?Chapter 493:
Heather’s eyes gleamed with malice. She had only returned for the will, and despite years of estrangement from her brother, she was shocked to find herself left with nothing.
Westin interjected, “I doubt this so-called ‘young master’ is even Uncle Dous’ biological son. And Katelyn—there’s no blood rtion. Why would he leave such arge inheritance to her?”
Addison, the executor, gave them a stern look. “The contents of the will were determined by Earl Poulos himself before his passing. I am here only to announce his decisions. If you disagree, you are wee to challenge them legally.”
Heather stepped forward aggressively, sneering. “I will sue, and I’ll take this story global! I’ll expose you as a fraud who tampered with the will. You’ll never work in this field again!”
She turned to the gathered reporters. “Did you catch that? Thiswyer will do anything for money!” The media cameras shed incessantly, capturing every moment of the spectacle.
The announcement of such an unusual inheritance, involving a foreigner with no apparent family ties, captivated the media.
Katelyn remained silent, having expected such a reaction the moment Heather and Westin arrived. Perhaps Earl Poulos had predicted this exact scene, which exined the extensive press presence as witnesses.
Heather then turned her fury on Katelyn. “Why did my brother leave you so much? Did you seduce him?”
“Mrs. Reynolds, please be cautious with your usations,” the butler interjected sharply. “We will not allow His Lordship’s reputation to be tarnished.”
Westin quickly added, “If there’s no other exnation, why did he leave everything to her? We will use every legal avenue to ensure that your greed does not go unpunished.”
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Mother and son were clearly aligned in their efforts to ruin Katelyn’s reputation.
Katelyn responded with a frosty stare. “I truly don’t understand Earl Poulos’ decision, but I refuse to ept any part of the inheritance. I will transfer everything to Austen.” As Earl Poulos’ legitimate heir, Austen was the rightful recipient.
Rising from his seat, Austen’s eyes reddened with anger, his fury barely contained. “I, too, will not ept the inheritance,” he dered. “Everything will be donated to charity.” For him, the wealth meant nothing without his father.
Heather and Westin were stunned, their faces flushed with outrage. They couldn’t fathom Austen’s decision to donate the fortune rather than pass it on to them. Westin, his grief forgotten,shed out in arrogance.
“What do you think you are? A mere bastard child with murky origins!” he spat. “You’re conspiring with thewyer to fabricate a will, and now you pretend to rid yourself of it by iming charity?”
He spat on the floor in a show of utter disdain.
Austen’s fists clenched, his eyes burning with fury. The term “bastard child” stirred painful memories of the insults and violence he had faced during his training years, memories that led to the fatal beating of the offender.<fn94d0> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FιndＮovel</fn94d0>
It had been years since Austen had encountered someone as confrontational as Westin. Westin, now on the receiving end of a prating stare, recoiled slightly, intimidated by the palpable intensity radiating from Austen. “Why such a formidable presence?” Westin wondered to himself. Austen’s gaze felt suffocating.
Swallowing his fear, Westin realized he couldn’t afford to lose any more dignity. The implications for his social standing were too great. He doubted that Austen would escte to violence in front of an audience, but the tension in the room was thickening.
Katelyn, observing the exchange, was overwhelmed by a tumult of emotions. She saw Westin’s arrogance as a precursor to his inevitable downfall.
“What’s wrong with calling you a bastard child?” Westin sneered. “You have no heritage, yet you im a right to this fortune!”
In a sudden surge of movement, Austen reacted, his expression a mix of fury and finality.
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