Chapter 34: The Widow Came Prepared

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Widow Came Prepared

Barrister Martins’ office was cold.

The air conditioner was humming loudly, but it did nothing to cool the anger in the room. Flora sat on one chair. Andrew sat on the other chair, facing her. Between them was Barrister Martins’ big wooden table, filled to the brim with office files. Barrister Martins himself sat comfortably watching his clients,he decided to allow them to talk.

She held her handbag tightly on her lap. Her eyes were red. She was ready for Andrew and would not give him a chance again despite the fact that he is her late husband brother, she intends to use everything within her power to put him in his place.

Andrew was not sitting calmly. He was leaning forward and pointing his finger at Flora. His face was hard.

"Flora, listen to me and listen well," Andrew said. His voice was loud. "You should make up your mind. You still have time to the 90 days. I strongly believe you know what your late husband wrote in his will and the consequences that comes with it if you fail to comply"

Flora looked away, making him feel almost invisible "I know what he wrote and how does that affect my life, do I look like a woman that can be bought,I have built myself strongly because of predators like you, so you dare not threaten me with words that exists only on papers, and if you think that I will allow you reap from where you did not sow, you must be dreaming,its obvious, you do not have a broad knowledge of what is about to befall you,when real men were toiling, you were playing chess, now you feel you can have a property you did not labor for, you won’t get a pin,I don’t mind extending this case to any level, until justice is served"

Barrister Martin asked them to calm down and avoid arguing. He said everyone is entitled to their opinion and Andrew and Flora should take it easy, but obviously Flora came prepared and was not ready to surrender.

"No, I don’t think you know what will befall you too" Andrew continued. "If you do not comply in accordance with the will, the court will be left with no option than to release the houses in Manchester,the companies, including the money in the secret accounts to me .You will not get a single pound. Is that what you want? Or do you want to get the world involved and probably you will be forced to accomplish your husband’s will?"

Flora finally looked at him. Her voice was small but angry. "Forced? Who will force me into marriage with you, Andrew? At my level of accomplishment and age? You must be dreaming. You have no shame. I know you have always lusted after me, your late brother’s wife, look at you, overheating like a loose dog. You wanted me, you have always wanted me. Do you think that I have forgotten the petty gifts that you anonymously send to me through strangers. Oh! you think that I would not find out that it was you all these years? Now you sit here to challenge me, you have grown wings. but don’t worry,I know how to reward a manipulative traitor like you".

Andrew laughed, but it was not a happy laugh. " Flora, You came from nowhere and married my brother. You have enjoyed everything for years. Now you should do your duty. Since you did not bear Darwin a son. You have no option than to marry me to continue his lineage. That is the agreement. A male child must carry the name."

That word hit Flora like a stone. She stood up from her chair.

"That is enough, Andrew! Enough!" she shouted. Her chest was rising fast. "I did not bear Darwin a son but I have a daughter who is more than enough. Do you understand?Do you think I did not want a male child? Do you think I enjoyed waking up everyday with one baby playing in the house? Oh! you thought it was my fault?" One more statement from you again,I will make sure these arguments turn into a case that you will regret for the rest of your life ." Dare me again, Andrew!

Andrew also stood up. His legs and hands were shaking "Whose fault was it then? My brother was a complete man. You are such a mean woman, you never wanted your body to change with another pregnancy" He continued to rant in low tone.

Outside the office, Simon was standing. He could hear everything. His fists were tight. He wanted to enter, but he knew Flora had told him to wait outside. He pressed his back against the wall and listened. He was worried about Flora.

Inside, Andrew’s face changed. He was shocked for one second, then he became even more angry.

Andrew continued. "My brother has a son outside that you don’t know about. He told me himself before he died. So don’t tell me it wasn’t your fault . If he could have a son outside, it means you are the one with the problem."

Flora adjusted her legs. She sat down again. "A secret son? What are you saying? Darwin has a son? It’s not possible?"

"Yes," Andrew said, feeling powerful now. "He has a son.That is why you must marry me to prove you are still fertile. Only I can give you that chance.If that boy appears, you will lose everything anyway. Marry me before it’s late, and I will protect."

Flora looked at Andrew . Her thoughts were running fast. A secret son? My husband had another woman? Another child? What does he mean? What do men really want? Could it be that Andrew cooked this up story to back up his frustration? Darwin cannot father another child after I gave birth to Maya,his medical report clearly stated it... How did he do it? What a secret!...

She was whispering to herself, "What a man cannot do does not exist. Darwin could not confide in me,I never stopped him from marrying a second wife ?"

Flora sat on the chair but her mind was running like a wild horse.

She remembers the constant traveling. Strange calls in the middle of the night. Secret meetings that Darwin never explained. She had always thought it was business, that her husband was just a busy man trying to protect his empire. But now, listening to Andrew’s utterances,she started to doubt everything.

If these claims are actually true, she thought, it means Darwin had so many secrets she never knew. She had mourned him all these years,crying every night, but maybe she had been mourning a stranger all along.

Could this have been their plan all these years? She asked herself. Could Andrew and his people plan this from the beginning, just waiting for Darwin to die so they could come and fight her for everything?

Her chest became tight with pain and anger.

She looked up at Andrew, the sadness in her heart turned to pure hatred.

"No," she whispered, her voice was shaking badly.

Her eyes were red, but now they were filled with fire.

She would fight him with the last drop of her blood, she told herself. Even if they produce a thousand sons and claim they are Darwin’s,if they bring a thousand papers, she will make sure all of them fall and are completely disgraced in their own shame.

She looked straight into Andrew’s eyes and said to herself "Let the battle begin. I am not afraid of anyone, even if this war stands the taste of time,I can never give up,in my world impossibility does not exist"

Her hands were still shaking, but her heart was now as strong and solid as stone, ready for war and final victory.

Andrew looked at Flora and smiled in his heart. He was happy. He could see that the new development had calmed her down a little.

For hours, she has been acting like a lioness. But now, that he told her about Darwin’s secret wife and the child, her voice is now low. Her calmness says it all .She has woken up to reality,more secrets are on the way..He smiled again.

That is exactly what he wanted to see.

Flora thinks that having money means she has everything, he thought. She thinks that because she is living in a big mansion, spending Darwin’s money, and driving expensive cars, she is powerful. She thinks money can buy respect and protection.

But she does not know anything about real life, Andrew continued in his mind. If Darwin’s secret wife comes out from hiding and decides to cook a full pot of trouble, with children, lawyers, family members, and old secrets, can Flora eat and finish that pot all alone?

Money is not wisdom. Money is not strength. Let’s watch and see what she will do.If trouble starts now, will her money really save her? He smiled quietly again. This battle has just started, and he will surely frustrate her until he wins.

Before Andrew could think another word, there was a knock on the door,the office door opened.

Everyone turned.