Chapter 365
Summer’s POV
I shook my head, still in shock. “I didn’t know anything about this, I swear.”
“Liar!” she spat. “You’ve always been his favorite, always whispering in his ear, turning him against us!”
Andrew Phillips intervened. “Mrs. Taylor, I can assure you that these were Mr. Taylor’s wishes, expressed to me clearly and repeatedly over the years. He was quite adamant about the distribution of his assets.”
My father sank back into his chair, looking stunned.
As the reality of the situation began to sink in, I felt a strange mix of emotions. Grief for my grandfather, shock at his unexpected bequest, and a growing sense that he had given me not just shares in a company, but a final, powerful statement of his love and faith in me.
And somewhere beneath it all, a tiny flicker of something I hadn’t felt in days–purpose.
“It must have been you,” Elizabeth spun toward me, eyes narrowed to slits. “You must have done something, said something to him, right? That’s why the old man lost his mind and created this absurd will.”
Walter cleared his throat. “Mrs. Taylor, I must ask you to refrain from making baseless accusations. To suggest that I or my firm would participate in any manipulation of a client’s will is not only offensive but potentially libelous.”
“I don’t care!” my mother snapped, lunging forward and grabbing Walter’s arm. “You’re in this together, aren’t you? You and her conspired to alter my father–in–law’s will! How much did she pay you?”
Walter jerked his arm away, anger flashing across his face. “Mrs. Taylor, show some respect! I’ve been the Taylor family attorney for over twenty years. If you continue with these unfounded accusations, I will have no choice but to consider legal action for defamation.”
My father, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. Collins, can you absolutely guarantee the will? There’s no possibility of… irregularities?”
henticity of this
Walter straightened his jacket. “If you have doubts, Mr. Taylor, you’re welcome to hire another attorney to examine it. Or take this matter directly to court. I assure you, my firm will be more than prepared to defend the legitimacy of this document.”
He turned to me and Jenkins, giving us a slight nod before walking out.
I remained seated, trying to process everything. I hadn’t expected Grandpa to give all the shares to me alone instead of my father or Victoria.
My mother marched toward me. “You,” she hissed, “give everything back. Right. Now.”
I looked up at her, seeing the raw fury in her eyes. Before today, I would have gladly signed everything over without a second thought.
But looking at Elizabeth’s twisted expression, something shifted inside me. This woman has never shown me an ounce of motherly love,
What if I don’t?” I asked quietly.
Elizabeth’s eyes widened in shock. “Then you won’t be leaving this house today!”
Suddenly, through the windows, I could see men–at least a dozen–surrounding the mansion. They carried baseball bats and what
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Chapter 365
looked disturbingly like guns. The front door burst open, and several men entered, forming a circle around Jenkins and me.
“Summer,” Elizabeth said, voice dripping with false sweetness, ‘be reasonable. Just hand over Capital Corp’s shares, and we’ll let you leave without trouble. If not…he gestured toward the men. “Think carefully. You’re carrying a Stark heir in your belly. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to either of you, would you?”
I felt my eyebrows knit together in disbelief. I knew my mother was ruthless, but this? Threatening violence against her own pregnant daughter?
“What are you doing?” My father stared at Elizabeth in shock. “Have you lost your mind? Why are these men here?”
Elizabeth turned to him dismissively. “Don’t be naive, Richard. Are you going to let Capital Corp fall into this ungrateful girl’s hands? We have the advantage now–there are so many of us and just two of them.”
She turned back to me. “Last chance, Summer.”
I looked at my father, searching for any sign he might intervene, but he just stood there, silent. As always.
“Mrs. Taylor, do you honestly think I scare that easily?”
Elizabeth’s smug expression faltered.
“Richard,” I said, “I know you’ve always been weak, but even daughter with violence.”
Richard shifted uncomfortably but said nothing.
you must see how insane this is. She’s threatening your pregnant
Elizabeth nodded to one of the men. “Don’t be stubborn, Summer. Just sign the papers, and this will all be over.”
I straightened my spine. “This is what Grandpa left me, and I’m not giving it to you.”
“You leave me no choice,” Elizabeth snapped, gesturing to the men. Get her to sign.”
The men started closing in, but before they could take another step, the front door burst open again. A grou swarmed in, quickly disarming Elizabeth’s hired muscle. The thugs were on the ground in seconds.
Desmond, Brandon’s head of security, strode in calmly.
“Mrs. Stark,” he called out, “are you alright?”
I couldn’t help but smile at his perfect timing. “I’m fine, Desmond.”
men in black suits
Desmond nodded, then turned to the room. “Now, which one of you was planning to harm Mrs. Stark?” His voice was deceptively casual, but his eyes were cold as ice.
Elizabeth had gone pale, her legs visibly trembling.
Desmond walked toward her, cracking his knuckles. “So you’re the one who wanted to hurt our Mrs. Stark? You should know that Mr. Stark doesn’t take kindly to threats against his wife.”
Elizabeth’s face had lost all color. “I–I didn’t-”
“Save it,” Desmond cut her off. “Your hired help already sang like canaries outside.” He leaned closer. “If you ever think about hurting Mrs. Stark again, you’ll have to deal with me first.”
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Chapter 365
“Desmond, I called, “how’s Brandon? Is he okay?”
“Mr. Stark is in an emergency meeting right now. He sent me to escort you home safely.” He gestured to his men. “What would you like us to do with these… gentlenen?”
I looked at the thugs, then at Elizabeth and Richard. For a moment, considered letting them all go–but then I remembered the very real threat they’d posed not just to me, but to my unborn child
“Take them to the police station,” I said firmly. “All of them.”
Desmond nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. “As you wish, Mrs. Stark.”
As he led me toward the door, I couldn’t help but notice how nervous he seemed, constantly checking his watch and the surroundings. It was almost funny–Brandon’s most intimidating security chief, acting like an anxious babysitter.
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