Orphaned Son-in-law is Billionaire Heir

Ch. 2 - Hidden Wealth

Connor stared at the black card in his trembling hands, the weight of one hundred billion dollars almost incomprehensible.

"Young Master," Jimmy said softly, "there are instructions for the Jarrah Properties handover. The company is now legally yours."

"I can't... I can't accept this," Connor whispered, though his voice lacked conviction.

Jimmy pulled out a business card. "When you're ready, call this number. The lawyers are waiting." He paused at the door. "Your mother truly regrets what happened, Young Master. The family knows they failed you."

"Failed me?" Connor's voice cracked. "They destroyed me when all I wanted was to save this place!"

"And now you can save it properly," Jimmy replied before disappearing into the night.

Connor looked around the care home, watching elderly residents finally sleeping peacefully with full bellies, children clutching new toys. His heart warred between pride and pragmatism.

"Nana Eucalyptus," he called softly to the supervisor. "Are you certain the donation covers everything we need?"

The elderly woman beamed. "Oh yes, dear! We have enough for months of proper meals, medical supplies, new bedding—everything! It's a miracle!"

Connor pocketed the black card, his decision made for now. The care home was safe; that was what mattered most.

The Kuranda family house buzzed with tension when Connor stepped through the front door. Wonga Kuranda stood in the living room like a vengeful storm cloud, arms crossed and face twisted with disgust.

"Well, well, well," Wonga snarled. "Look what the garbage truck dumped on our doorstep again."

Connor said nothing, moving toward the stairs.

"Don't you dare walk away from me, you worthless maggot!" Wonga shrieked. "We need to talk about your pathetic display at Elder Dundarra's birthday!"

Kirra appeared at the top of the stairs. "Mother, please—"

"Please nothing! Your husband is a parasitic worm who tried to steal from our family!" Wonga pointed at Connor like he was contaminated filth. "Five hundred thousand dollars! Can you imagine the audacity of this cockroach?"

Connor stopped, his jaw clenched. "I was trying to help people in need."

"Help people?" Wonga cackled maniacally. "You're an orphanage janitor! You clean up other people's messes because that's all you're good for!"

Bandicoot emerged from the kitchen, grinning maliciously. "I heard about last night. Cousin Kirra's pet beggar made quite the scene!"

"He's not my pet," Kirra said firmly, descending the stairs.

"No? Then what is he?" Bandicoot laughed. "A trained monkey who performs tricks for scraps?"

Wonga stepped closer to Connor, her voice dripping with venom. "You are nothing but dead weight dragging my daughter down! A useless leech sucking the life out of this family!"

"That's enough, Mother!" Kirra snapped.

"Enough? I haven't even started!" Wonga turned to her daughter. "Kirra, divorce this human garbage immediately!"

"I won't divorce Connor."

"Why not? What could you possibly see in this bottom-feeding slug?"

Bandicoot snorted. "Maybe she likes charity cases. You know how some people adopt stray dogs?"

"At least stray dogs have loyalty," Wonga spat. "This parasite just wants to raid our bank accounts for his little orphan playground!"

Connor's hands balled into fists, but he remained silent.

"Look at him!" Bandicoot pointed mockingly. "Standing there like a beaten mutt who knows he's about to be put down!"

"You want to know why I won't divorce him?" Kirra's voice rose. "Because marrying Connor was MY idea in the first place!"

Wonga's face went pale. "What?"

"I needed a husband to run the family business according to our traditional rules, remember? Connor agreed to help me when no one else would!"

"That doesn't mean you have to stay married to this dung beetle forever!" Wonga shrieked.

Bandicoot laughed coldly. "So you're telling us you're keeping this worthless insect around out of... what? Gratitude?"

"I'm keeping him around because I choose to," Kirra said firmly.

"Choose to?" Wonga's voice hit a pitch only dogs could hear. "Choose to harbor a money-grubbing termite who embarrasses our family at every opportunity?"

"Mother, stop calling him names!"

"Names? I'm being generous! This walking pile of refuse deserves worse!"

Connor finally spoke, his voice quiet but steady. "I'll go upstairs."

"Yes, crawl away like the spineless worm you are!" Wonga shouted after him. "And remember—one more stunt like last night and I'll throw you out myself!"

In their bedroom, Connor spread his thin blanket on the floor beside the bed. This had been their arrangement since the marriage—Kirra got the bed, he got the floor.

Kirra sat on the edge of the mattress, watching him with troubled eyes. "Connor, about what my mother said..."

"She's right," Connor said quietly. "I am just an orphanage helper. I have nothing to offer you."

"That's not true."

Connor looked up from his makeshift bed. "Isn't it?"

Kirra reached into her purse and pulled out several hundred-dollar bills. "Here. Take this for the care home."

Connor's hand instinctively moved toward the black card hidden in his pocket, then stopped. "Keep your money, Kirra. The care home doesn't need it anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"We... we received a donation today. A large one. The children and elderly residents will be fine."

Kirra's shoulders sagged with relief, then tensed again. "Connor, there's something else. The Jarrah Properties situation is getting worse."

"What happened?"

"I've been trying to buy that building downtown for months. It's perfect for our new office expansion, but they keep refusing our offers." Her voice cracked with frustration. "Every time I call, they say the property isn't for sale to the Kuranda family."

Connor's hand instinctively moved toward his jacket pocket where the ownership documents lay hidden. If only she knew, he thought. I own the very building she's trying to buy.

"Maybe... maybe they'll change their mind," he said carefully.

"They won't. I've tried everything—higher offers, different negotiators, even having Elder Dundarra call personally. They just won't work with us."

"Why is this building so important?"

"Because without expansion, our business will stagnate. And if I can't grow the company..." Kirra's voice trailed off.

"What?"

"Mother will have grounds to force me to step down. She'll say I'm incompetent, that I need to remarry someone who can actually help the business succeed."

Connor sat up straighter. "She can't do that."

"She can and will. Connor, I married you because I needed a husband to run the business, but I've stayed married to you because..." She paused, looking vulnerable. "Because somewhere along the way, this stopped being just a business arrangement for me."

The confession hung in the air between them.

"The Jarrah Properties deal could save everything," Kirra continued. "But I'm starting to think it's impossible."

Connor looked at his wife—really looked at her. The stress lines around her eyes, the way her shoulders carried the weight of family expectations, the quiet desperation in her voice. Tomorrow, I'll visit Jarrah Properties, he decided silently. I'll find a way to help her without revealing the truth.

"I'm sorry you're going through this," Connor said softly.

Kirra managed a weak smile. "It's not your fault. You didn't ask to marry into this mess."

If only you knew what I could do for you, Connor thought, touching the hidden black card in his pocket. But not yet. Not until I figure out how to do this without destroying everything.

"Just... try to get some sleep," he said aloud. "Things might look different tomorrow."

Connor pulled his thin blanket higher, his mind racing with plans. Tomorrow, everything would change—but Kirra wouldn't know it was him making it happen.