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1.31% Husband With Benefits / Chapter 12: The Will

Capítulo 12: The Will

"What are we waiting for? After all, there's no need for you to read the will. I already know its contents. Sara and Antonio have to leave for their honeymoon in the evening, and there are hundreds of things she has to prepare. She can't wait all day," Mrs. Lara Anderson complained to the paralegal who had been sitting with them in the conference room.

As the door to the room opened, the woman looked at the entrance with an inaudible sigh of relief. However, when William Doughby and Nora Williams walked in, she winced as Lara Anderson's high-pitched voice rang out, "Why is she here?"

Even Antonio and Sara, who had been sitting quietly until now, looked at the older woman with puzzlement. While Sara frowned, Antonio could only stare at her. She looked so different. The Nora he knew was always dressed in loose long-sleeved t-shirts and jeans. Yesterday, she had worn a dress for the reception, and he had been unable to stop himself from staring at her. He had convinced himself that it was because he felt guilty towards her, but this morning... she looked even more breathtaking than yesterday...

"Mother? Why are you in such a bad mood? Why can't I be here? Sara is here? Even Antonio, who has nothing to do with our late grandparents, is here."

Lara Anderson seemed to realize that her mask of being a loving mother had almost slipped. She quickly stood up and hugged Nora.

Patting Nora's face, Lara spoke, "I am sorry for sounding so abrupt, dear. It's just that I wasn't expecting you here. I've also been so worried. You didn't even return home last night... Were you at your friend Isabella's place?"

"All you had to do was call, and you would know my whereabouts, mother," Nora replied stiffly.

An uncomfortable silence hung in the air as Lara stared at her daughter with narrowed eyes. There was something different about her today, other than the dress.

"Did you borrow Isabella's dress? You look very different... and not in a good way, sweetheart," Lara commented, intently studying her daughter as if trying to read her mind.

Stepping away from Lara, Nora ignored the comment and instead replied, "Let's not waste Grandpa William's time discussing my fashion choices, Mother. Grandpa, we're all here, so let's begin."

This time, Lara's gaze was sharper as she turned to the man and directly questioned, "Why is Nora's presence needed? Sara is here to claim her inheritance. Nora can claim hers when she is ma... older."

"Mother, Sara is younger than me, and she can claim her inheritance, but I can only do it when I am older. I want to know the terms of this will that my grandparents have left me."

SMACK

Before anyone could realize what would happen, Lara had already stood up again and slapped Nora across the face. "You rebellious child! When I already told you that there is no need for you to question me, you still do it! I see that you have forgotten your place."

Nora stared at the woman she had strived to please all her life and for the first time acknowledged the hatred in her eyes. She had always done her best so that her mother would look at her with anything other than loathing. The way she did when they were with other people. But she had only seen indifference. And now she saw the hate, and she committed it to her memory. Going forward, she would have to hold onto this memory so that she would not give in to her mother's coaxing.

"Aunty Lara, please step back. She wasn't being rebellious, just curious. Please." While everyone hesitated to move, Antonio stepped between Lara and Nora. He didn't glance her way but addressed the older woman, "It's alright, Aunt. If... if I hadn't done what I did yesterday, she would have been the one rightfully sitting here, isn't that what you told me? Whether she knows the truth today or a few days later, it won't matter. It's not your or Sara's fault."

That caused Nora to raise an eyebrow. So it seemed Antonio was also aware of these things, and she was the only one being kept in the dark.

A corner of her mouth twitched, and Nora commented, "What a wonderful moment. So, Mother, you can talk about your parents' will with outsiders, but when your own daughter wants to sit in, you abuse her?"

Lara charged forward again, but this time William Doughby was prepared and spoke up, "Let me remind you of where you are, Lara."

Once again, Lara's complexion changed, and she took a deep breath to compose herself. "Uncle Doughby, this isn't right. You might be the executor of the will, but you had no right to interfere in this. I had expressly made my wishes clear as the guardian of my daughters."

"But Lara, you aren't the guardian anymore. Both the girls are old enough to make their own decisions. The only person who isn't mentioned in the will at the moment and thus not required is... you. So, I suggest you sit down before I ask you to leave."

Finally, after the admonition from the man, Lara settled down but continued to glare at Nora, whose face was now red and swollen.

William Doughby nodded to the assistant, who then got up with a nod. The next minute, an ice pack was handed to her, and a security guard was brought in to stand.

"Now, we're here today to discuss the execution of the will left by Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Lara Anderson's parents. Due to their personal differences, they chose not to let their only daughter inherit the wealth but put it in safekeeping with our firm to be executed when their granddaughters turned twenty or got married, whichever came first."


REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES
har_k har_k

Hey everyone! Just leaving this information for you here.

The update schedule:

August: One chapter per day( with Saturday/ Sunday off)

September: Two chapters/ day (though may have occasional one chapter but lengthy)

Bonus chapters: 1 review (per user)= 1 bonus chapter within 48 hours of the review

Now, if you are wondering why only 1 chapter every day in August, then it is because it's my birthday month and I am taking it slow! So, this author is shamelessly asking that you drop some reviews and powerstones as my birthday gift and I'll drop chapters as return favours! *Mwah* Love you all!

Capítulo 13: [Bonus chapter] An Act

"Nora and Sara, you understand that neither of you is yet twenty. So, I hadn't expected that you would marry early, and I would have to execute the will quickly. You'll both receive a copy of the will for review and second opinions if desired. For now, I'll explain in simpler terms.

When you turn twenty, one of you will inherit a valuable commercial property situated in a prime location, generating substantial rental income. The other will inherit a property with comparatively modest value. However, the prerequisite for this inheritance is marriage. Even then, you'll only receive rental income from these properties. To gain full control, you must remain married for three years."

"Now, there were other conditions that would have applied if you weren't married, but they are now irrelevant. So we come to the second part. Whoever marries first will have the first right to inherit the lucrative property, while the other will receive the rural property."

As William Doughby finished reading the will, silence filled the office. Sara appeared ecstatic at the prospect of inheriting the property with lucrative income, and Lara seemed content. Everything had turned out for the better. In fact, she couldn't have hoped for a better outcome.

"Is there any way to contest the conditions of the will, Grandpa Doughby?" Nora asked quietly.

William opened his mouth to clarify, but Lara beat him to it as she snorted, "What? Now you're going to fight your family for money? So what if your younger sister inherits the city property? If you ever need support, you can always turn to her. Why bring disgrace to the family name and my parents?"

William sighed and shook his head as he said, "There's no way to challenge this. If a will like this were made today, it would, of course, be invalid. But this one was made almost eighteen years ago. And I personally drafted it, so I can assure you it's watertight. Certain parts of it can be disputed, but if you're wondering whether it can be overturned, the answer is no."

"And there's no need to challenge it. My parents are already long gone. I don't want them turning in their graves at the thought of their granddaughters fighting for their money!" Lara interjected.

William Doughby nodded and smiled at Lara for the first time, complimenting, "Good. Your parents would be proud of you, Lara."

Lara Anderson smiled thinly at the man and cleared her throat. "Since Nora isn't yet twenty or married, only Sara can claim her right for now. Nora, sweetheart, you can leave. We'll come back here next year for you. Uncle William, let's sign the execution papers; she can at least start receiving the rent money. It would be a good wedding gift for Sara and Antonio, even though Antonio is well off..."

"I don't think that's possible, Mother." Lara frowned at Nora, who had interrupted her and reasoned with her.

"Nora, please listen to your mother. Have I ever refused to provide for you? As your mother, I spent so much on your failed wedding. Why fight for what isn't yours? My parents left this as a blessing for their granddaughters. So why fight over it?"

"Mother, you misunderstand. I'm not trying to fight or take anything forcefully. I'm only saying that the will can't be executed in Sara's favor right now. But and this isn't me trying to fight you, but are you sure this is your stance about our grandparents' will? After all, I was the one who was supposed to be married yesterday. So, if things hadn't changed, would you still have the same opinion about what I should receive?"

"Of course, Nora! But it was fate. You were the one supposed to get married, but Antonio and Sara fell in love and got married. So this is fate. And you know I believe in not fighting Fate."

"Yes, Mother. I understand. Then, Grandpa William, please execute the will as per my grandparents and mother's wishes."

Lara gave an approving nod to Nora and then even graciously added, "I'm sorry for misunderstanding you, my dear. I mistook your actions. I should have known that you would never do anything to harm your younger sister. You even stepped aside from your wedding so that Sara could be happy. You really are a great daughter. Yesterday was painful for you, so I won't say anything about you staying at Isabella's house. But tonight, come back home. After all, I have only one daughter at home to dote on..."

"Mother..." Nora interrupted her mother slowly. It was painful to hear her mother say the words now when just yesterday she would have given the world to hear them from her.

Lara Anderson was, however, too excited to hear Nora and had already turned toward Antonio and Sara, congratulating them for their wedding blessing from her parents.

Finally, when she quieted down, Nora stood up and announced, "Grandpa William, I'll be taking my leave now. Mother, I won't be coming home. I've moved closer to the university."

As expected, Lara wasn't much bothered about her daughter's new living conditions and simply waved her away. But as Nora stepped closer to the door, she finally spoke the last lines: "Mother, Sara might have some problems claiming the will, though."

That put a stop to Lara's excitement as she frowned at Nora, who continued, "Because she isn't married, Mom. Sara and Antonio aren't married. The priest yesterday was fake, and so was the wedding certificate. It was all an act."

And with that bomb dropped in her lap, Nora walked out of the conference room with a smile on her lips.


REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES
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Hey all!

Creation is hard, cheer me up! This bonus chapter is for the one review that I have already received! Thank you!

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