RISE OF BETRAYED SON-IN-LAW

3. They Came Again

"Is there anything else you need, Mr. Oliver?"

"Who are you?" Oliver asked straight to the point with a suspicious expression on his face.

The man in front of Oliver extended his hand without changing his flat expression.

"Michael William. You can call me Michael, Mr. Oliver. I am your personal secretary," Michael said firmly.  

Oliver looked at Michael's outstretched hand for a split second. He silently tried to remember whether he had met Michael or not. Although, no matter how much he tried to remember, he couldn't find any moments of meeting Michael.

"I don't shake someone's hand randomly," Oliver said without giving a smile.

Michael closed his palm before withdrawing his hand. He curved a lopsided smile at Oliver, indicating his interest in the man.

"Your character is exactly like Mr. Liam Benjamin Moore. Mr. Liam would be very happy to see you, his son, after all these years," Michael said.

Oliver frowned in astonishment after hearing Michael's words.

"What exactly are you talking about? My father died four years ago. Don't make up ridiculous things," said Oliver.

Michael flinched for a moment. During that time, his intense gaze at Oliver implied that he had a lot to say.

"Twelve years ago, Mr. Liam and Mrs. Grace, your mother, were forced to give you up to an orphanage. The Moore Family Company was in a tense situation due to business competition, leading some enemies among their business relations to attack members of the Moore Family," Michael began to explain slowly.  

Hearing that brief explanation, Oliver was speechless. Oliver didn't fully believe what Michael was saying. But somehow, there was no lie on Michael's face.

"I understand you won't be able to trust my words right away, but I've told you my truth," Michael answered the suspicion implied behind Oliver's face.

Oliver, who felt that his head was already very dizzy, finally let out a rough breath.

"All right. I'm very grateful for your help in paying off the arrears of my mother's medical bills and funeral expenses. I will reimburse you-"

Before Oliver could finish his sentence, Michael suddenly chuckled. It was only a short laugh but Oliver felt instantly offended.

"Are you laughing at me?" Oliver asked, feeling insulted.

Michael shook his head. "Absolutely not, Mr. Oliver. I just find your words ridiculous because it's not my money, but Mr. Liam's."

Oliver immediately frowned, then replied, "I'll still reimburse him. I don't want to be indebted to anyone."

"Then, you can return Mr. Liam's money now."

Oliver was momentarily stunned with surprise.

"What do you mean, now? I don't have the money for that," Oliver retorted.

Michael then took out his cell phone and showed Oliver a message. The sender was Mr. Liam, it read: If Oliver wants to return the money given to him, give him a deadline of the day.

After Oliver read the message, he gulped down his saliva. His throat was instantly choked. He glanced again at Michael who seemed to be asking what he was going to do through his eyes.  

"How can you return Mr. Liam's money in just one day?" Michael asked deliberately challenging.  

Oliver sighed heavily. "I'll see Mr. Liam after my mother's funeral is over. I want to negotiate with him."

Michael raised both eyebrows in a sign of being challenged by Oliver's courage. He finally agreed to the deal.

For one whole day Michael accompanied Oliver without intending to leave, the funeral process of Jane, Oliver's mother, was held. Oliver had contacted his mother's closest relatives but no one picked up the phone.  

Oliver was worried that no one would come to Jane's funeral but him.

Until the umpteenth phone call he tried to make, it turned out that none of Jane's relatives picked up. Everything just seemed to disappear.

"Mr. Oliver. Is Mrs. Jane's funeral possible? If it is, we will give Mrs. Jane's body to you," one of the nurses asked.

Oliver immediately fell silent. He remembered that he no longer had a place to live. He had been evicted from the small house he had rented before his marriage to Lily.

Meanwhile, none of his mother's relatives picked up the phone. Oliver had no place to house his mother's body so that it could continue to the funeral process.  

"Please give us a little more time. There will be our relatives coming," Oliver said.

Michael looked at Oliver strangely and suspiciously. For some reason, the concern Oliver felt was a bit off-putting.  

"Why didn't you let your mother's body be returned to your home?" asked Michael.

With some pressure and a whisper, Oliver replied, "I've been evicted from the house I rented. Do you want to pay for it?"

Actually, Oliver wasn't really asking Michael to pay the rent. But Oliver just wanted to test Michael.

Instead of realizing that Oliver was just joking, Michael was silent for a while. Before Michael finally held back the hospital nurse who wanted to walk away from the two of them.

"Wait, Mrs. Jane's body can be sent home tonight for the funeral process tomorrow," Michael said, surprising Oliver.  

Oliver frowned sharply. "What are you saying?!"

Michael, who was indifferent to Oliver, took out his cell phone and called someone. It only took a few seconds for the call to be picked up.

"Hello, Mr. Liam. I apologize for calling you so suddenly, but Mr. Oliver needs your mansion as a place for his business."

Oliver widened his eyes. He had not said that to Michael at all. Why would Michael make up something to someone named Mr. Liam?!

"Michael, I didn't—"

Oliver stopped talking when Michael ended the call.

With a relaxed expression, Michael looked at Oliver. He said, "Mr. Liam has agreed to help you. Mrs. Jane's body can be delivered to Mr. Liam's mansion tonight, and then buried tomorrow."

"No, Michael. I don't need Mr. Liam's help."

"Then how long are you going to wait for your mother's relatives?" Michael quipped.

"Give me fifteen more minutes," Oliver said trying to persuade.

Michael nodded his head to Oliver.

Unfortunately fifteen minutes had passed, but still none of the next of kin picked up Oliver's phone call.

After the last call was forcibly hung up, Oliver immediately let out a long sigh.  

"Alright. I must accept your offer, Michael," Oliver replied in a resigned tone.

Michael smiled with satisfaction. "I advised you to follow me."

Oliver didn't answer. Just as they were about to walk away, Oliver's eyes noticed the arrival of four familiar men.

At first Oliver was unsure of his own vision. But soon, as the four familiar men moved closer, Oliver froze. He realized who the four men were.

"Oliver! Hey, do you still want to keep running away from your debts?!"