PRESENT DAY

29th may, 2022.

The Lamborghini stopped in front of the mansion and the big name alighted, yes he was back. Nick Furgesson was back and he was a made man now.

His father in law and his wife were standing on the porch waiting for him as he slowly took dignified strides towards them.

“Five years can really change a man” Fray said as he smiled knowingly at his son in law.

Nick didn’t look like that twenty seven year old boy of five years ago who was scared of dying, now he looked ruthless and ready to take the world by storm.

“Even a day can change a man, father in law” he replied in a deep surprisingly deep voice as he glanced at April, “ you don’t look same either”

She scoffed, “ I bet I don’t”

“A dish has been set for you, let us enjoy” fray added and made to move but Nick stopped him.

“ I have somewhere to go and I will like April to go with me”

Father and daughter exchanged looks

“Where?” He asked and Nick chucked.

“You keep forgetting father in law, you can’t meddle in my life as long as your daughter have the Furgesson surname, I am back in this town for something and I can’t waste any more time in having a party. I know for how long I have planned my revenge while I was in Africa, I have no time to waste” he replied casually when one of his bodyguards walked up to him and whispered something in his ears.

“We should get going, April, say bye bye to daddy, we will move to our new house today” he added and smiled at his father in law before moving towards his car.

“He has really changed,” Fray muttered to his daughter.

“You will if I wanted you dead father” she also answered while looking at Nick’s retreating fingers, truly five years could change a man.

Nick Furgesson looked more handsome, manly and well built in his tailored suit and hair which was neatly packed in a bun, they didn’t miss the cigarette that was in between his fingers.

“Go to him, you shouldn’t keep him waiting”

April smiled at her father before walking towards the white Lamborghini.

“So where is the first place you would like to visit Nick?'' she asked, already knowing the answer.

Nick sniffed a good amount of smoke into his mouth and it came out through his nose,

“I will say, let’s give some old friends a visit”

“Very well then, I am at your service” April replied and boarded the car.

Like she said five years ago, she wanted his last name and In return she would do anything to help him. It was stated in the contract after all.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with his father in law, Nick also boarded the car and zoomed out of the multi billion dollar house.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The golden landline sitting beautifully on the side table rang and one of the maids quickly ran to answer it. It was already lunchtime and the whole family was sitting to lunch when the call came in, after a few nods the maid went towards the madam of the house.

“It is a call from the security man” she whispered into her ears and the latter nodded before taking the phone.

“Tell me” her voice was laced with command and respect.

“Someone is here to see you ma, she says she is April Raymond”

“April Raymond” Mrs Furgesson muttered to herself for a moment before her eyes darkened, she remembered that name perfectly.

“Let her in” she ordered and returned the landline while her eye rested on her husband who was busy on the papers, it was a Saturday after all.

“It seems Fray Raymond has sent his daughter” she announced while Alvanon and Nessa both dropped their cutleries.

“He never gets tired, does he?” Gregory Furgesson asked without looking up from the papers.

The sound of the doorbell made all three of them except for Gregory to turn to the door and yes she entered.

She was dressed in a limited edition gown that has not even been brought to the market yet and Vanessa rolled her eyes seeing she also wanted that dress but just couldn’t get it so how did this April get it when their family was just below hers?

“Greetings to the Furgessons” April said in a mocking tone, she could already perceive the hatred and hostility towards her. After all, they were enemies.

“Why have you come here?” Alvanon asked, “ to beg for your father?” He added in ridicule but she scoffed.

“That would have actually been better you see, but today I am not here for myself”

Amidst all the ruckus, Fedora finally came out of her room for the first time that day, her hair looked messy like she had been sleeping.

“Do you realize we have a guest Fedora ?Why do you look so unkept?” Her mother bellowed,” you should behave like a lady who is a heiress to such an empire not some street dog”

Mrs Furgesson hated the fact that Fedora was so nonchalant about things and she even became worse when Nick went missing almost five years ago.

“Just concentrate on your meeting mum and you all should leave me alone”

Everyone’s attention was turned on her and no one noticed when he entered looking like a dominating king, his aura was strong and unmatched.

“Hey fish” came his voice and everyone’s eyes immediately went to him as a look of surprise appeared on everyone’s faces including Fedora .

“Brother?” She muttered under her breath.

“Yes fish, it is me” he answered smiling at her, this was the only person he cared for in the whole world. His little sister.

“Nick” Venessa muttered to herself while her parents exchanged meaningful glances, what the hell was happening and why was Nick appearing after so long?

“Nick?” His father called in pretense but he ignored the old man and had his eyes fixated on Fedora .

“Won’t you give big brother a hug?” He asked, his lips were stretched into a smile which was for only her and as if that was the permission she needed, Fedora dropped the juice she was holding in her hands and ran into his open arms.

For the past few years when she didn’t hear from him, she really thought her family actually killed him but here he was in flesh and blood.

“Where have you been brother?” She whispered in his ears still in his embrace.

“Let us talk about that later” he whispered back and she slowly disengaged from him.

“Long time no see Mr and Mrs Furgesson” he mocked and his father raised his brows in confusion.

“Is this how to talk to your family after going missing all these years?”it was Alvanon who asked.

“Hmmm?really?” Nick lowered himself on the sofa and gestured for April to do same, “if I had known i was still welcomed in the house that I was almost killed in, I would have come back long ago”

All of them exchanged glances and Mrs Furgesson spoke up,

Why did you not tell anyone anything son and where have you been?we were all worried about you and up to this day, we have been looking for you”

“You can’t want a dead son,mother. I know all of you here want me dead, right?”

“What nonsense” Mr Furgesson hissed.

“No need to get angry father, I know that is the fucking truth but not to worry you didn’t lose that opportunity. You have a thousand and one chances to get me killed because from today, if I encounter any of you on the battlefield I will not hesitate to pull the trigger” he warned, his eyes getting dark and his pupils dilated. These were the people he knew as family and now he was openly declaring war on them.

Nessa finally stood up from where she was sitting and walked up to him, her lips were curved into a smile and she was the only member of the family that never hid her hatred for Nick, not after she found out he was adopted.

“Do you think you can go against father now that you think you are a man?” She asked mockingly, “ Father made you and he can destroy you even before you can say jack Robinson. Quit acting all tough Nick, we all know you can not do anything” she added before glaring daggers at the woman beside him, “or you think joining hands with the enemies will scare us?” She inquired further.

Nick laughed lightly, what a complete fool if she thought she had him all figured out.

“I can now understand why you have been unmarried for thirty four years of your life my dear sister, not to worry I will keep all of you on your toes and you won’t even be interested in getting married”

His eyes traveled from all of them and landed on his father,

“I will only use the harshest methods to deal with the Furgesson family from now on, I will forget all the happy times we had together and I will make all of you pay for what you wanted to do to me”

The Furgessons finally dropped their act as his mother stood up, she was tall and elegant. Typical of a rich lady.

“Don’t forget Nick, five years ago you were the pauper of this house and today you are still a pauper. Without the Furgesson surname you are nothing, don’t be such an ungrateful child and return to the family that saved you when your miserable parents left you on the streets to die” her voice contained a sense of ridicule but Nick was past caring about feelings.

Staying in Africa for years has made him numb to any kind of feeling, he wanted revenge for this betrayal and nothing more.

“I will forget all this ever happened and we can continue to live our lives” his father chipped in, his eyes traveling all over Nick.

When they couldn’t find him that night, they were all surprised but no one seemed to have a wave of where he could be. They even thought he died somewhere but here he was looking all different and his eyes which used to contain love and affection towards this family only had hatred in it.

“The battle line has been drawn Mr Furgesson” April said after a while as her lips stretched into a fake smile.

“And you are?” Alvanon asked.

“Mrs April Nick Furgesson” came Nick's voice and all of them were shocked including Fedora .

“You gave an enemy the family name?” This time his father couldn’t contain his anger anymore, he couldn’t just have a random person bear his name.

“And I will give her more of everything you own, you just wait and watch” Nick replied and turned towards Fedora who was a few feet away from him and he slowly took dignified steps towards her, “Fedora , you saved my life five years ago and I make a promise from today, I will give you the world and everything you ever wanted in life. Nobody in this whole wide world would be able to hurt you, that is a promise from your big brother”

Fedora wanted to cry, this was what she needed. To be able to live her life freely and not on anybody’s terms.

“What?you left Nick leave that night?” Nessa asked In disbelief.

Ignoring her , he turned to his little sister again “Pack your things Fedora , let us leavel” he added and she nodded before scurrying away.

“You have made a very big mistake, Nick,” his mum warned.

“You are taking my sister nowhere,” Nessa blurted angrily.

“Who will stop me?”Nick asked.

“You will regret what you are doing today, son” Mr Furgesson added.

“And I will enjoy watching you burn in the flames of my revenge” he replied smirking.

This was the perfect welcome back party, now it was time to get the real show started.