The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 478

The lawyer led the group into a vacant family consultation room next to the morgue.

The room was small, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. Willa sat in a chair against the wall with Tessa hovering right beside her. The mother and daughter huddled closely together, tear streaks still visible on their faces.

Sloane stood near the door, flanked by Garrison and Josh, who formed a silent, unyielding protective barrier behind her.

Nathaniel Shaw pulled a neatly bound document from his briefcase. The word "Will" was printed on the cover. The wax seal was completely intact, bearing the distinct crest of Jackson's personal stamp on the dark red wax.

He displayed the document to the room, proving the seal hadn't been tampered with, then used a slender letter opener to slice through the wax right in front of them.

He swept his gaze across the room, his voice a model of professional stability. "I am Nathaniel Shaw, Mr. Jackson's lawyer. I was commissioned by Mr. Taylor prior to his passing to read his will upon his death. Everyone present—Willa, Tessa, and Sloane—are all beneficiaries named in this document."

He opened the file and began to read.

The first half of the will dictated the distribution of real estate and cash assets:

The penthouse at The Platinum Heights was left to Willa. Two additional commercial properties and a sum of cash from a bank account were to be co-inherited by Willa and Tessa.

Willa's shoulders relaxed slightly. Tessa kept her lips pressed tightly together, sharing a brief, knowing look with her mother.

Then, the lawyer flipped to the final page.

The lawyer raised a hand, signaling for her to calm down, and continued. "Please be patient. Mr. Jackson specifically added a supplementary clause to this will. Allow me to read it."

"I am leaving the company shares to Sloane not simply because she is my eldest daughter, but because Sloane, as an outstanding graduate of Riverdale University's economics and management department, possesses the professional capabilities to run the company. Until she graduates and obtains her degree, company affairs will be managed by the current vice president of Taylor Manufacturing Corp, Howard. Upon Sloane's graduation, she will officially assume full control of all company operations."

As soon as the words landed, Willa and Tessa collapsed back into their chairs, the color draining entirely from their faces.

Willa gripped the armrests so hard her knuckles turned white, her lips trembling as she muttered the same phrase over and over. "This is impossible... this is impossible... He couldn't have done this to us... This will has to be a fake!"

Mr. Shaw closed the will, remaining unfazed by Willa's accusations. His expression maintained its absolute professional calm.