?Chapter 497:


    Katelyn’s voice wavered as she asked, “What is it?” Austen tightened his fists, closing his eyes for a moment as if gathering the courage to speak. “The butler… he diedst night.”


    Katelyn felt the news strike her like a physical blow, stunning her for a moment. She turned to look at the second mourning band on Austen’s arm.


    “That can’t be! The butler was always so healthy!” she blurted out, her expression one of disbelief. Though her encounters with the butler had been brief, his steadfast devotion to the Earl had left asting impression on her. A chilling thought suddenly gripped her, making her heart race. Before she could process the full implication, Austen voiced her darkest fear.


    “He took his own life,” Austen said, his voice heavy. “He believed his life was a gift from my father when he saved him and brought him home. And with my father gone, he thought it was his duty to follow him in death to continue his service.”


    A torrent of emotions overwhelmed Katelyn—grief, shock, and disbelief tangled painfully in her heart. For a moment, words failed her. She had only ever heard of such extreme loyalty in old stories, where servants followed their masters to death. Now, it was happening right in front of her in the real world.


    Looking at Austen, who was consumed by grief, she understood that no words could heal the pain they shared. In such times, words felt empty, inadequate to offerfort.


    Even Addison seemed deeply affected by the news. His voice was soft and respectful. “Their connection was deeper than any simple familial bond. What they shared was genuine.”


    Austen didn’t reply, closing his eyes again, as if to block out the sadness. He had always believed that, without his father, at least the butler would remain by his side. Now, with both gone, he felt utterly alone.


    Katelyn’s voice was soft and soothing. “They’re both watching over you now, Austen. They’d want you to live well, to find happiness.”


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    Austen gave a small nod but said nothing.


    Addison returned to his duties, organizing the documents they had both presented. Beyond the castle’s deed, all other assets of the estate were to be divided equally between Katelyn and Austen. Addison exined, “If neither of you epts the inheritance, the assets will be held in trust. Eventually, they would pass to the next in line for session—Heather.”


    Yata’s inheritancews had peculiar requirements, with a strict order of session. Initially, the inheritance would go to the spouse, followed by the children. If they declined, it moved to siblings, extending outward based on the closeness of kin. If Katelyn and Austen both rejected their inheritance, Heather would inherit everything—a prospect neither of them wanted.


    Katelyn pondered briefly, then suggested, “How about we give it all to charity?” Addison adjusted his sses, his expression turning serious. “I appreciate your intentions, Miss Bailey. It’s clear that the fortune doesn’t interest you. However, I must warn you, donating the entire sum might not yield the impact you’re expecting.”


    Katelyn turned to him, puzzled. “What do you mean?” Addison exhaled slowly, taking a moment before he replied, “Frankly, only a fraction of charitable donations actually benefits those it’s meant to help. Much of it disappears within the system.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “Regrettably, the charity sector in Yata is gued by corruption. For example, if you were to donate ten thousand dors, after navigating through the bureaucraticyers, only a negligible amount—say ten dors—might actually reach those in need.”<fn198c> Get full chapters from find?novel</fn198c>


    This was a harsh truth about the charity industry. Some greedy businessmen had exploited this sector, leveraging the generosity of donors for their own gain. Addison’s example was just the tip of the iceberg in this vast corruption. There were maniptions beyond what most could imagine. These individuals could also make substantial profits even from buying supplies meant for the needy.


    Katelyn’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Are you implying that all charities operate this way?” Addison answered thoughtfully, “Not all of them, but it’s amon issue here in Yata. There are some reputable organizations, but they are few, and distinguishing the trustworthy ones is challenging. Plus, we mustn’t overlook the castle issue.”


    Katelyn pursed her lips, deep in thought. The entire nation believed that the castle supposedly concealed a hidden treasure. Having it felt like sitting on a ticking time bomb; it was only a matter of time before it attracted unwanted attention.


    Katelyn was about to respond when her phone rang, its sharp, urgent tone cutting through the tense silence of the room.


    This version improves the flow by using “cutting through the tense silence,” which maintains the sense of urgency while enhancing the overall rity. Let me know if you’d like any further adjustments!


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