Chapter 2
"What condition? Name it! If you sign, I'll agree to anything!" Helen's hands shook with excitement.
Emily opened her tablet and pulled up a file.
"I built this company from scratch. Started with 150 grand in capital, now it's worth a billion.
"Lucas burned through 1.3 million in college, another 2.7 million for two years abroad, and last year he totaled that Porsche—cost the company a million in damages. All from the company account."
Her tone stayed flat, like she was reading from a manual.
Lucas' face turned bright red. "Emily, why are you being so petty? We're family!"
"Family or not, accounts should be settled clearly," Emily replied.
She continued, "Mom and Dad's three villas, two cars, and the annual dividends—about 17 million total.
"I don't want any of it."
Richard's eyes lit up.
"But," Emily said, "my 60% stake is currently worth about 600 million.
"If you want it, you're going to pay."
"How much?" Lucas asked warily.
Emily held up three fingers. "Three million."
The other three froze.
Six hundred million in shares for three million?
That wasn't a discount—that was practically a giveaway.
"Emily, you... you're serious?" Helen asked cautiously, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Yep," Emily said, pulling a portable printer from her bag. She connected it to her phone and started printing.
The printer whirred and spat out two sheets of paper.
She slapped them on the bedside table.
"This is an Agreement to Sever Family Ties. Sign it—the notary's ready, we can do it online right now.
"Once the three million hits my account, I'll sign the share transfer immediately. From today on, whatever happens to the Bennett family or the company—it has nothing to do with me."
She looked at Richard lying in bed, gaze sharp as a scalpel.
"Dad, weren't you always scared I'd steal the family fortune? Well, now I'm handing it all to your son. All I want is my freedom. Pretty good deal, right?"
Richard stared at the paper.
His mind raced, calculating.
Trade 600 million for three million and lose a daughter?
This was a steal.
Emily was trouble—always scheming, always hiding something. If she stuck around, she'd cause problems eventually. Kick her out, and the company would finally be a solid Bennett family business. No loose cannons.
"Sign it!" Richard slapped his thigh, oxygen mask slipping. "Sign it now! Whoever backs out is a coward!"
Emily's lips curved into a cold smile, sharp as an icicle.
"Transfer the money," she said.
Lucas fumbled for his phone, logging into the company finance account. As VP of finance, he barely had the clearance.
Emily's phone vibrated.
Payment received.
She checked the balance. Correct amount.
Then she grabbed the pen and signed the Agreement to Sever Family Ties in one smooth stroke.
Her signature was so forceful it nearly tore through the page.
Next, the Share Transfer Agreement.
Emily signed.
The whole thing took under three minutes.
"Done." Emily snapped the pen cap shut with a sharp click.
"Congrats, Mr. Bennett." She looked at Lucas. "This dump... I mean, this fine company—it's all yours."
Lucas gripped the papers so tight his face twisted with glee.
He triple-checked the signatures, making sure everything was legit, then let out a sharp whistle.
"Emi—oh wait, Ms. Bennett," Lucas said with a smug grin. "This was your choice.
"So don't come crawling back when you blow through that cash. By then, even the security guard won't recognize you."
Helen finally relaxed, beaming as she patted Lucas on the back. "My son's made it—he's chairman now!
"Work hard and show all those people who looked down on us!"