Chapter 244 The Will
That night.
The restlessness lingered in the air— and little Charles wasn't immune.
Ever since he stumbled upon the morning's trending debacle of his mother and the nefarious dad, his attention stayed hooked. The afternoon's indiscretions, for a child like Charles, packed an overwhelming punch.
He tiptoed out of his bed, gravitating towards his sister's room.
The gloom from her trip to Chicago seemed to have lifted after her call with Darwin. Joy had blossomed over her—so much so, that her tranquil slumber was painted with a smile.
Charles watched her, lost in deep contemplation.
*
On the internet, the rumor mill churned tirelessly. The tale of Darwin’s new bride and the supposed stand-in for Secretary Woods had been the stuff of rampant speculation for two days straight. Despite the buzz, the Solomon PR team, and the Solomon family at large remained silent. The identity of the woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Secretary Woods? A mystery no one seemed eager to claim.
Interest on the internet ebbs as swiftly as it flows. Soon enough, new headlines emerged, and the whispers grew faint.
That evening...
When Darwin entered, the house was bustling with Solomons—both the extended and the immediate. It seemed anyone who could, did attend. And for good reason, it was the will reading for Mrs. Solomon.
Everyone knew the Solomons were wealthy, but Mrs. Solomon’s riches dwarfed theirs. Even the spare change she found in the couch cushions could support an ordinary family for years.
Who wouldn’t yearn for a piece of that?
The Annistons were there, of course. Ever since the revelation that Darwin's illegitimate child had come from her own womb, Mrs. Anniston's hair had turned a ghostly white overnight. Her spirit darkened, and the will to maintain her figure waned. Now, she bore little resemblance to her former self, utterly transformed in her newfound heft.
Upon laying eyes on Darwin, fury smoldered in her gaze, as if she longed to tear him limb from limb.
Her husband, by contrast, seemed unruffled.
It had surfaced through her sleuthing that he suffered from a low sperm count, a reality he knew all too well. The true paternity of the child she carried was likely no secret to him. Yet, for the opulence his mother provided, he turned a blind eye.
As for the will's pronouncement, it seemed of little concern to him—largely because, well before the old lady had lost her faculties, she had discreetly granted him a substantial inheritance. She had understood Darwin's cold disposition and, with her son's future haunting her thoughts, sought to ensure his security once she was gone.
Mrs. Anniston seethed with an unyielding hate.
As a native English-speaking translator and an acclaimed American novelist, here is the translation of your novel excerpt:
The old woman had made her life miserable, never treating her like a human being, and in the end, the only thing she left to her son was a trust fund. That wretched trust had nothing to do with her—Anniston.
"The gang's all here, counselor. Let's hear it," someone called out.
Darwin sat down with a gesture, signaling the silver-haired lawyer with an imperceptible nod. This particular lawyer had been with the Solomon family for years; most of them were familiar with his face.
He nodded slightly, acknowledging the room, and produced the notarized will.
As for the division of wealth, Mrs. Solomon left her entire stake in the Solomons to Darwin. Movable assets and financial products were transformed into a family trust fund. Should any family member encounter difficulties while starting a business or pursuing education, they could apply for assistance from the fund, provided they met the criteria.
The remaining real estate was almost entirely bequeathed to Darwin as well, with the exception of a villa left to Anniston.
Anniston felt not one iota of gratitude. To her, it felt like the bitter old woman was tossing scraps to a beggar.
After the shares, moveable and unmovable assets, and financial products were handled, it came time to distribute what everyone wanted a piece of—the jewelry collection.
"The entirety of Grandma Solomon’s antique and jewelry collection shall be inherited by Miss Fiona," the lawyer stated in a detached tone.
"What?" Anniston could no longer sit still.
The tragic turn in her life could all be traced back to Fiona. If only she hadn't fought with Hathaway, she wouldn't have enraged Darwin, that freak who locked her away in an asylum for six months! Darwin didn't torture her body; she was fed well and taken care of, yet living amongst the mad day in and day out, she existed in a constant state of fear.
"This doesn't count! Fiona's dead!" Anniston shouted abruptly.
"The law is clear," the lawyer intoned, "Upon Miss Woods's death, her inheritance passes to her next of kin."
"Her entire family is gone, there are no heirs! And why should an outsider get the antiques and jewels that have been in the Solomon family for generations? If you ask me, splitting it evenly among the members of the Solomon family is the only fair solution," Anniston continued.
"I'll take care of Fiona's share," Darwin spoke up, his long fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the sofa.
"Darwin, are you planning to keep it all for yourself?" Anniston challenged.
The rest of the Solomon family members watched the tense exchange between mother and son, not daring to utter a word.
"Mom, this was left for my fiancée by grandma," Darwin said, looking at Anniston with a tone that was gentle yet distant. "If you have a thing for vintage jewelry, I can always buy some for you, but Fiona's pieces are off-limits to everyone."
"You!!"
The way Darwin called her 'mom' felt like a dagger piercing through Anniston's heart.
"Darwin, you know the internet's buzzing with rumors that you're already married, right? Who was that woman at the memorial service?" A relative blurted out suddenly.
"In due time, you'll all be informed," Darwin replied, his voice as lackluster as ever.
"Big brother Darwin, my classmates say you found someone who looks just like Fiona to stand in for her. Is that true?" inquired a girl who looked to be about fourteen or fifteen as she raised her hand tentatively.
Darwin's gaze landed on her, and sensing his attention, she recoiled into her mother's embrace, her eyes filled with timidity.
"So, you're using a stand-in now?" Anniston said with a scoff. "Don't tell me you plan to have her pretend to be Fiona to lay claim to the jewelry and antiques?"
"Think what you will," Darwin replied, standing up. "Since everyone's come all this way, I wouldn't want you leaving empty-handed. I've arranged for some funds; make sure to pick up your checks on your way out."
With that, Darwin left the room, leaving behind a confused assembly of Solomons, who exchanged glances of bewilderment.
"Anniston, you called us here promising benefits, and yet us cousins have got nothing but an empty promise of a trust fund check!" exclaimed a formidable-looking woman, hands on her hips as she confronted Anniston.
"If you want something, you shouldn't just stand around doing nothing!" Anniston fired back, showing her impatience. "If it's money you're after, go pester Darwin to give up those jewels and antiques. Let me tell you, even if you only get your hands on one piece, it could make you wealthy in no time!"
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