The CEO's Unplanned Heir novel Chapter 1228

Fredric and Beverley arrived.

Spotting Raines, Fredric strode over and wrapped him in a bear hug, "Raines, it's a relief to have you back. You wouldn't believe it, some imposter tried to weasel his way into the Stirling family pretending to be you. Luckily, we saw right through his little charade, otherwise we don't know what will happen."

Raines shuddered at the revelation, "Someone impersonated me?"

Fredric clapped him on the back, "Focus on getting better for now. We'll fill you in on all that mess later."

"Raines, it must've been rough being cooped up for so long, huh?" Beverley chimed in.

Raines rubbed his forehead, "I've been in a fog, mostly out cold. When I was awake, it was just snippets. I can't remember a thing."

"They must've drugged you," Beverley said angrily, "I heard these crooks are experts in poison. They almost did in Fredric and Aurelia, too."

Fredric sighed, his greatest fear was that Raines' memory issues were getting worse. The poison must have had an effect on the brain, and that was why he lost his memory.

After a bit more small talk, Fredric excused himself to find Leopold.

"Leo, did the doctor check Raines for poisoning?"

Leopold confirmed, "They found traces of some hallucinogens in his system."

Fredric fumed, "They must have done it to make him delirious. Those bastards. We'll root them out, every last one of them."

Leopold was determined not to let them get away with it. Like roaches, they'd keep coming back unless he wiped them out for good.

Meanwhile, the aunts and uncles were in the game room, engrossed in bridge and poker. They were still in the dark about Raines' ordeal, thinking he'd just come back from the hospital.

The Stirling family's New Year's Eve dinner was a bustling affair, with relatives flocking from all corners.

After the feast, everyone headed to the island in the middle of the lake to ring in the New Year. When the clock struck midnight, the sky would be ablaze with fireworks.

Skyler supervised the kids with the sparklers on the island.