The Secret Heir Husband

Birthday

Reeds Parker paced around the decorated birthday room, his phone plastered to his ears. 

He had been trying without success to get through to his wife for the past two hours. 

Just when he was about to give up, his wife's line went through. "Karyl," Reeds said. "Thank goodness you finally answered." 

"Two hours—you called me dozens of times. You’d better have a good explanation!" To Reeds’ surprise, Karyl’s voice was unusually cold. "Don’t you know I have extremely important work to do?”

"Today is our daughter's birthday, Karyl," Reeds said hurriedly, anxious she might hang up if she grew irritated with him. 

"What!" Karyl felt a surge of guilt wash over her—she had actually forgotten her beloved daughter's birthday.

But then, thinking about how she was always so busy while Reeds only had to concern himself with these trivial, sentimental holidays at home, her flicker of guilt vanished without a trace.

"Why didn’t you tell me a week in advance? Do you think everyone has as much free time as you do?" Karyl's voice was cold, leaving Reeds puzzled.

"I did tell you… You were on a call at the time and just said you got it," Reeds explained helplessly.

"Anyway, I can't make it back today. Just take care of it yourself—and don’t let our daughter think I’m a bad mother!"

Reeds clenched his jaws. "Wait! This isn't just about Seraphina, Karyl! I need you home tonight. There's something I want to confess to you." 

Karyl had no interest in hearing Reeds’ explanation. She hung up in a hurry, leaving nothing behind but the beeping of a disconnected line.

Reeds let out an exasperated sigh. Today was the day he planned to tell her the truth which he had held from her for six years. 

Reeds weren't as useless and poor as everyone had thought. He is the actual heir to the Higgins Billion dollar family. 

"Daddy, when is mommy coming home?” Seraphina, Reeds' five years old daughter asked. 

Looking at Serphina’s expectant little face, Reeds let out a sigh, then forced a smile and gently reassured her, “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I just called Mommy—she’ll be back soon.”

 Reeds led Seraphina to her birthday cake. "Blow and make a wish, first." 

Just as Seraphina blew out her candles, Reed's phone buzzed in his pocket. 

He brought out his phone to find he had received a text message from his wife's investor, Zayn Raymond. 

Zayn had a bad reputation, and Reeds had once warned Karyl to be cautious when working with him. But Karyl dismissed Reeds’ warning, even getting a little upset.

She thought Reeds was just being petty, trying to keep her away from other men by badmouthing Zayn on purpose.

However, Reeds had seen the way Zayn looked at Karyl more than once—his eyes filled with possessiveness and crude desire.

However, Zayn was Karyl's major investor and he was being treated like a god by her company's executives. 

As Reeds clicked on the message, his eyes landed on two unclear photos of his wife having a drink with Zayn at an exclusive bar alone.  He couldn't make out the subjects of the photos clearly because of its poor lighting. 

It captured his wife in a suggestive position with Zayn.

Heat rushed to Reed's face as he read the message caption: "I have claimed your wife. She's mine now." 

His wife was a respectable and decent woman. Even though Karyl despises him, she would never be seen outside with another man. 

Just to clear his doubt, he hurriedly called her. Her phone rang over and over again but she refused to answer. 

Reeds couldn't believe his eyes. How could she do this to him? How could she betray him like that? 

When he tried again, Karyl hung up and switched off her phone. Reed's heart pounded against his ribs as this confirmed his biggest fears. Still, he decided to retain the benefits of the doubt for Karyl. 

"It's probably photoshopped," Reeds reassured himself while taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. "I'll have to go check on her to be sure." 

"Daddy, are you alright?" Seraphina asked, looking concerned at her father. 

Reeds turned to her with a big smile on his face. He lifted her up. "Yes, I'm perfectly fine. It's just that your mother's car broke down. I'm going to pick her up." 

Seraphina looked excited. "Really? Mommy is finally coming home?" 

Reeds felt bad lying to her like this but he had to be sure his wife hadn't betrayed him. 

"That's right, pumpkin," Reeds took her upstairs and laid her in her room. "Just sleep tight. I'll be home in a jiffy with your mom." 

* * * * 

Stepping outside the three storey mansion, Reeds called the Higgins family. 

A fruity rich voice answered the call from the other line. "Good evening, young master. It's been a while." 

"Archibald," Reeds called. "I demand a car be prepared for me immediately." 

Archibald was the Higgins family's finest butler. He replied in a cool voice. "Very well. I shall make preparations straight away. " 

Reeds calmly put down the phone. Today was the day he returned to the family estate—he knew the butler had to be nearby, waiting on standby.

Soon, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge as the center car, two Mercedes-AMG G63, three Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, two Audi RS Q8, two Bentley Bentayga speed and two Lamborghini Urus. 

The doors opened and the men in black suits and dark glasses emerged out of the cars and bowed with their backs inclined to Reeds. 

"We are at your service, young master," they chanted in unison. 

Reeds dug his hands into his pockets, without any expression on his face. 

The Higgins family had a strict tradition that's been passed from generations. 

A child that's come of age must wander outside and grow until the age of twenty-five before inheriting the family's fortune. 

Reeds have just reached this age. 

Coincidentally, Reeds shares the same birthday date and month as his daughter, Seraphina. 

Until this very moment, Reeds had pretended to live the life of a poor, useless, househusband in order to hide his true identity. 

He had hoped to reveal his secret as a surprise to Karyl on their daughter's birthday. And yet, his wife had done such a thing to him.

"Take me to the Black Lotus Bar," Reeds ordered the men