the calculated coordination, the old man spared no enthralling detail for those with ears to hear. Yet, to David, these stories served a different purpose. They were a window into the world his parents had once been a part of, a world now lost to him, clouded in mystery. He listened intently, trying to imagine what his parents might have been like; what his life might have been like.
David was a striking figure, with a sharp intellect that shone in his eyes and an aura of charisma that seemed to captivate those around him. His humble demeanor belied his keen perception and uncanny ability to discern the intentions of others. His past was a secret to most; his early years marked by tragedy and a sudden upheaval that defined the course of his life.
His parents, William and Bethany Hall, had been wealthy business tycoons, their names synonymous with power and influence. From what David could put together, his parents were practically royalty. The people loved them. They controlled the top companies in nearly every industry and even found favor with the local government. They brought the city of Dalton into a new age of prosperity, ushering in its reputation as one of the best cities in all of Asia.
However, they were tragically killed in a car accident when David was just a child, leaving him an orphan. The life he had known before became a blur, and he could only recall scattered memories of his family. All he knew was he was very loved by his mother and father, and he loved them too.
What happened after that, he did remember. Shortly after his parents’ deaths, he was handed off to an orphanage, somewhere far away from home. He remembered how the rooms smelled like urine because no one would clean them after kids peed the bed. He remembered being scolded and beaten whenever he cried. He remembered asking for his parents, and trying to find them, not realizing what had happened; that they were gone.
Then, a woman named Shiela Bringer adopted him. David hadn’t recognized her, but she claimed to be friends of his parents and said she noticed his last name in the orphanage register. All he had wanted was to leave the orphanage, so when she asked if his parents were William and Bethany Hall, he told her the truth, and she adopted him. By the time he realized his mistake, it was too late.
It turned out that Shiela did, indeed, know of David’s parents, but her motives for adopting him were far from genuine care. She had hoped that, by adopting David, she would inherit the Hall family’s fortune. She had wanted to claim his parents’ vast wealth for herself, but it had all disappeared without a trace, leaving her bitter and resentful. To her, David symbolized her failed ambitions, and she treated him as nothing more than a slave.
Yet, David bore his circumstances gracefully, his humility a testament to his character. He treated everyone he met kindly, his parents’ teachings still resonating within him. Despite Shiela’s cruelty, he never allowed himself to be swayed by bitterness or resentment. He knew that his parents would never want him to compromise himself in that way.
Amid these trying circumstances, David found a loyal friend in Shiela’s daughter, Melanie. Although not exceptionally gifted or particularly extraordinary, Melanie was fiercely loyal and stood up for David whenever she could. Despite her mother’s harsh treatment, David found solace in their friendship, their bond a beacon of hope in his otherwise bleak existence.
As David listened to the old man’s tales, he couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of connection. With every story, his resolve grew. He was determined to uncover the truth about his family’s past and live up to his parents’ legacy.
This marked the beginning of David Hall’s extraordinary journey. A journey that would lead him down a path of discovery, danger, and destiny.
FROM THE AUTHOR
Hello! Thanks for being here and for supporting my work! Today marks the official publication of “The Orphan of Destiny, David Hall” (the first book of The Marvelous, David Hall series). You can find it on Amazon in eBook and Paperback format at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQKM13WV
For those of you who’d like to enjoy this series on a weekly basis, I’ll continue posting free chapters here and on YouTube (youtube.com/@tmDavidHall). Thanks again for your support!
- A. J. Knight
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Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.