CHAPTER 20

Mr. Jack walked around his desk and sat down in the leather chair across from me, his eyes fixed on mine. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he began to speak.

"Miss, I am Mr. Jack, your mother's attorney. I've been handling her affairs for many years now."

I nodded, trying to process what was happening.

"Your mother called me from the hospital," Mr. Jack continued, his voice serious. "She instructed me to transfer her company shares, worth approximately $500 billion, into a personal account she created for you."

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. I couldn't breathe. $500 billion? It was an astronomical amount of money.

Mr. Jack leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine. "She was very clear about her wishes. If anything were to happen to her, she wanted me to execute the deal the agent I had with her.

Mr. Jack's expression turned grave, his eyes clouding with concern.

"Miss, I must warn you, your mother predicted that your father would remarry soon after her passing. She was aware of his intentions and took steps to protect you and her legacy."

I felt a chill run down my spine. How did my mother know all of this?

"Your mother was the CEO of the company, and your father was the vice CEO," Mr. Jack continued.

"With the transfer of shares to your account, the company will face a significant downfall. Your father's new wife will likely try to gain control of the company, but your mother has ensured that you have the power to stop her."

I was stunned. My mother had planned all of this. But why?

Mr. Jack leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper.

"But you must be careful, Miss. Your life is now at risk. You cannot let anyone know about this transaction. If your father or his new wife find out, they will stop at nothing to get their hands on this company."

I felt a wave of fear. What had I gotten myself into?

Mr. Jack handed me an envelope containing the account information.

"This is the account your mother opened for you. You must keep it safe, Miss. Your life depends on it."

I took the envelope, my hands shaking. I couldn't believe what was happening. My mother had predicted all of this. But how? And why?

I looked up at Mr. Jack, searching for answers. But he just shook his head. "Your mother was a brilliant woman, Miss. She knew what she was doing. But now, it's up to you to carry out her wishes."

As I read on, my eyes widened in shock as I came across a passage that made my heart skip a beat.

My mother wrote that her marriage to my father was arranged by her family and that he had never truly loved her. She discovered that he had a secret lover, a woman named Miss Victoria Douglas, who he had gotten pregnant with.

I felt a wave of anger and betrayal wash over me as I read that my father had brought this woman into our lives, disguising her as his secretary.

And to make matters worse, Miss Victoria Douglas had a daughter, Sophia Douglas, who was my father's child from Mrs Victoria.

I couldn't believe what I was reading. My father's infidelity, his deceit, it all made sense now. The way he had always been distant, the way he had never shown my mother the love and affection she deserved.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I read my mother's words, her pain and heartache palpable on the page. She had known about Miss Victoria Douglas and Sophia, and it had broken her heart.

I looked up at Mr. Jack, my eyes searching for answers.

"Why didn't my mother tell me about this?" I asked, my voice shaking with emotion.

Mr Jack's expression was sombre. "Your mother wanted to protect you, Miss. She didn't want you to know about your father's infidelity, about Sophia's true identity. But she knew that one day you would find out, and she wanted you to be prepared"

Mr. Jack handed me another envelope, his eyes serious.

"This is a letter from your mother, Miss. She wrote it specifically for you, in case you were faced with this situation."

I took the envelope, my hands shaking as I opened it. Inside, I found a letter addressed to me, written in my mother's familiar handwriting.

"Dear daughter," the letter began. "I know that by the time you read this, I will be gone. But I want you to know that I have prepared for everything. Our company will face a downfall, and your father will try to force you to marry into the Argent family. They are the wealthiest family in New York, and he will think that this is the only way to save our company."

I felt a wave of fear as I read the words. Marry into the Argent family? I had heard of them, of course. They were notorious for their ruthless business tactics and their lavish lifestyle.

"But do not disagree, my dear," my mother wrote.

"I have already made arrangements for you. Everything will work out in the end, but things will turn around to haunt them. Trust me, my dear. I have planned for this."

I looked up at Mr. Jack, my eyes searching for answers. "What does she mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mr Jack's expression was sombre. "Your mother has set in motion a plan, Miss. A plan to protect you and our company from those who would seek to harm us. But you must trust her, and you must follow her instructions."

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination. I would do what my mother had planned. I would protect our company, and I would make sure that those who had hurt her would pay.

As I finished reading the letter, tears began to roll down my eyes.

The weight of my mother's words, the secrets she had kept, the pain she had endured, it all became too much for me to bear. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of emotions, unable to catch my breath.

Mr. Jack immediately got up from his chair and walked around to where I was sitting. He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, his eyes filled with compassion.

"Miss, everything is going to be okay," he said softly.

"Your mother has left you in good hands. I have a letter from her, appointing me as your lawyer. If you have any decisions to make, or anything you need to discuss, please don't hesitate to reach out to me."

I nodded, feeling a small sense of comfort at his words. I looked up at him, tears still streaming down my face.

"Thank you, Mr. Jack," I whispered. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Mr. Jack smiled and handed me a tissue. "You don't have to thank me, Miss. I'm just doing what your mother asked of me.

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. I looked up at Mr. Jack, my eyes still brimming with tears. "Mr. Jack, I need you to put everything on hold," I said, my voice shaking.

Mr. Jack's expression was concerned. "What do you mean, Miss?"

I handed him back the property paper, my hands still shaking.

"I don't want to keep this at home. It's not safe. My father...he'll stop at nothing to get his hands on this company."

Mr. Jack nodded understandingly. "I'll keep it safe, Miss. Don't worry."