Capítulo 27: CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN; a new will
Laurent tapped his legs on the ground as he waited for Rose to get there. Not long after, he saw her rushing in with the other lady from last night. He'd have loved to know who she was, but he no longer had that privilege.
"What happened to him?" She asked frantically, clutching his arm.
He just smiled at them both, then gradually removed her hand and turned back into the room. He was inside the room before he realized that they hadn't followed.
He peeled outside just in time to hear Rose say, "What the hell just happened?"
Her friend sighed, looking down at herself in dismay, "I told you we should have taken the time to freshen up."
Rose just sighed at that, looking miserable. "Last night wasn't a dream then," she said softly before following behind.
In the room, three men who had introduced themselves as lawyers stood uncomfortably in the room.
"Here she is, sirs," he said mockingly with a deep bow as soon as Rose entered the room.
The three men stood up straighter, and the leader among them approached Rose.
"Miss Blackwell?" He asked, and she nodded.
"Good morning, ma'am. We're so sorry for getting you here in such a hurry, but we needed an assurance of Mr. Blackwell's state of mind before proceeding with the change of will."
Her eyes widened at 'change of will' and she cast a helpless look at her friend and then her father.
"Okay," she whispered.
"Good. When did Mr. Blackwell become sick?" He asked, and Laurent tried not to roll his eyes.
Were they really going to ask her all the questions they'd already asked the man? And then what? use a lie detector? How archaic.
"Not up to two weeks ago."
"And what would you say had been his state of mind before that?"
She shrugged and glanced at her dad again. The man was propped up against the bed but he wasn't looking at anyone. He already looked like a shell of the real person. Laurent wondered how he'd look when he was arrested. He'd probably use his connections to avoid a lengthy prison sentence, but the investigation was sure to be hell for him.
"I guess. He was concerned about me," she eventually said.
They nodded and looked at each other.
"What is this all about?" she asked before they could continue their 50 rounds of questions. "Is my father changing his will?" She was asking them, but her eyes were on her father.
The man cleared his throat, "We have a protocol to follow, ma."
"Then go and follow your protocol outside. I'm sick and tired of things being kept from me." she shouted the last part.
Like herding chickens, the three of them converged together to say a few words. Rose went directly to her father, placing herself in his line of sight.
"What's going on, Dad? Why are you changing your will?"
His eyes flitted from her, to me, and then back to the lawyers before he turned to his knee again, "I've explained to the lawyers. I thought it through and I decided to do it"
"Just like that," she snapped. "I leave you for a few hours happy and hopeful, and the next time I see you, you want to change your will. Or is this about the stranger I happened to meet in your room last night who hasn't left your side for more than a few minutes?"
"Rose!" he snapped, but his face was pale.
The lawyers who had paid attention to every word she just said motioned to her, "Could we speak outside, miss Blackwell?"
"Why? I'm perfectly comfortable here."
They looked at each other and nodded. "Then…"
"But I'd like everyone else to leave." she interrupted, issuing a challenge with her eyes.
Her friend kissed her on the cheeks, whispered some words in her ears and then left the room. They all turned to me. I turned to Wendell.
"Well," Rose asked, and her father sighed.
"He stays," he said firmly.
She turned to him, and though betrayal shone in her eyes, there was also determination there, "Absolutely not."
"He stays, Rose. I mean it."
"And why? So he'll keep manipulating you? What does he really have on you?"
The lawyers' heads drifted from one person to the other as they spoke.
He interrupted them, "I'll go."
"But…" Wendell started, and he turned to him with a smile. "We wouldn't want them to think I'm manipulating you, right?
He nodded, and he turned with a ready grin toward Rose. "Have fun, sweetheart. I'll be outside."
If looks could kill, he'd be six feet under with the look she shot him. He walked outside without a backward glance.
ROSE didn't remove her eyes from her father while Laurent left, so she knew when he took a deep breath as the door closed. She rushed to his side, but if she'd thought that he'd hug her or thank her or even show sign that Laurent's departure meant something to him, she was sorely disappointed. He patted her on the back before turning to her with a frown on her face.
"That wasn't necessary," he said and she froze.
"What?"
"You shouldn't have sent him out," he insisted and because she wasn't physically able to tear her eyes from his, she saw the moment his eyes flit to the lawyers and his voice got a bit louder. "I've explained this to you. I'm sorry it's coming as a surprise to you, but I've made a decision."
She looked at him in shock and he turned away from her to the lawyers, "I'm glad you took the time to visit me here. Can we get the process started?"
They looked at her but she only had eyes for her father.
"Dad!" she called, her voice getting frantic, "Dad, please. I don't care what he has on you. We can fix it, you don't have to let him win."
He finally turned back, held her face in both hands and, in a quiet whisper, whispered, "I'm sorry, darling. But he's already won."
Then she watched in horror as he explained his new will to them and signed and stamped it. When it was over, he just collapsed back on the bed but not before she saw him wipe his eyes with his hands.
It was over. Whatever his plan, Laurent had won. He was now the sole owner of all the Blackwell legacy, she only had her home under her name.
But not for long; whatever she could, she'd make sure she got her birthright back from him. For as long as she lived, she'd make him regret ever touching a member of her family.
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