Rising From Betrayal Reborn As The Family Outcast (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 170

Chapter 170

Leo gradually calmed down. “Looks like you and your brothers will have to transfer your shares to me for the time being.”

That major shareholder had quite a following within the company.

Only by holding more shares than him could they stay in control of the company’s decisions.

Kevin said, “Austin and the others are focused on their own businesses, and they really count on those annual dividends from their shares. I don’t know if they’ll be willing to hand them over.”

Leo frowned. “They’ve always had plenty of money from us. Right now, it doesn’t matter if they want to or not–they have

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“We’ll try to buy up any remaining shares out there. Once we’ve secured control of the company, we can always give their shares back later,” he added.

He then instructed, “Go talk to them properly.”

Kevin nodded. “Alright.”

He hesitated for a second, then asked carefully, “Dad, are you really thinking about giving any shares to Mavis and Nicole in the future?”

Leo froze for a second, surprised.

After thinking it over, he said, “I’ll give them a bit, just so they’ll have something to fall back on if I’m not around someday.

“Your mom left something for all of you when she passed, didn’t she?” he added.

Kevin couldn’t hold back and argued, “It’s totally different. Mom bought all that with her own money–not a cent from the family’s assets.

“And Nicole isn’t even your own flesh and blood.

“Wasn’t Mavis always saying she married into our family just to get away from her ex and find some peace? It was never about chasing our family’s money.

“You guys signed a prenup before you got married, and we’ve never shortchanged Mavis and Nicole all these years.

“Honestly, just making sure they’re set for life is more than enough.”

Leo fixed Kevin with a piercing stare. “What are you getting at? I’m not dead yet, and you’re already thinking about the

inheritance?

“Mavis and Nicole have been part of this family for years. They’ve looked after me and all of you. Maybe they haven’t made any big contributions, but they’ve worked hard and done their part.

“All these years, I’ve treated Nicole like my own daughter, and you guys have looked out for her like a sister. So what’s the harm in giving them some assets and shares?”

Kevin felt a knot in his stomach as he listened to his dad.

‘Dad’s really all about Mavis and Nicole now… Did he seriously forget about Mom? Kevin thought.

He couldn’t hold back and asked, “Dad, is Mom still in your heart?

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Chapter 170

“Did you really marry Mavis just so she could take care of Ally and Caleb?”

Leo stared at him, shocked. “What are you trying to say? Do you really think there was something going on between me and Mavis before?

“Listen, I never did anything to let your mom down.

“She’ll always be irreplaceable in my heart.”

He loved his wife with all his heart. When she died, it shattered him completely.

“I swear on my heart, when I married Mavis, it was because she was thoughtful and dependable. I knew she would keep the family together and look after all of you.

“Plus, she came from a simple background, and because of her health, she couldn’t have any more children. She’d never pose a threat to you or your inheritance,” he said.

His face darkened as he said coldly, “I did all this for your sake, and you still question me?”

Kevin pressed his lips together. “But did she really ever take care of Ally?

“Ally’s always said Mavis and Nicole were secretly out to get her. Mavis even tried to mess her up for good, like she wanted to ruin her.

“Now she’s been forced to the point where she had to cut ties with us.

“Are you really telling me Mavis and Nicole never did anything shady behind our backs?”

Once the seed of doubt is planted in someone’s mind, it’s impossible to stop it from growing.

Over the years, Kevin honestly saw Nicole as his own little sister.

She was always clinging to them, totally relying on the family, and honestly, letting her have her way now and then never really rocked the boat.

But now that Alicia had really cut ties with them, she was never going to care about them the way she used to.

That was when Kevin realized just how much it hurt. No matter what, Alicia would always be the one who mattered most.

But she’d already turned her back on them.

Kevin pressed on, “You married Mavis to take care of the family, but do you actually care about her now? How much does she really mean to you?

“You told me not to look into what they’ve been up to. Are you really taking their side now?

“So, Dad, who really matters more to you now–Mom, or Mavis?

“And between Ally, your own daughter, and Nicole, your stepdaughter–who’s more important to you?”

In Kevin’s heart, no one could ever take his mom’s place.

They’d always treated Nicole well, but that didn’t mean she was truly family.

And no one could ever replace Alicia.

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