CHAPTER 6: The Will

“You still have the guts to show your face? When it was so sure that you don’t stand a chance to inherit anything from father,” Bernard’s voice, dripping with condescension, welcomed her.

Fiona didn’t utter a word; instead, she sat gently on the plush couch in the study with Rowan beside her. 

Mr. Logan cleared his throat and opened a leather-bound will. 

The room was hushed; the only sound was the ticking of the grandfather clock. 

"We gather here today to fulfill the final wishes of Mr. Beckett Robinson. This will was dated [02/10/2023]. I assure you, all legal formalities have been adhered to."

A tense silence filled the room.

"The first clause is standard. All debts and taxes have been settled promptly. The second clause regards any minor dependents. As there are none, we move on to the heart of the matter."

Fiona’s heart clenched, hearing what Mr. Logan said. 

‘He never welcomed me two weeks ago; why did I even think he would recognize my son, whom he had just met once before his death?’ She murmured to herself. 

The lawyer paused, letting the tension build as Jessica and Bernard exchanged a triumphant glance. 

"Mr. Robinson's estates and properties, including controlling shares of Beckett’s Enterprises, are bequeathed to his beloved daughter, Fiona Robinson."

Fiona's heart pounded in her chest as the lawyer read out her name as the sole inheritor. A mix of disbelief and triumph washed over her. She couldn’t contain her shock. 

A stunned silence fell over the room as Fiona glanced at Jessica and Bernard, their faces contorted in disbelief and anger.

“This is impossible!” Jessica shrieked, her voice shrill and accusatory. “Mr. Logan, did you even know what you said? My husband would never willed all his properties to this thing,” Jessica fumed with a clenched jaw.

"The will is clear and unambiguous.” Mr. Logan responded, then he continued. 

“Miss Robinson, Mr. Robinson left you a letter,” the lawyer picked up a sealed letter and handed it over to Fiona. 

What would be in the letter? 

“He was not in his right mind!” Jessica yelled. 

Jessica and Bernard's faces turned ashen as they stared at Fiona with contempt. The news felt like they got a punch in the gut. 

Bernard’s face flushed with rage, echoing his mother's sentiment, "This is a fraud! Father would never do that!"

Fiona felt a wave of excitement spreading through her body. It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Never in her broad imagination could she expect her father to give all his properties to her. At that moment, she was floating with excitement. 

She dropped the letter in her handbag, hoping to read it later. 

But why? Why did her father turn her down weeks ago? 

Why hadn’t she given any properties to her stepmother and stepbrother? 

What caused her father's sudden demise when he seemed to be perfectly fine the last time she saw him? 

Fiona could not provide answers to the questions reeling in her mind. 

At that time, only one thing was clear to her. She wasn’t the penniless single mom of a few minutes ago. Mr. Robinson was the richest and most famous CEO in the city; with her inheriting his properties, she would be the richest CEO in the city. 

Right there, only one thing was on her mind: pay back!. 

"You took everything from me, Jackson. Now, watch me take back what's mine!" With a triumphant smile, she murmured to herself. 

A triumphant smirk spread across Fiona's face as she gave Bernard and Jessica a cold, hard look, relishing in their obvious pain and confusion.

Jessica jumped to her feet, a wicked smile twisting her lips. "Fiona," she hissed, her eyes flashing with defiance. 

"There's something you don't know about your father," she said, stepping closer to Fiona, who watched her intently. "Your father was mentally unstable," Jessica declared, a smug grin playing on her lips.

Fiona raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You've got to be kidding me," she scoffed, knowing how cunning Jessica can be. 

Jessica's voice grew shrill. "I'm serious! He wasn't right in the head when he wrote this!" she insisted, pointing at the lawyer and the will.

Bernard nodded, his face flushed with anger. "We have to contest this will because Father has been having problems remembering things and always doing things out of place,” he supported his mom. 

Fiona stood dumbfounded. Her gaze darted between Jessica and Mr. Logan, hoping he would clear the air. 

Mr. Logan stood up, his expression grave. "I assure you, this will was written in my presence, and your father was completely aware of his actions. Ignore what they're saying,” Mr. Logan said firmly. 

Fiona crossed her arms. "I was here last time, and Dad seemed perfect...” she paused as if something crossed her mind. Then she turned to her son, Rowan, who was watching the drama unfold with wide, curious eyes. She crouched down and scooped him up in her arms, offering him a hug. 

With a lower and gentler voice, she spoke. “Row. Can you go and play with her?” Fiona pointed to Nana, who was standing nearby. She knew her stepmother and brother were a hard nut to crack, and they wouldn’t give up so easily. She couldn’t let Rowan witness something like that. 

Rowan, who loved his mom and was always protective of her, hesitated. “Mama, I don’t want to leave you,” his voice filled with innocence. 

Fiona beamed with a small smile on her face. “Mama will be fine, okay?” she reassured him.

With that said, Rowan nodded and dashed out of the study. “Be careful out there, and stay away from the pool," Fiona called after him, then turned back to Jessica, who was looking at Rowan and Fiona with contempt. 

Fiona crossed her arms around her chest as soon as she noticed Rowan was out of earshot. 

“Did you remember that I was here the last time and Dad seemed to be perfectly fine?” She countered again, her eyes darkening. Even though she knew her dad looked paler, she couldn’t give Jessica that impression.

"Oh, come on, you couldn't tell something was wrong with him? What kind of daughter are you?" Jessica spat out coldly. 

Fiona’s jaw clenched. “There was nothing wrong with my father. You and your son just lost out. I suggest you both sit down and accept the reality,” Fiona retorted, her anger rising.

Jessica chuckled wryly. “Why do you think your father made my son the CEO of Beckett’s enterprises?” Jessica confronted Fiona head-on. 

“Because he was sick and mentally unstable. We couldn’t let the news get out," Bernard added confidently. “Did you know what the media would turn it to if it got out?” 

Fiona’s face flushed with ignorance, but she immediately put on a facade. “CEO, huh?” she scoffed. 

“Yes, Fiona, your father made him the acting CEO while he was away from the company for a little while, but he never made mention that he was ill,” Mr. Logan explained. 

The room was filled with tension. Fiona felt a surge of protectiveness towards her father's memory. Fiona gulped down, her voice steady. 

“You will not tarnish my father's name with your lies," she declared. "He loved me, and he made his wishes clear. You both don’t have a share in his properties, and nothing you do will make you stand a chance!” 

“Did you think I am after my husband’s properties?” Jessica snickered. “Believe me, I am not bluffing. I have medical reports of your father’s mental state of health. That thing,” she pointed to the will. “It’s not going to hold, and we are contesting it!” Jessica retorted, determined and unwavering. 

“What do you mean you have medical reports?” Fiona arched her brow in confusion. 

Was it true that her father was mentally unstable? 

Fiona thought, and at the same time she shrugged off the thought. It wouldn’t be true. 

“Yes! We both visited a psychiatrist…” 

Jessica was interrupted when a high-pitched sound broke the tension in the living room. 

‘Who dared barge into our private moment?’ Jessica thought. 

Fiona recognized the voice to be Rowan’s own, but why would he shout that way? 

The thoughts reeling in everyone’s head prompted them to shift their gaze to the direction of the voice. 

“Mama! Look who is here,” Rowan, oblivious to the tension in the room, shouted gleefully. 

At that same time, their heads went up to meet Ethan, who stood with a confident stride beside Rowan, with his hands tucked in his pants’ pockets. 

“Ethan Miller?” Jessica fluttered her eyes surprisingly, mirroring the shock on Bernard’s face. 

“Do you mind bringing those medical reports?” Ethan’s voice echoed with confidence across the room.