The Underestimated Husband's Dominance

Chapter 4

Connor woke up slowly, his head pounding like someone had hit him with a hammer. His eyelids felt heavy, and for a few seconds, he couldn’t remember where he was or how he got there.

The bed under him was too soft, too big, and too clean. When his vision finally focused, he froze.

He wasn’t in any hospital ward. He wasn’t even in a place he recognized. 

He blinked again, his eyes darting around the enormous room. Everything looked grand, too grand. The bed could fit at least five people. The rug looked like something that belonged in a palace.

“Where… where the hell am I?” he muttered under his breath, pushing himself up weakly. His chest felt heavy, and his throat was dry.

Just then, a calm voice spoke from the corner.

“You’re awake, young master.”

Connor turned so fast he almost fell off the bed. His eyes widened when he saw the same man who had stopped the Rolls-Royce on the street, the one who picked him up when he had collapsed.

“You!” Connor pointed at him, his voice shaking. “Who are you? Why did you bring me here? What is this place?”

The man bowed slightly and reverently. “Please, young master, don’t be alarmed. You’re safe here.”

“Safe?” Connor snapped, trying to stand. “You drag me off the street and dump me in some strange mansion, and you expect me to believe I’m safe? Tell me the truth. Did you kidnap me?”

The man’s calm didn’t break. He stepped closer, keeping his hands where Connor could see them. “No, sir. You are not a prisoner. You’re home.”

Connor blinked. “What?”

“You’re home,” the man repeated. “The Winchester estate.”

Connor frowned, confused. “Winchester? Never heard of it. You must have the wrong person. My name is Connor Drayton.”

The man’s eyes softened, almost pitying. “No, young master. That name was given to you later. Your real name is Connor Winchester.”

Connor froze. “Come again?”

“You,” the man said slowly, “are Connor Winchester, the rightful heir to the Winchester Group of Companies. Everything in this house, and much more, belongs to you.”

Connor blinked a few times, then let out a short laugh that sounded half nervous and half angry. “Look, I don’t know what kind of scam this is, but you’ve got the wrong guy. I’m not some rich heir. I can barely afford food on my own without my wife’s support, and I’ve never even been near a mansion before today.”

The man who was stilll remaining calm, bowed slightly again. “Sir, my name is Harris Cole. I was your father’s personal assistant for over thirty years. Before he passed away, he made me promise to find you.”

Connor stared at him like he’d just spoken another language. “Find me? Why would anyone need to find me? I’ve been around all my life.”

Harris shook his head. “No, sir. You went missing. Your mother disappeared with you years ago.”

Connor’s eyebrows drew together. “What.. What are you talking about? That’s ridiculous. My mom and I lived a rough life, yes, but we were never missing. We lived in the open.”

Harris sighed deeply. “Your father, Eric Winchester, spent every day of his life searching for you both. He never gave up. He passed away two years ago, but he left everything in your name.”

Connor laughed again, but this time there was no humor in it. “You’re saying my father is some billionaire named Eric Winchester? Sorry to burst your bubble, but my dad died when I was born. I remember it clearly my mom explained everything to me. That was the beginning of our suffering.”

“Your father didn’t die when you were born,” Harris said gently. “He only passed away two years ago.”

Connor stared at him. “That can’t be true.”

“It is,” Harris replied quietly. “Your mother must have told you otherwise to protect you.”

“Protect me from what?” Connor asked sharply.

Harris didn’t answer immediately. He just looked at him with sympathy.

Connor stepped closer, his voice trembling. “You’re saying my mother lied? That’s not possible. She was all I had! She worked herself to the bone just to feed us. She told me everything about my father—how he died, how we lost everything. Don’t stand there and tell me it was all a lie.”

“I understand how you feel, sir,” Harris said softly, “but your mother didn’t tell you the full truth. She had her reasons. She was trying to protect you from your father’s enemies!”

Connor shook his head slowly, backing away. “No. You’re making this up. All of this. I don’t know what you want from me, but you’ve got the wrong man.”

Harris’s tone grew firm. “There is no mistake, Young Master. Everything your eyes see here—the mansion, the estate, the companies—belonged to your father, and now they belong to you.”

Connor’s lips parted, but no sound came out. He looked around the room again, trying to process it. “Me?” he said weakly. “All this… belongs to me?”

“Yes, young master,” Harris said, nodding.

Connor let out a shaky laugh. “This is crazy. Absolutely crazy.”

Harris reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out a small, old photograph. “Here,” he said, handing it over.

Connor took it hesitantly and looked down. His hands went cold.

In the picture was a man with a wide smile, a beautiful woman, and a little boy standing between them, laughing. The boy’s hair was messy and brown,just like his. The curve of his nose, the shape of his jaw. It was him when he was around age 15.

His voice came out small. “That’s… that’s me.”

His eyes moved to the woman again and his voice croacked, “That’s-that’s her… that’s my mom. But… how?”

“Yes, young master,” Harris replied quietly. “That’s you, with your parents. That picture was taken right here in this house on your 15th birthday before the incident happened.”

Connor stared at it, his mind racing. “I don’t remember this in particular,” he whispered. “I don’t remember any of it or when the picture was taken.”

“That is becuase a terrible incident happened after that,” Harris said. “But it’s real. Every bit of it.”

Connor’s throat tightened. “If all this is true, then why don’t I remember anything? Why didn’t my mother ever tell me?”

“Because something happened,” Harris said after a long pause. “Something that changed everything.”

Connor looked up sharply. “Something happened?”

Harris nodded slowly. “Yes, sir. On your fifteenth birthday.”

Connor frowned. “Tell me...”

Harris’ eyes darkened with bad memories. 

Connor’s mind spun. He could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears. “What happened that day?”