Chapter Six

Brian's mouth hung open at the revelation. 

The Addams were the highest-ranking and wealthiest of all other families in the city, known for their company, L.A.K.E Conglomerate.

They had been around in the country for a long time, breeding generations. They were so popular that you couldn't be a citizen of the country without knowing them.

But the whole family, except an old member, was assassinated and their corpse was posted on the internet.

Before he died, the survivor transferred the rights of ownership to the Lennox family, a family that had a history of friendship with the Addams. A few days after the transfer of ownership, the old man died. Being the last member of the Adams family, his death marked the end of the Addams family.

Brian read this exact story on the internet during research for an assignment. The Adams family were all dead so what was Edward saying? How could he be an Addams?

Brian stifled a laugh. "Nice joke Dad."

He glanced at Edward's face which didn't express any iota of jest. Brian's smile wavered. "Wait, you are serious?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" retorted Edward.

"But you must be joking." Brian crossed his arms on his chest. "I saw their bodies on TV when I was ten. It's also on the internet. Every one of them is gone."

"Not everything you read on the internet or social media is true, you know," Edward replied flatly.

"You can't certainly be...OK. Let's assume you are right and there is one member of the family left alive, there's no way it would be you. You are an Ashton, not an Addams." Brian debated.

After all, isn't it from his father that he got his surname from?

Edward glanced at Rosanna who just stood down the whole time, staring at her hands while fidgeting them. 

"We should tell him." He said.

"Tell me what?" Brian turned to his mother. "Mum, what is he talking about?" 

Rosanna slowly looked up, her green eyes filled with guilt. "Brian," she spoke softly and paused. 

Brian approached her and placed his hands on her shoulder. "Mum, what is it you want to tell me?"

"Please don't hate me for what I'm about to tell you but Ashton isn't your real surname." 

Brian narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Ashton is my surname, not your father's." 

Brian's hand dropped from her shoulders, being hit by the confession. "What?"

"I'm sorry, Brian but I..." Rosanna started to say but Brian cut her off.

"This is outrageous. First I find out my father, who I thought was dead is alive and I also find out my surname isn't my surname and..." He stopped and stared at Rosanna directly in her eyes which were starting to tear up. "Has my whole life been a lie mum?" 

"I'm sorry. I had to lie about that to keep you safe. I..." Rosanna's statement was cut off by a choke as a teardrop slid down from her eyes.

Brian's eyes softened, seeing his mother cry. He drew closer to her and wiped the teardrop with his thumb. "Hey, hey. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I'm sorry." She croaked.

Brian hugged her. He loathed seeing his mother cry, even the slightest drop of tears. "It's okay. Stop crying."

Rosanna sniffled, still in his embrace. "I'm alright."

Edward cleared his throat as if to remind them he was still there.

Brian slowly left his mother and shot Edward an angry look, before it softened. "So, you are telling the truth?"

Edward nodded.

That means Edward actually owned L.A.K.E Conglomerate. His heart began beating with excitement. He was the son of a billionaire. 

But some things weren't still clear to him. 

He asked. "I don't get it. I saw the Addams family corpse on the internet."

"One of those bodies was a dummy."

"But why did you lie and hide your existence?"

"It was better to remain hidden than to reveal myself after two years of the absence of the family. I was the last descendant. Enemies would know that I'm the remnant of the family and try to eliminate me, killing our bloodline. So, I decided to remain hidden to preserve our bloodline," explained Edward.

Brian paused, processing this information.

"What happened to the family?" asked Brian. He had loads of other questions but decided to ask this one next.

"They were victims of an assassination carried out by unknown people. I and my grandfather survived but I ended up in a coma for a year and a half." Edward replied.

Brian could hear the sadness in his voice. He couldn't imagine losing his mother. He would go crazy if it happened. Meanwhile, his father lost his whole family. Maybe he had misjudged him.

Edward continued. "When I woke up from the coma, my grandfather told me what happened. We decided to show the public corpse of our family to settle their curiosity. Mine was represented with a dummy. Then before he died, he announced to the public that rights of ownership of the properties of the Addams family had been transferred to the Lennox family. But it was fake. We didn't transfer everything. After my grandfather died, everyone was now convinced that the whole family was gone."

Brian felt more sympathy for his father. "I'm sorry about that." 

Edward shrugged. "It's alright. After all this, I worked in secret with Richard to raise the company to a high level. But we are not here to tell these stories. Brian, you and your mother are here because you are both Addams."

Brian sighed. He already knew this the moment his mother confessed Ashton wasn't his real surname. But he wasn't expecting what Edward said next. 

"But you are not just an Addams. You are the heir of the Addams family."

Brian's brows scrunched. "What?"

"Brian, you are the only son the family has now. There's no one else to inherit the properties apart from you. So, you are the heir of the family. You'll inherit all the wealth one day."

Brian gaped at him. So all these while he had been living in suffering, he had been the heir of the great Addams family. This could be the happiest day of his life.

"Wow!"

Rosanna smiled. "That's great."

It was great indeed. After living in poverty for so long, he was now wealthy. His mother can finally get the life she deserves. He nearly smiled until his father said.

"Does this mean we are on good terms now?" Edward asked hopefully.

Brian's smile wavered. "Good terms? Are you kidding me?" 

He couldn't forget why they suffered in the first place. It was all because his father left his mother when she was pregnant. 

Since his mother told him this, he had hated his father. And now, even though his father had told him he was the heir to the family and was rich, he couldn't just forget this and stop hating him.

Edward frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Let's not forget the fact that you left us to cater for ourselves. Do you know what we went through? Do you even care about us?"

"But I already told you. I was in a coma." Edward was beginning to regret asking that question.

"I know and I'm sorry for that. But that was like two decades ago and you woke up from it. Did you try to find us?"

"I did, Brian. I did. I sent my men to every nook and cranny of the country to look for the both of you."

"And you never found us until now?"

"I...I, " Edward stuttered then sighed. "I found you guys last three years."

Brian scoffed. "Three years? And you didn't bother to take us ?"

"You have no idea how happy I was when I found you both. I wanted to hug you and bring you both home. But... I had second thoughts. It was better to live your normal life."

Brian scoffed. "I can't believe this. You thought it was better to suffer?"

"No, that's not what I meant. It would have been dangerous for you if I took you home. I don't want you to get caught up in the pressure of being the heir until you have graduated and are ready."

Brian snapped. "And by being ready you mean living in poverty?"

"Brian..." Edward tried to speak but Brian was on a roll.

"Do you even know the struggles we went through? My mother suffered just to cater for me. I also suffered. All because of you."

"I knew. That's why I appointed Melanie and Charlene to be with you and protect you. I usually give them money to help you but you always refuse them."

Brian glanced at Melanie and Charlene who stood by the door. He recalled all the time Melanie and Charlene had offered to help him financially but he refused their offer, though he accepted some. So, it had been his father giving them the whole time?

Edward continued. "I'm deeply sorry for everything you went through. But that's all in the past now. I can make up for everything. What do you want? Money, cars, house, mansion? I have all that and more. Just mention whatever you want and you'll get it." Edward sounded desperate.

Brian paused again, trying to collect his thoughts. He wanted the riches but he also didn't want to forgive Edward just like that.

While he was still thinking, the door yanked open.