Chapter 5
n the air like a cle
It was an cere silence, hanging in the air like a cloud ready to pour down rain at any moment.
Gerry shot up from his sea, his face dark with fury. “This is outrageous! I am his only son! I have dedicated my life to him, to the company. How could he not give me anything at all? This is not fair!”
Beside him, Lilian, clenched her fists. “Skylar disappeared for six years! How can she just come back and take everything?”
Jenna was no less furious. She sneered. This has to be a mistake. Grandpa wouldn’t leave everything to her. I’m sure Skylar did something to grandpa before she left or maybe she’s been in contact with grandpa and influencing him for the inheritance!””
David, always the most cunning, leaned forward. “I agree. The will must be contested. There’s no way this is legally sound.”
Fredy Jenner frowned. When he last submitted the will that had been changed four times, the late Aaron Carter had predicted that something like this would happen and he asked the lawyers to protect Skylar
However, Fredy Jenner did not like seeing David speak up. He had no right to say anything, because even though he was engaged to Jenna, he was never considered part of the Carter family by Aaron
“Mr. Lawrence, I hope you can put yourself in this matter, Fredy Jenner reprimanded. “You have no right to comment on the late Aaron Carter’s Hecision
“Why not, Jenna said with
face. “David is my france. He is also part of the Carter family.”
Fredy Jenner smiled. “He will be part of the Carter family again after you are officially married. But now, he is only Mr. David Lawrence.”
David’s face turned red. He felt humiliated, but he realized the truth of the lawyer’s words
When he looked at Skylar, she didn’t look at him at all, as if he were an invisible
entity.
David’s heart felt like it was boiling. Why did she have to sit so close to Anthony and the way they looked at each other felt so… Intense.
David realized he was feeling jealous, even though it might sound silly. He and Skylar had been divorced for a long time and he was even with Jenna, but he didn’t like seeing Skylar and Anthony so close.
“But what David said was true,” Gerry sald loudly. The will may not be valid and its validity must be investigated again.”
Fredy Jenner tried to hold back his anger. He had promised Aaron Carter to oversee the reading of the will and the distribution of the inheritance until was finished.
“Calm down, Fredy whispered Gino Vincent, his teammate. “This is just the beginning and Aaron has warned us about this long before”
“I know” said Fredy Jenner through clenched teeth. “I just didn’t expect them to be so annoying.”
Gino Vincent stood up and tapped the table with a pen, silencing the emotional whispers between Gerry, Lilian, and Jenna,
Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you, this will was verified multiple times before Mr. Aaron’s passing. It is legally binding and cannot be challenged
He glanced at Skylar and his expression softened. “Ms. James, as per your grandfather’s instructions, we must proceed with the allocation of the company’s branches”
was steady, unwavering. She set the glares of her so–called
Skylar, who had been silent through the entire ordeal, slowly stood up. Her posture was family with a blank expression, refusing to let their hostility shake her.
“Let’s begin,” she said simply. “I still have a lot of business to do and I don’t have much time to deal with prople who only want to cause trouble and problem”
With the lawyer’s assistance, she carried out her first duty as the head of The Carter Mainland Enterprise.
Branches were distributed as per her grandfather’s wishes. Some branches will be led by trusted executives, others to charity ventures
Aaron Carter had planned everything in great detail and with great calculation. He even stated clearly what was the basis for his consideration in choosing executive A for branch or executive C for branch X
Gerry and Lilian were placed as owners of The Carter South East Asia Apartment, Hotel, and Resort, which is one of the main and largest branches of all The Carter Mainland Enterprise branches.
Jenna pouted when the only got ownership rights to The Carter Summer Hotel, which for the past two years had been completely handed over to Iser. She wanted more and why should she be Skylar’s subordinate?
All administration and bureaucracy of the company will not experience any changes, unless Ms. James decides otherwise and all of that will be ‘discussed together with the branch leaders in a special meeting, just like when Mr. Aaron Carter was still in charge” said Fredy Jenner firmly
G
Chapter 5
“All matters relating to the company and branch performance are under the authority of Ms. James and the have the right to make decisions based on personal considerations, when someone must be fired or demoted from their position because they are considered to be causing losses, endangering, or potentially damaging the company’s good name, continued Gino Vincent firmly.
Gerry gritted his teeth, feeling defeated before he could fight, by his own father.
He didn’t understand why his father made such an unfair will. I don’t know what his consideration was, handing over all power to Skylar. His decision was like an atomic bomb that destroyed a city in one explosion.
When everything was settled, Skylar picked up her handbag, exhaustion weighing gon her shoulders. She needed rest
She touched Anthony’s thigh who had been silent all this time, just observing the ongoing situation and listening attentively,
“Let’s go back to the hotel,” Skylar said. “The kids must be waiting for us.”
Anthony nodded and smiled, holding Skylar’s hand. “Yes. You need to rest tool
“I’ll be returning to my hotel,” Skylar announced.
As she turned toward the exit, Gerry’s voice rang out. “Skylar, wait.
She paused, but didn’t turn around.
Gerry took a step closer. his expression unreadable. “Where have you been for the past seven years!”
His voice was hoone, a mixture of accusations. “What have you been doing all this time?”
Skylar’s fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. For a fleeting moment, she considered answering
Then she remembered all the pain, suffering, tears she shed, and hardships she had endured over the years and also all the time she spent rebuilding herself from the ground up.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said coolly: “Why do you want to know! You’ve always thought of me as something annoying and inappropriate, so you shouldn’t care where I go and what I do. Not now or ever
Gerry’s jaw clenched. “Skylar, you–
Lilian stood and her voice dripped with disdain as she spat out her accusations.
“You’re an ungrateful child. Skylar. Your father raised you even though he never wanted to, and this is how you repay him? Stealing what isn’t yours! The company was never yours! It’s your father!”
Skylar turned back and met Lilian’s gaze with unwavering determination. “I never stole anything. I only took what was rightfully given to me. My grandfather gave in to me without me having to ask
Jenna scoffed from the side, her arms crossed over her chest “Rightfully given? You left Grandfather when he was sick and only came back when it was time to divide his inheritance. That sounds less like family and more like a scavenger,”
Skylar’s Lips curled into a smirk, unbothered by their accusations. “Grandfather knew better than anyone who was sincere and who was a liar. That’s why he left me something and not you.”
Lilian’s face turned red with anger. “Then prove it! Sign a statement relinquishing your claim to the inheritance. Or at the very least, divide it equally
Gerry, who had been silently fuming, stepped forward, his eyes dark with fury. “If you refuse, Skylar, don’t blame me for what happens next. I will take what I deserve, one way or another.”
Skylar met his threat with cold indifference. “Do whatever you want, but I won’t bone to you.” She turned on her heel. “Even if it means you start a war with me, I will stand my ground. This time, I won’t go anywhere. I will let you know that I am worthy of this inheritance and that Grandpa will not be disappointed for trusting one over you!”
“You!” Lilian shouted, choking on her own anger.
Skylar continued walking with Anthony, ignoring the commotion behind her
As Skylar and Anthony exiled, David, who had been watching the confrontation silently, narrowed his eyes
Something about Skylar’s confidence didn’t sit right with him. She was hiding something.
Without wasting another second, he discreetly signaled to one of his men. “Follow her. I want to know exactly where she’s going and what she’s planning
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