Chapter 4 · The Cost of His Choice

My voice was steady, almost as if I was reciting tomorrow's weather forecast.

But the moment I slid out the first document, everyone in the room seemed to stop breathing for a second.

"This is the will of Evelyn Sinclair, founder of the Sinclair Group, officially notarized by the Northbridge Notary Public, document number 2024-00387."

I read it out, word by word, slow and clear.

Alex's expression finally shifted.

It wasn't the will that got to him.

It was the voice that suddenly cut through the room behind me, a voice he couldn't possibly ignore.

"Mr. Lane, I'm Peter Andrews, senior partner at Northbridge Legal Partners. I'm here on behalf of Evelyn's will execution committee, and I've been present for everything that's happened today," the voice said.

A man with salt-and-pepper hair walked in through the back door, followed by three lawyers in black suits, briefcases in hand. Their presence alone made everyone else in the room feel small.

Peter was one of the top three lawyers in the country when it came to business and civil law.

Every inheritance dispute he took on, he won. Not once did he lose.

Emily's legs buckled, and she took a half-step back.

Alex's Adam's apple bobbed, and for the first time ever, the hands that always stayed steady in the OR were now trembling.

He could choose not to believe me.

But there was no way Alex would dare pretend he didn't know Peter.

"What's going on?" he asked.

He turned to me, his voice no longer confident. "Charlotte, what are you—"

"Shut up," I snapped, cutting him off without a second thought.

Among the old friends who'd known Evelyn for decades, some were already quietly wiping away tears.

They stared at the ashes scattered all over the floor, then shot daggers at Emily, whose face had gone paper white, their eyes blazing with anger.

I pulled out the second document from the folder.

"This is the Sinclair Group's share transfer agreement. Before she passed, Ms. Evelyn Sinclair decided to hand over 72% of her shares in the Sinclair Group to her granddaughter, Charlotte Sinclair.

"The board signed off on it, and the transfer is already officially recorded with the regulatory bureau."

The Sinclair Group was worth 50 billion dollars.

Emily collapsed to the floor, her legs giving out beneath her.

Alex stood there, frozen, like he'd just been turned to stone.

I pulled out the third document. "This is the board resolution Evelyn Sinclair signed herself.

"First clause: From this moment on, every single project between the Sinclair Group and Lane Healthcare is over. Any contracts still in progress will be settled by the legal team.

"Second clause: Anyone Alex brought into management is fired, starting now.

"Third clause: The Sinclair Group will hold Alex accountable for using company resources to help Lane Healthcare while he was married to me. We're keeping the right to sue."

I read each clause aloud, my voice steady and unflinching.

With every word, Alex's face lost another shade of color.

When I finished the last clause, he finally spoke.

His voice was raspy, rough as sandpaper. "Charlotte you can't—"

"What is it you think I can't do?" My voice was icy, calm.

I looked him straight in the eye. "You managed not to save my grandmother. You really did it.

"I couldn't trade her life for your 'don't overthink it.' And you made sure of that, too.

"Now, let me show you—I'm capable of far more than you ever imagined."

Peter flipped open a folder, pulled out a stack of papers stamped with bright red seals, and shot Alex a smile that was all sharp edges and zero warmth.

"Mr. Lane, this is your divorce agreement. Per the prenup you signed, you walk away with nothing from the Sinclair Group, not a single share, not a single dollar. All that's left is for you to sign right here."

Alex didn't move.

Emily suddenly scrambled up from the floor, threw herself at Alex, and clung to his sleeve. "Alex! She's lying to you! How could just some kid like her possibly pull all this off?"

"Ms. Linwood." Peter adjusted his glasses, his voice calm and professional. "You might want to call your lawyer. There's a clause about you in Evelyn's will."

Emily's voice caught in her throat.

Emily stammered, "What?"

"Evelyn commissioned us to look into your background before she passed," Peter said.

He turned the page. "Emily Linwood, from Rivergate, age twenty-six, master's degree from Northbridge Medical University.

"The main data in your thesis is suspected of being fabricated. The evidence was already submitted to the university's academic committee three days ago.

"Also, during your internship at Northbridge First People's Hospital, there are suspicions that two of your surgical assistant records were forged. The evidence has been submitted to the Health Commission," I said.

Emily's face went green.

Not pale, her face actually turned green with shock.

"You you guys" she stammered.

"Quiet," I said.

I looked down at Emily, watching her squirm.

"When my grandmother was alive, you wouldn't have dared to even come near her," I said. "Now that she's gone, your days of smooth sailing are over."

Chapter 4

My voice was steady, almost as if I was reciting tomorrow's weather forecast.

But the moment I slid out the first document, everyone in the room seemed to stop breathing for a second.

"This is the will of Evelyn Sinclair, founder of the Sinclair Group, officially notarized by the Northbridge Notary Public, document number 2024-00387."

I read it out, word by word, slow and clear.

Alex's expression finally shifted.

It wasn't the will that got to him.

It was the voice that suddenly cut through the room behind me, a voice he couldn't possibly ignore.

A man with salt-and-pepper hair walked in through the back door, followed by three lawyers in black suits, briefcases in hand. Their presence alone made everyone else in the room feel small.

Peter was one of the top three lawyers in the country when it came to business and civil law.

Every inheritance dispute he took on, he won. Not once did he lose.

Emily's legs buckled, and she took a half-step back.

Alex's Adam's apple bobbed, and for the first time ever, the hands that always stayed steady in the OR were now trembling.

He could choose not to believe me.

But there was no way Alex would dare pretend he didn't know Peter.

"What's going on?" he asked.

He turned to me, his voice no longer confident. "Charlotte, what are you—"

"Shut up," I snapped, cutting him off without a second thought.

Among the old friends who'd known Evelyn for decades, some were already quietly wiping away tears.

They stared at the ashes scattered all over the floor, then shot daggers at Emily, whose face had gone paper white, their eyes blazing with anger.

I pulled out the second document from the folder.

"This is the Sinclair Group's share transfer agreement. Before she passed, Ms. Evelyn Sinclair decided to hand over 72% of her shares in the Sinclair Group to her granddaughter, Charlotte Sinclair.

"The board signed off on it, and the transfer is already officially recorded with the regulatory bureau."

The Sinclair Group was worth 50 billion dollars.

Emily collapsed to the floor, her legs giving out beneath her.

Alex stood there, frozen, like he'd just been turned to stone.

I pulled out the third document. "This is the board resolution Evelyn Sinclair signed herself.

"First clause: From this moment on, every single project between the Sinclair Group and Lane Healthcare is over. Any contracts still in progress will be settled by the legal team.

"Second clause: Anyone Alex brought into management is fired, starting now.

"Third clause: The Sinclair Group will hold Alex accountable for using company resources to help Lane Healthcare while he was married to me. We're keeping the right to sue."

I read each clause aloud, my voice steady and unflinching.

With every word, Alex's face lost another shade of color.

When I finished the last clause, he finally spoke.

His voice was raspy, rough as sandpaper. "Charlotte you can't—"

"What is it you think I can't do?" My voice was icy, calm.

I looked him straight in the eye. "You managed not to save my grandmother. You really did it.

"I couldn't trade her life for your 'don't overthink it.' And you made sure of that, too.

"Now, let me show you—I'm capable of far more than you ever imagined."

Peter flipped open a folder, pulled out a stack of papers stamped with bright red seals, and shot Alex a smile that was all sharp edges and zero warmth.

Alex didn't move.

Emily suddenly scrambled up from the floor, threw herself at Alex, and clung to his sleeve. "Alex! She's lying to you! How could just some kid like her possibly pull all this off?"

"Ms. Linwood." Peter adjusted his glasses, his voice calm and professional. "You might want to call your lawyer. There's a clause about you in Evelyn's will."

Emily's voice caught in her throat.

Emily stammered, "What?"

"Evelyn commissioned us to look into your background before she passed," Peter said.

He turned the page. "Emily Linwood, from Rivergate, age twenty-six, master's degree from Northbridge Medical University.

"The main data in your thesis is suspected of being fabricated. The evidence was already submitted to the university's academic committee three days ago.

Emily's face went green.

Not pale, her face actually turned green with shock.

"You you guys" she stammered.

"Quiet," I said.

I looked down at Emily, watching her squirm.

"When my grandmother was alive, you wouldn't have dared to even come near her," I said. "Now that she's gone, your days of smooth sailing are over."