Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“Umm...your mothers.”
Augusta and I shared a look before running out of the bathroom. We’d only gotten a few feet before we heard them loud and clear.
“You would think you’d have a little bit of shame! But you still call yourself Mrs. Wyntor!”
“Shame? What can I do with shame? Can I eat it? Can I wear it? Does it keep me warm at night? No. Then why the hell do I need it?” my mother yelled. “But since we are on the subject of shame, how much Botox do you plan to use in that face. Sweetie, let go and let gravity!”
“You insufferable, uneducated—”
“Mom, let’s go!” Augusta grabbed her.
“I’m insufferable? You’re a gold-digging—”
“Mom!” I rushed into the conference room, squeezing myself through to get to her side and calm her down.
“You know what Marvin did before he died?” Yvonne called from almost halfway out the door. “He apologized for ever marrying you! He said it was the biggest mistake of his life!”
My mother went quiet and suddenly became still.
Oh, shit. The only thing worse than my mom when she was arguing was my mom when she went calm.
“You’re lying, Yvonne, and it’s so sad. But I guess it doesn’t matter now. At least I’m not the mistake that killed him.”
The winner was my mother. Of course.
Yvonne stood there frozen, her jaw tight—most likely from that verbal slap across the face. It took her a second, but she just grabbed her clutch.
“We’re done here,” was all she said before marching out of the conference room with Augusta, as well as their lawyers, right behind her.
My mom took a deep breath, finally, and then sat down, leaning back into her chair.
“You crossed a line.”
“How many times do I have to tell you, Odette? There are no lines in a ring. She punched, and I punched back. It’s not my fault she couldn’t take it,” she uttered gently, crossing her arms over her chest.
I looked away because, apparently, she needed a minute to get off her high horse. So, I faced Mr. Greensboro, who sat calmly, looking over the documents in front of him. He had handled her divorce, so I was sure he was used to her by now.
“Mr. Greensboro?”
“Yes, Ms. Wyntor?”
“I know you can’t stop rumors. But if there are any videos or audio about what happened here today, we will sue and do so with a new firm.”
“Relax, Odette. Charles is—”
“Mom, you’ve done enough!” I held my hand out to stop her. Luckily, she didn’t say anything back.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Wyntor. I had all cell phones confiscated on this level for the duration of this meeting, and should anyone try anything, we will personally deal with it harshly,” he reassured me.
I checked the doors to see no one standing or even daring to look inside. Nodding, I sat down at the head of the table beside my mother. “Okay, so what happened in the few minutes I was gone? What led to their fight?”
“She was—”
“Mom, say one more thing, and I will give it all up!” I threatened, and Mr. Greensboro’s face paled worse than hers. I offered a smile. “Well, sir?”
“They brought proof of your father’s conditions to the inheritance. It’s iron tight. I’m guessing it’s a second draft he created before his untimely death. But it is newer than the will we were aware of.”
“Are you sure it is real?”
“Yes. Everything is the same, but with conditions, and it has the same signature, which we verified, as well as his personal assistant’s.”
I took a breath. “Okay, so what are these conditions?”
“Marriage.”
“Say what?”
“You need to be married and have a child.”
I felt something. Maybe it was the earth rattling under my feet. Maybe it was my soul leaving my body. But I definitely felt something. “Are you serious?” I couldn’t believe it.
“And this is why I told you to stop telling him you didn’t want to get married,” my mother grumbled. “He was always going on about continuing the Wyntor legacy. You thought I was being harsh, but he never said anything to you. Apparently, he was always planning on getting the last laugh.”
That was what it was.
That feeling I felt.
It was my father laughing at me from beyond the grave.
Chapter 3
“The assets totaling fifty-one point eight billion dollars will be divided equally between Odette Rochelle Wyntor and Augusta Pearl Wyntor, for a total of twenty-five point nine billion each. Of which, the first one-third of their inheritance will be received upon their marriages to a person of respectable integrity, morality, and standing, lasting more than one year. After the first three years of said marriage, they shall receive the second third of their inheritance. And the last third shall be given upon the birth of their first child—”
“No matter how many times you read it, Odette, it’s not going to change,” my mother called out from her bathroom.