Back To Them

Chapter Ten: Back to Them

Donna’s POV

“I hope we’d all get along,” I said.

Theoden stopped me from going further as a black Lamborghini drove out from a cluster of cars toward us. “You will. Greta is easy to talk to when he doesn’t think you’re stupid.”

It’d take a while, then.

“Good morning, Miss Donna-Belle,” the driver greeted. He was the man I met yesterday at my house with Theoden. I guessed he was his personal assistant.

I didn’t even know what Theoden did for work.

“Good morning. Hope you slept well?” the assistant asked with a bright smile.

“I did, thank you.”

He opened the door for me, and I nodded as I entered the car. Such gentle treatment felt foreign to me, but I was determined to get used to it. The ride out of the garage was smooth.

“Do you know the name of your family’s lawyer?”

My ears perked up. I needed that information to get my hands on the will.

“It seems he’s a friend of your stepmother. The lawyer refused to reveal the will, saying the direct descendant of the deceased isn’t ready yet.”

My forehead creased. What did that mean? Wasn’t I the one to determine if I was ready or not? “I can meet him myself.”

“Yes, and that’s why I threatened to take his life if he didn’t show up at your house this hour. He should hear from you whether you’re ready or not, or his actions will be illegal.”

I relaxed, trying to ignore Theoden’s claim to kill a lawyer. Did he have anger issues that made him say such things? They could easily use his words against him.

My thoughts ended when I saw a line of cars outside my father’s house, possibly belonging to my stepmother’s friends who were waiting for Theoden and me. “They wouldn’t let me off easily.”

“It’s nothing the boss can’t handle. Don’t worry,” the assistant reassured me.

I left the car behind Theoden, sticking close to him. Chris shouldn’t find me alone again.

My head was pulled up, and I froze, staring into Theoden’s blue and green eyes. “Don’t shiver like that when I’m here,” he said.

Something fluttered in my stomach, and I made an “hmm” sound. He let go of my jaw and strolled into the yard. My eyes couldn’t stop following his movements.

I finally looked away and rubbed my cheeks. What a crazy thought. I shouldn’t get carried away.

“Can we go in now?” the assistant asked.

I nearly forgot he was waiting behind me. I hoped he didn’t notice that stupid blush of mine. “Yes, please.” I hurried after Theoden.

He waited after his first knock, and when I reached him, the door opened. I hated seeing Chris standing there, staring directly at me. Theoden walked past him without a word.

I did the same, lowering my head and squeezing past him so I wouldn’t brush against him.

“You came back home on your own,” Chris said, his words making me shiver.

I did not come back!

I hoped this wasn’t what would end up happening. There were at least four older men in the house, seated and waiting.

Theoden took off his jacket and handed it to me. “Sit there.”

I looked at where he pointed. That’d be where Chris had stood, as it was the only single chair in the room.

The assistant led me to the seat and placed me down. I tried not to look at my stepmother because she’d certainly be glaring. What was I even doing?

Running away from my house with a random man? What if he had ill intentions? Did he actually know my father? Was I that desperate?

I already knew the answer to that last question.

“First of all,” Theoden began. He took out a card from his breast pocket and threw it at the oldest man in the room. “I’d politely ask that none of you speak out of line.”

The card landed on the oldest man’s lap, and his eyes widened. He didn’t pick it up but stared at it like it was a bomb about to detonate.

Was Theoden that powerful? A CEO? The assistant stood beside me with a relaxed expression, so I tried to relax, too.

Chris picked up the card, his expression flattening. My stepmother’s face went pale, and I nearly laughed. Theoden was most definitely a powerful CEO that they dreaded to disrespect.

“Now, who’s the lawyer amongst all of you?”

A man raised a briefcase.

Theoden nodded. “Read out the will.”

He leaned against the wall as the lawyer quickly opened the case and ransacked it for the document. Clearing his throat, the lawyer began to read:

“…will be given to my beloved daughter, Donna-Belle. The estate at Neville will be given to my beloved daughter, Donna-Belle. The estate at Valence will be given to my beloved wife, Tiana. The building at Coma will be given to my beloved daughter, Donna-Belle. The business, Jerkins, will be given to my beloved wife, Tiana. The cars, Mercedes Ford 21 and Julian 31X, will be given to my stepson, Chris. The building at Juvie will be given to my second wife, Tremaine.”

The lawyer sighed in defeat when he finished but still had a relieved look on his face. It must’ve tired him sometimes.

I wiped a tear that rolled down my cheek. It was a beautiful conclusion to my whole turmoil, and hearing my mother’s name made me cry.

Our father had loved us exceedingly. Even if their marriage had issues, he never forgot her contributions in making him who he became.

I hoped they had reunited in the Goddess’ bosom.