“What…?” Alice gasped, barely able to believe the words he had just said “How did you...?”
“I think it's best to take Millicent outside. You guys clearly need to talk about this alone.” Massimo murmured, even though he was clearly upset about having to leave Alice there alone “But, I'll be on the other side of the door, love. Just call and I will be here, no matter what the reason.” He narrowed his eyes in Kendra's direction, but all she did was smile defiantly at him.
“Don’t worry, Massimo. We both know that Alice is not in the habit of considering your opinion as important, not even when hiding your child, right?”
“Shut up, Kendra!” Micah spat, while Massimo hugged Millie closer, hiding her from Kendra’s eyes “Don&rsqu
“Forgive you?” Kendra clenched her teeth, and, to her surprise, Alice saw genuine anger and pain in her expression, something so intense that, if the circumstances were different, it would certainly have made her feel pity for that woman “Is that it? You belittle me, fuck with my entire life and, just because you want to die in peace, you want to force me to forgive you too?” she laughs full of bitterness “Well, I don't even know why I'm surprised. It's like you said. You never learned to stop being selfish, much less to ask for forgiveness.”“I'm sorry, Kendra. I really am.” Lucas grunted, as if there was a weight on him “But me realizing that I was responsible for you becoming this way doesn't change the things you've done. While I was blind thinking that I was doing the best for you by exploring your potential and giving you every possible opportunit
“Grandpa…” Alice murmured, approaching the gurney when Kendra slammed the door behind them, leaving her, her father and Lucas alone “Are you okay…?”“I don’t think I still have the right or the ability to be okay.” he smiled ruefully “But, it's not like I didn't already expect it. Even if she never forgives me for being a terrible father, I couldn't die without asking for forgiveness first. And, if like Kendra, you are not able to forgive the things I did…” his eyes slowly rose, until they met hers, making it very clear that his strength was running out “I will understand. Being able to see your face at a moment like this is enough for me.”“I just… I can't understand…” Alice wiped away her tears, trying to force herself to remain calm “You wan
“Please, Mrs. Bianchi, make yourself comfortable. Mr. Schulz is just preparing the papers and will be here in a minute.” the secretary said, with a friendly smile as she handed Alice a cup of coffee.“Thank you. We will be here.” She tried hard to be kind, even though that morning's cold seemed to have settled inside her bones, after her grandfather's funeral.“That was ridiculously fast.” Massimo grumbled, after the secretary left the room they were in “Will readings shouldn't happen on the same day as the funeral. Even someone like Emma was able to respect the memory of a dead person and wait a few weeks before talking about inheritance after my father died.”“I'd like to wait too, but apparently, as my grandfather's primary heir and only living daughter, Kendr
“What…?” Alice started to ask, in shock, but Kendra was faster.“This is unacceptable!” she shouted “This division is unfair and ridiculous! I have been the CEO of the family companies since my father was permanently hospitalized! And now you're telling me that old man wants to give everything that belongs to me to this brat, who has never even managed a single store in his life?!” Her finger rose in Alice's direction “I don't know what kind of scam you're trying to pull off with her, but I'm going to demand a review of this will right now...!”“Lucas and I imagined what your reaction would be like, Mrs. Dawsey.” Mr. Schulz sighed, crossing his arms “Just know this will wasn't even recently drawn up. Your father came to me to dictate these exact same words more than 7 years ago, when Alice
“What the fuck are you talking about?!” Kendra snarled "If you think you can just meddle in our business and put everything in this idiot's hands, without her making any effort, know that..." she was in the middle of her tantrum, when something seemed to click in her mind and all her body became limp, as if the realization had hit her too hard “What… What do you mean by…”“Do you really think I wouldn't have the means to deal with you and Lucas, just because I was out of the country?” Micah smiled a wicked smile “I grew up hiding in the corners of that house, Kendra. I always knew that, while Lucas clung to those factories as if they were a part of him, you did the same with money. I’m glad these two things will be in my daughter’s hands, now. It's the least what you two deserve, even if fate is still being too kind to Lucas by leaving his
“Come on, dear. You must be the first to take the first step into your new property.” Micah offered, with a huge smile of pure pride on his face, leaving Alice touched that he seemed so happy for her in that situation, even though that house certainly brought back so many bad memories for him.“Thanks, Dad.” Alice smiled, still holding his hand as she walked past the Dawsey mansion, the same place she had once promised herself to never return, but which now belonged to her “Well, that moving company certainly did a good job. I can barely recognize this place when it’s so… Empty.” She looked around, managing to see not only the entrance hall, but also the beginning of the living room, all looking even larger than usual, now there was so little furniture left “And I guess the shock wasn't just mine. Ruby mentioned that some High Society ladies even prete
“This party is… Quite bigger than I expected.”“Don’t be so petty, Harry. It’s the best party we’ve been to in… God, I don’t even know how many years.”“Have you seen the wine they are serving? I think my son-in-law would have to sell one of his entire resorts to buy such a large amount. I told Sarah to wait for a better suitor before deciding to get married…!”“But, why do you think Mr. Griffin would throw such a big party and still invite the Bianchis? Do you think the rumor about him being Alice’s father is true?”“Of course not! And don't repeat that! It's disrespectful to Lucas' memory. Griffin probably just called the Bianchis here to show them yet another of hi
“Mom! This apartment is shit! It looks like it was designed by someone with no brains! There's a window in the closet and, as I could never imagine that someone would be stupid enough to put that there, I didn't close the damn thing and half my silk dresses are soaked now! Didn’t those idiots who made the move stop to think about it, when they organized everything…?!” “Amber…” Kendra grunted, the vodka hitting her mind so hard that she didn't even have the strength to straighten up in her seat “If you don't want me to throw you out of the window you're complaining about, then you better shut up.” “How can I shut up or stay calm, knowing we are going to live in this rat hole from now on?!” her idiot daughter squeaked “What must my friends be thinking of me? Do you know what we used to think about girls who called themselves High Society, but lived in a tiny apartment like this? We called them prostitutes in disguise, trying to impress us with a single property in a posh neighborhood