Chapter 39 I Was There When She Died


    s


    Kylie’s face turned bright red. Even though she knew she had messed Tess up, she still tried to argue back.


    “What’s done is done. Besides, you’re the one who didn’t keep your files safe. You left them at my ce and didn’t even bother to take them home. So it’s not all your sister’s fault they disappeared.”


    She pulled Nadine close like a shield and shot Tess a cold re.


    Tess stepped back. “What did you just say?


    “Want me to remind you? You told me to lock the files in your safe and said you’d hold onto them for me. You told me…


    “Tess, only you and Mom know the code. Our families are basically one now, and I’ve been the Locks‘wyer for years. Even if Finn finds out, he won’t care. Don’t worry about it.’


    “Once I’m done, I’ll give them back. Mom’s been awyer forever–she knows leaks are dangerous better than anyone. Can’t you just trust her this once?“”


    That was the only slip–up Tess ever made in her whole career.


    And it was the one thing that dragged her straight into the worst nightmare of her life.


    Her real mistake? She trusted her own mom. Just once.


    Their weird back–and–forth confused Bemy so much that he did not know where to look.


    It felt like he had just heard a huge family secret by ident.


    He shrank into himself, wishing he could vanish on the spot.


    Kylie turned away as if nothing happened. “A will needs two witnesses, right? But you’re the only one here, Bemy. Besides Tess, who else can prove this will is real?“.


    Tess’s hands twitched as her heart hammered in her chest.


    Tess’s mom was awyer, and before she ever married into the Embers, she was already well- known in legal circles. Back then, she was also making waves in politics and caught a lot of attention. So when people heard Kylie was her daughter, they were not surprised for long- they just nodded like it all made sense.


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    Chapter 39 I Was There When She Died


    People always said the same thing.


    “Of course, she’s this good. She takes after her mom’s amazing talent.”


    Even if her mom always liked her sister more, Tess was still her kid too. Every time she thought about it, she felt a weird mix of pride and hope.


    She had only been awyer for three years when she cracked some big cases that left all of Aetheris stunned. The veteranwyers would not stop praising her as a born genius.


    Sometimes she used to wonder–if her mom knew, would she be proud?


    Yet, deep down, she always knew the answer was no.


    Her mom, who should have understood better than anyone how hard she had worked, never once acknowledged it. Instead, she poured all her love into Nadine, who had barely scraped by with a simple thesis.


    And it had always been like that. Even now.


    Tess had already given up hope.


    She stopped living for anyone’s approval anymore–only for her daughter, La.


    She blinked, forcing herself to ept that her mother’s years of legal skills were now turned against her.


    Bemy looked like he was about to break out in a cold sweat, the will in his hands suddenly feeling like a ticking bomb.


    He was an old–schoolwyer with a pretty solid reputation, but now he was stuck between three people: a retired legal powerhouse, an ex–prodigy who had once made headlines, and the Lock Group’s starwyer.


    Sweat dripped down his temples,


    “Uh…”


    “If yo


    #


    can’t back it up, Bemy, then this will is worthless,” Kylie cut in sharply.


    Bemy took a deep breath. “When Mrs. Larson wrote this will, I really was the only one there. But it was special circumstances. She was on her deathbed. By the time the notary came, she was already gone…


    ”


    “So who knows if you and Tess faked it together? Maybe she forged it herself. Or maybe she


    Chapter 39 I Was There When She Died


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    was losing her mind and it doesn’t mean anything,” Nadine added, folding her arms and throwing Tess a smug look.


    Tess’s fists tightened.


    “Since there’s this much doubt, I can’t move forward. The inheritance transfer will have to wait.”


    Bemy sighed.


    He was already regretting stepping foot/in this mess.


    He wiped his brow, shut the file, and decided to bow out for now.


    It was not exactly what Kylie wanted, but at least it bought her time toe up with her next


    move.


    She nodded.


    Bemy jumped on the chance to escape. “I’ll be in touch,” he said, then bolted out like he could not wait to wash his hands of this mess.


    Nadine stepped up right behind Tess, leaning in so close Tess could feel her breath on her neck.


    “You’re not getting a single cent of that old hag’s money,” she hissed.


    Tess’s face stayed like stone.


    Nadine smirked. “I was there when she died, you know.”


    That one line cracked Tess’s frozen expression for the first time.


    So Nadine had heard the will and could confirm it.


    Yet, she would never do it.


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    Seeing Tess’s reaction, Nadine’s eyes gleamed like she’d found Tess’sst weak spot. “I was standing right outside the door. Even when she was about to croak, she still called Too bad you were rotting in jail then, huh? She spoiled you your whole life–so what? Everything she left behind still goes to me.”


    Tess’s walls finally buckled. Her chest rose and fell fast, her eyes no longer ice but fire that was about to explode. She was shaking with rage, barely holding it in.