Chapter 2
My words exploded in the dining room like a grenade, shaking everyone to their core.
Everyone froze, staring at me in shock.
James' brows furrowed tightly, his expression screaming disbelief. He probably thought I'd lost my mind.
"Charlotte, do you even know what you're saying?" he snapped.
I retorted, "Kicking you out is the last bit of dignity I'm giving you!"
My mom was shaking with rage, pointing right in my face. "Are you rebelling against us now? After raising you for so many years, this is how you talk to us?
"If we'd known you'd turn out like this, we never would've let you come back!"
They raised me?
With my grandparents' money, no less?
I was sneering inside, but outwardly, I stayed calm.
I ignored their shouting, slowly and deliberately pulling a manila envelope from my bag.
With a loud smack, I tossed the envelope onto the lazy Susan in the center of the table.
The marble tabletop thudded heavily.
Everyone's eyes snapped to the envelope.
"What's this?" Richard asked, sounding cautious.
"Why don't you open it and see for yourself?" I replied.
I leaned back, arms crossed, watching them calmly.
James was the closest. He shot me a suspicious look, then snatched up the envelope and pulled out the papers inside.
He barely glanced at them before his eyes went wide in shock.
"No way!" he blurted out, looking like he'd seen a ghost. "There's no way! Why would Grandpa and Grandma..."
My mom, panicked, snatched the papers from him.
"What are you talking about? Quit being so dramatic!" she snapped.
She and Richard huddled together, poring over every single word.
And then, right before my eyes, their faces went ghostly pale.
The air felt frozen, thick with tension.
The only sound in the dining room was their heavy breathing.
Nina, still sobbing in James' arms, had no clue what was going on. She tugged at his sleeve, her voice trembling.
"James, what's happening? What's that?" she asked.
James didn't answer her. He locked his gaze on me, his eyes filled with shock, confusion, and even... fear.
Yes, that was fear.
I could see it as clear as crystal.
I slowly stood up, walked over to the table, and towered over them.
"Do you get it now?" I asked.
My voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the silence, reaching every ear in the room.
"Five years ago, Grandpa and Grandma transferred every single thing they owned to me. This villa, 70% of Foster Holdings, and every last asset, movable or immovable," I said.
I paused, letting my gaze sweep over their stunned, devastated faces.
Then I flashed a bright, almost cruel smile.
"Forgot to tell you," I said. "For the past five years, every dollar you spent and every corner you called home all belonged to me."
The house fell into a dead silence.
The papers in Richard's hand drifted down to the floor, but he didn't even notice.
His lips quivered as he pointed at me, struggling to form a complete sentence. "You... you..."
Helen was completely drained, slumped in her chair, barely able to move as she muttered to herself.
"It's fake... This has to be fake..." she whispered, her voice shaking. "They always favored James. How could they give everything to you?"
James was the first to react. He slammed his hand down on the table and shouted at me, "Charlotte! You forged the inheritance papers!
"You actually faked Grandpa and Grandma's will to fight for the family fortune? You're insane!"
I looked at him, all tough on the outside but weak inside, and honestly, I found it utterly laughable.
"Forged?" I echoed, my tone cold and mocking.
I pulled out my phone and pressed a number.
"Mr. Rivers, you can come in now," I said.
Less than a minute later, the dining room door swung open.
A middle-aged man in a sharp black suit and gold-rimmed glasses walked in, with two assistants following behind.
It was my grandpa's personal lawyer, Warren Rivers.
Warren spotted us, gave a slight bow, and walked straight over to me.
"Madam, everything you asked for is ready," he said.
He handed me a much thicker envelope, then turned to my family, who were all frozen in shock.
"Hello, everyone," he addressed them.
There wasn't a hint of emotion in Warren Rivers' voice.
"As instructed by Mr. Philip Foster and Mrs. Amy Foster, I am here today to officially announce and execute their inheritance plan, now that Ms. Charlotte Foster has returned home at the age of 23," Warren stated.
"The documents Charlotte presented are the legally binding property gift contract and share transfer agreement. All the necessary procedures were completed five years ago," he continued.
He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and went on. "In other words, from a legal standpoint, Charlotte is now the sole legitimate heir to this household and Foster Holdings."
Every word landed like a heavy blow, shaking them to their core.
Richard's face went from pale to red, then to livid. He pointed angrily at Warren.
"Warren, you're my father's lawyer! How could you side with this rebellious daughter and try to deceive us?" Richard shouted, his fury barely contained.
Warren remained completely unfazed. "Mr. Richard Foster, I act solely on behalf of my clients. Mr. Philip Foster and Mrs. Amy Foster are the ones who retained me."
"Additionally," he continued, "They left a supplementary agreement."
He pulled another sheet of paper from the envelope.
Warren said, "According to the agreement, once Ms. Charlotte Foster officially takes over the estate, you may temporarily stay in this villa, but you'll need to pay market rent to Ms. Charlotte Foster each month.
"Additionally, your positions in the company will be terminated, and all company vehicles and secondary credit cards will be revoked.
"As for your living expenses..."
Warren paused, glancing at me.
I smiled and finished his sentence for him. "As for your living expenses, that all depends on how I feel.
"Weren't you all saying I was broke? Guess what? Looks like the tables have turned."