THE RISE OF THE SECRET HEIR

Staring pointedly at the document before him, Arthur’s brows raised in confusion and suddenly, it melted into realization.Before him was an annulment of the one-month marriage between him and Claire. Claire was his wife, the woman he fell in love with two years ago. The same woman he proposed to a year ago while struggling to make ends meet.Slowly, Arthur looked up to meet the gaze of a dark man. Another hefty man was looming over him. They both looked dangerous but Arthur couldn't comprehend what the men had to do with his marriage with Claire.Before he could say anything, the man in front of him snapped at him in a gruff voice. “Sign that.”He was pointing at the document with a crooked finger. Arthur followed the direction of his hand before shaking his head vehemently.“No, why should I?” Rage bubbled in the man’s eyes. Suddenly, he snorted and yelled again. “Sign that!”Even though Arthur was scared of his physique, he didn't do as he was told. He was trying to figure out wha

If there was one thing Arthur regretted in his life at the moment, that was crossing paths with Claire and falling head over heels in love with and dating her then marrying her.The only thing he felt was pure hatred for the woman he had thought he would love for a lifetime till death.Before he met her, his regrets were being born to his parents. They abandoned him so he hated them. He had always wished he had different parents, parents who would be proud to have a child like him and show him to the world, not parents like his who were ashamed to show him to the entire world.Now the hatred had been transferred to Claire.As he limped home with his eyes almost closed shut from the stinging pain, a car sped past him making the pond of water on the street of his home splash on his already dirty trousers.He had only changed his shirt this morning while he was in a hurry to get home. He didn't change his pants which he had worn since the day before. Arthur stopped walking, and stared a

He had no idea how long he had been asleep. The first thing he saw when he flickered his eyes open was the white beard of the man from earlier.He was peering down at him.He was still there even after Arthur had told him to leave.The guard too was present. Arthur could see him as soon as he turned his face to the side. He was standing outside now but Arthur could see him from the half-transparent door.“I see you are awake, your Father wants to talk to you”, he said eagerly, stretching a phone at him.Arthur glared at the phone for a while before shifting his gaze to the old man.His grand-uncle.Does this mean everything is true? Is that why this man is still here? He asked within him.A part of him wanted to grab the phone and glue it to his ear to hear the voice of the man who birthed him. Another part of him wanted to remain anonymous to the man he had hated all his life.He didn't know what to do. Whether to forgive and accept this new life or refuse to be used.That was what h

It was Marianna. The boy-looking woman was also his sister. He was older than her but her physique made him scared. He thought she was the lady of the house.“What the hell are you doing? Arthur is your elder brother.”“So what? We don't know who he is for years and now he makes an appearance. Who knows if he is even an imposter!”“What?!” Diana walked in too standing right beside her sister. Graciela who was seated all along also stood up.“You were here all along yet you allowed him to touch our father? What if he was here to kill him?” Marianna shouted at his sister who jerked backwards in terror.“I am as good as dead. Arthur is my son. Can't you see the resemblance?” The father answered, forcing himself to keep up with the conversation. The three girls were his headache.“You don't look alike, Father. He must be an imposter. We should send him away”, Diana suggested, folding her arms around her bosom. Marianna was still glaring at Arthur.Trying to summon up enough courage, Ar

Everything happened so fast to Arthur. His situation. His father's funeral. And finally, the reading of the will happening in the large living room of the Craigs.Marianna was sitting on the Golden chair where their father used to sit when he was alive. She seemed to be passing information to everyone including Arthur.She was the first legitimate child of the Craigs. She ought to be the heiress to everything.Arthur was calm. He hadn't fully recovered from the blow of his father's death. He cried for weeks before reality finally kicked in that the man he had just gotten to know was indeed gone, never to be seen again.He was now an orphan just a few days after knowing he wasn't orphaned and his family was alive. He had accepted the bitter-sweet fruit fate had thrown at him.The door opened and the lawyer Arthur met at the funeral two days ago strode in wearing a black suit with a briefcase dangling beside him.Everyone adjusted in their seats in anticipation except Arthur. He was le