Chapter 2 THE DEAD MAN'S LAST WISH

After letting her night visitor out of their house, the satisfied woman climbed the step up and banged on the door.

"Open this door before I break it down."

"Why are you here?... Please go away."

"I will... After telling you why am I here, and not before. Now open this door before I shatter it to pieces."

I can't move. Use the spare key with you."

She swore loudly, turned and descended the stairs. And promptly returned after.

"You aren't just a lazy thief, but as dirty as a pig," Andrea placed her palm over her nose, cringed her face and asked, "why is your room smelling like a pigsty?"

"Are you here to taunt me more?"

She ignored his red and teary eyes, loomed closer and asked," why did you embarrass me in front of my guest?"

"In front of your lover will be more appropriate, but since you claim he is your guest, am sorry for humiliating you and acting like a glutton and a son of nobody in front of our noble family lawyer."

"My family lawyer, and not yours. Have you forgotten you are adopted and have nothing to share with O'Connor's family? Grandpa was just bewitched by your sham loyalty and charisma, but am glad he is no more."

"Please leave my room. I need to bemoan my fate alone."

"I will. But I want you to keep your mouth shut and never tell any of my family that Johnson doesn't belong to you. I will kill you if I heard it outside."

"As your majesty wishes."

Andrew pleaded back because he didn't have the strength to argue. He just wishes Andrea will leave him alone to wail about his injury and fate.

"I will send you away from this house when grandpa's will is read. And until then, I want you to stay at your side of the house and don't dare trespass into my compartment."

"I won't... Please go."

She stood up, hissed and spit on the miserable-looking man, "I had called my mom and informed her about your shameful act. Expect her tongue-lashing tomorrow."

The man in pain shrugged and sighed as his tormentor finally leave his room.

Like mother like daughter, Mary O'Connor is wayward and possessed the worst temper on earth, and it is quite unfortunate that her wagging tongues will be directed to curses and abuse Andrew when she comes by daybreak.

To Mary O'Connor, Andrew is the most unpleasant son-in-law their family will be plagued with, and she had severally drummed it in his ears how glad she will feel when they finally get rid of him.

As for Timothy O'Connor, the timid man will always be controlled by his possessive wife, and whatever is good in Mary's sight, is okay for him.

Poor Andrew is the only outsider among the O'Connor family, and it was his devious ambition that made him juggle Grandpa to support him to marry the Cinderella of the family.

At least, that was what the dwellers of Arkansas were made to believe in.

But in truth, he was hoodwinked into the marriage, and it was his helpless position that made him accept to marry the woman who never likes him since childhood.

As far back as he could remember, the O'Connor family always see him as a gold digger and an opportunist, and only Grandpa stood by him through thick and thin.

Andrea didn't love him, nor did she make any effort to appear so. And their relationship was like that of a cat and a dog when Brain O'Connor was alive. But when the old man suddenly slumped and died, the rejected son-in-law of the O'Connor family was made to go through hell on earth.

Thanks to Brian's last statement which made it compulsory for Andrew to remain in his Villa and as Andrea's husband, the rest of the family would have erased all his links to their family name.

Truth be told, Andrew looked forward to being free from this captive, and he had made up his mind to seek greener pastures with his share of Brian's will. Of course, the compassionate man will be kind enough to leave something for him as well.

When his wife began to show her real colour, he was cajoled to go and look for a job, despite the large grant that their family were receiving every quarter of the year from grandpa's trust fund. But wherever he submitted his application form, he was immediately rejected when the employer discovered he is the son-in-law of one of the richest names in the country.

Brian's wealth lies in his shares with several companies, and because he was an inactive worker, his wealth keeps accumulating, even after his death.

Being an outsider, Andrew realized he had no right to the dead man's estate. And he is only staying here to honour his last wish.

As for the O'Connor family and their frivolous lifestyle, let them all go to hell after.

According to Brian, Andrew is the grandson of his only friend and the soul survival of his family. And because of the circumstances surrounding the death of the rest of his family, Brian decided to change his name, and the boy was brought up in his villa and bears his surname.

Though Andrew agrees he will always be O'Connor, even if he finally discovered who he is. This promise was made to the dead man promptly before he takes his last breath.

"There is nothing for me anymore in this house, if Andrea can prove that Johnson is not mine!"

When Andrea declared openly three years ago that she was pregnant, the whole family taunted and ridiculed her for agreeing to be put in the family way by someone as worthless as Andrew, and it was only Brian who was very happy and even decided to throw a party when Johnson arrived nine months later.

Now that the old man is dead, and his last link to the O'Connor family is nothing but a mirage, there is no reason for him to remain here, except for the dead man's last wish and the few golds that may come along with it.