The Overpowered Son-in-law

An outsider is called back home

Three years ago, Lord Fitzpatrick Phoenix, head of the Phoenix family was poisoned at a gala event. 

He was admitted into a foreign hospital and was unconscious for days. 

The gala event was hosted by no other person but his favorite grandson, Nicholas. 

Nicholas had no idea about the poison but since he was the host of the gala, all accusing fingers fell on him. 

He was falsely accused by his family for poisoning Lord Fitzpatrick. 

A family trial was held to settle this issue. 

Due to their reputation, the Phoenix family chose not to involve the media nor the police.

Since Lord Fitzpatrick wasn't dead but unconscious, it was easier to resolve things without the outside world knowing. 

Nicholas was brought up before his family to defend himself over the allegations charged at him. 

"I didn't do it," Nicholas defended himself. "You all know me. I can never poison my grandfather. I love and respect him to do such evil to him."

"Shut up!" Nicholas uncle, Alfred snapped. "You're the host of the gala event. No one in our family is most closest to Lord Fitzpatrick than you."

"But that's not enough reason to pin the blame on me. Like I said, it wasn't me," Nicholas defended himself. 

"According to doctors report," Uncle Alfred spat. "Lord Fitzpatrick drink was poisoned. If we recall correctly, you were the one whom served him his drinks."

"Believe me," Nicholas nearly screamed. "It wasn't me. I never knew that drink was poisoned. This must be a set-up. I'm innocent."

"Well, no one believes that," Uncle Alfred said. "You did it, period."

Members of the Phoenix family agreed with Alfred and supported him against Nicholas. 

"Murderer!"

"Why would you do such evil to Lord Fitzpatrick!"

"What do you stand to gain. You're Lord Fitzpatrick favorite grandson!"

"Wicked soul."

Left, right and center, Nicholas faced many vile words and accusations from his family. 

But Nicholas still maintained he was innocent. There wasn't any proof that he was the one whom poisoned the drink. 

"Until proven guilty," Uncle Alfred continued. "You, Nicholas shall be stripped of your title as a member of the Phoenix family and become an outsider."

Nicholas couldn't believe this. No way were they doing that to him. 

"You cannot do that," Nicholas said. 

"Oh yes we can," Uncle Alfred said. "Unless you prefer dying for your crimes."

Becoming an outsider was worse thing that can ever happen to a Phoenix. It's worse than death itself. 

As an outsider, Nicholas would be kicked out without any money nor property to his name. 

In essence, he would never be able to answer the name Phoenix. He becomes exiled. 

As an outsider, all forms of connection would be cut off from him. He will suffer as a pauper for as long as he lives. 

Nicholas was stuck between two choices: become an outsider or death. 

If he chose death, he would be killed for his crimes. But he was innocent so he wasn't choosing death. 

There was no way he would die for a crime he didn't commit. Nicholas pride wouldn't let him dishonor his name. 

If he choose to become an outsider, he would suffer miserably in poverty for the rest of his life. 

His life would constantly be in danger from his rivals and his family as well because he is now recognized as an enemy. 

"Until proven guilty," Nicholas announced at last. "I shall become an outsider."

"Good!" Uncle Alfred nodded. "Very well. It shall be done."

To mark his new life as an outsider, Nicholas was stripped and given fifty lashes on his back.

Traditionally, this was the Phoenix family way of proclaiming Nicholas an outsider. 

Nicholas cried in pains from each whip lashes. No one came to his aid. Everyone laughed at him. 

Only his mother and youngest sister cried. 

He marked the faces of members of the family that laughed at his demise. 

They were his stepbrothers, his uncles his grandfather's youngest wives and a his cousins. 

Someone had set him up and that person was hiding amongst these people. He would find that person and ruin him. 

It's been three years since Nicholas chose this path. 

He went to Madam Elizabeth whom had close ties to his grandfather and told her his story. 

Madam Elizabeth took him in and married him to her granddaughter Kimberly.

And that was how he was able to survive over the years. An outsider cannot return back to his family. 

If he did, it  would warrant his death immediately. 

It was a miracle he had been summoned back to become the new lord of the Phoenix family. 

"How did this happen?" Nicholas asked Edgar whom was still on the line.

Edgar began explaining, "Lord Fitzpatrick woke up a few days ago from his long coma and told us the truth."

"He did?!" Nicholas exclaimed. "What did he say?"

"He cleared your name," Edgar replied. "He says you're innocent, young master. You weren't the one who poisoned him."

"Did he mentioned whom poisoned him?" Nicholas demanded. 

"There wasn't any time," Edgar's tone went sad. "Lord Fitzpatrick couldn't make it but before he died, he gave all the family wealth to you."

Nicholas didn't say anything. As Lord of the Phoenix family, he was worth five hundred billion dollars. 

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he glanced heavenwards and laughed. Why was he laughing?

Maybe it's because he was finally free. He was no longer an outsider but the Lord of the Phoenix family. 

After three long years, all his misfortunes were finally over. 

Nicholas kept laughing, rubbing his eyes with his hand as he reflected on the worse things he had passed through. 

Kimberly and Lady Carla were stepping out of the conference hall together when they saw Nicholas.  

"What's his deal?" Lady Carla snapped, her back stiff. "What's so funny?"

Nicholas didn't notice because he was laughing and was deeply absorbed in his thoughts. 

"Let's just leave, mother," Kimberly sighed, looking disappointed at her husband. "I'm so tired."

"No! I'm not leaving until I give this piece of trash a kick in his butt," Lady Carla said and marched up to Nicholas. 

She kicked him so hard at the butt with her feet that Nicholas fell down to the ground from the impact of the kick. 

Nicholas rolled over to see his mother-in-law breathing fire and brimstones. 

"What the hell are you laughing for?" Lady Carla demanded. "Are you making fun of us?"

Nicholas slowly rose to his feet, dusting himself. "Relax, mother-in-law. It's not what you think."

"Not what I think?" Lady Carla shouted. "Oh I see. You're happy Kimberly is getting married to George, isn't that right?"

"That's not it," Nicholas defended. "I'm very much against her marrying George than you are. She's my wife."

"Don't play dumb with us," Lady Carla spat at him. "You never loved Kimberly. If she gets married to George, you two would divorce. You're happy for your freedom."

"Mother-in-law—"

"I'm not your mother-in-law," she slapped him across his cheeks. "I never was and I never will. I'm so glad to be rid of you. You don't deserve Kim."

Nicholas held his cheeks but he didn't react. 

"Don't be happy about this, Nicholas," Kimberly said, tears welling in her eyes. "You've got no idea how much I hate this."

And she ran off. 

Lady Carla turned to Nicholas and cursed him. "I shall be kicking you out of my house soon enough. You just wait and see."

Then she ran off after Kimberly. "Kimberly, stop right there."

Nicholas lowered his hands from his cheeks.

"You misunderstand me, my beloved," he said quietly. "I'm not the same man I was a few minutes ago."

His phone buzzed again. It was Edgar. 

Nicholas stared at his phone but he didn't answer the call. 

Could it be true? Even in his wildest dreams he never imagined to be called back home. 

Then his mind went blank as a thought ran into his brain. 

"What if this was some prank from my enemy just so they could kill me?" Nicholas asked himself and shivered in fear.