CHAPTER 171: CHAPTER 171: IT’S NOT YOUR PLACE TO DECIDE

Autumn Lowell found an opportunity to sit down with Sophia Lowell.

Autumn’s face showed an unmistakable fatigue.

"Mom, what on earth happened?" Sophia asked anxiously.

Knowing she couldn’t hide it, Autumn explained everything to her in detail.

The main catalyst was that Zeke Lowell, now elderly, wanted to retire from the internet industry, so he divided the company’s shares equally among the family in his will.

Zeke Lowell had no sons, only two daughters, Yana Lowell and Autumn Lowell.

The will was very clear: Autumn Lowell, Yana Lowell, Ian Lynch, Shelley Lynch, and Sophia Lowell each received 15% of the shares, and it had already been notarized.

Autumn hadn’t really wanted them either; she just wanted to live quietly and freely as before.

Neither Ian nor Yana had any objections to this.

But Shelley wasn’t happy about it.

She felt that Autumn and Sophia came back to fight for the family assets, plus she had just graduated, her parents didn’t care for business, and Ian had his own career.

As long as no one else got involved, Lowell Family’s property would all fall into Shelley’s hands alone.

Now, suddenly two people appeared and took away 30% of the shares, making her undeniably uncomfortable.

Because of this, they didn’t argue openly, but Shelley was extremely hostile to Autumn both openly and subtly at home.

Yana and Ian’s father often counseled her, while Shelley made quite a fuss with the family in private several times.

For this reason, the Lowell Family was quite troubled.

Zeke Lowell nearly became ill from stress.

"Mom, you should move out first."

Zoe Walsh had given Autumn 22 properties, so she could live anywhere in the city.

Autumn had the same plan, as Zoe had suggested the same thing a couple of days ago, which she too intended to do.

"Okay." Autumn nodded.

"I’ll ask Grandpa about the shares issue a bit later." Sophia couldn’t make a decision immediately.

Everyone understood Zeke’s feelings; Autumn was his heartache.

Zeke was supposed to come today, but there was no sign of him yet.

"This matter has been a big blow to your grandpa, I wasn’t really expecting anything, if it can be resolved peacefully, it’d be less of a suffering for everyone," Autumn patted Sophia’s hand.

"I know, Mom."

"You should go, Zane seems to be waiting for you." Autumn glanced at Zane Sterling, who wasn’t far away.

Zane was chatting with Ian, his expression wasn’t very good, but when he looked at Sophia, his expression was so gentle.

They were likely talking about the same thing.

Zane wasn’t exactly waiting for her, but looking like he feared she’d run away, eager to tuck her into his pocket and take her everywhere.

"Okay." Sophia responded.

Autumn left, walking with Zoe Walsh.

Sophia didn’t go to Zane, instead she sat on the picnic mat on the lawn, quietly eating the desserts brought by Bianca White.

"Cousin." The voice came from Shelley, who walked over from not far away.

Sophia smiled, "Shelley, cousin."

She wore a white dress, her long slightly wavy hair looked graceful and elegant.

Only the fiery red color on her nails seemed to steal the spotlight.

"You’re really just like Aunt," she sneered, unable to hide the sarcasm on her face.

Sophia knew what she meant by "just like," and couldn’t help but feel an increased dislike for her.

She smiled lightly, took a bite of dessert, "The Lowell Family is naturally excellent, too bad it seems you haven’t inherited it even slightly."

"Cousin, don’t speak so harshly, even dirty things aside, don’t drag the Lowell Family down, what kind of Lowell Family member are you?" Shelley said, sitting opposite Sophia as no one else was around.

Both of them sat cross-legged, seeming to chat pleasantly from afar, but most people could probably guess what was really going on.

"Dirty? Who’s dirty?" Sophia asked.

"Cousin, I’ll just say it straight, before you came back, Grandpa had already decided to give all the shares to us. You came back at this time with such an obvious intention, just wanting to share the spoils. I’m willing to pay, name your price, how much to give up the shares."

"Cousin, first let me clarify, it wasn’t us choosing to come back at this time, it was Grandpa who went to fetch Mom personally. Secondly, the shares in Grandpa’s hands are his to give to whomever he pleases before they are officially released.

Lastly, Grandpa’s children are my mom and your mom, we are merely incidental, it’s not up to you to decide."

Shelley was left speechless by Sophia’s clear reasoning.

Sophia continued, "The family has always favored you, yet over the issue of the shares, you make such a fuss. If there really is any change to the will, do you think Grandpa will still divide the shares to you?"

"Sophia, you’d better watch what you say," Shelley warned, realizing something.

"What did I say wrong?"

"You weren’t wrong," Shelley sneered maliciously, "Cousin, take your time eating."

Shelley stood up, put on her shoes, and left.

Sophia didn’t actually want any shares; they were troublesome, not to mention that Yana and Mr. Lynch had been helping Zeke manage the family business for some time, and she and Autumn did indeed come back later. If she just took the shares like that, it would invite gossip and criticism.

But Shelley’s attitude was infuriating. Even if she didn’t want the shares, she had to stand her ground.

Besides, Zeke likely couldn’t rest easy in his heart.

These shares were both desirable and undesirable.

Shortly after Shelley left, she made a phone call.

[Sis, you were right, that woman has a sharp tongue and seems quite calculating, what should I do?]

The other side said something that made Shelley laugh and respond affirmatively.

[Sis, you’re really something!]

After the call, Shelley walked toward Zane and Ian.

"Bro, Sterling," Shelley’s sweet voice and pure appearance attracted quite a bit of attention from the relatives.

Ian responded only with a hum and didn’t say anything else; Ian was even more sullen than Zane, and he had even less patience for Shelley’s temper.

He felt that this sister of his lacked proper upbringing, that despite an already near-perfect family, she had been spoiled.

In contrast, looking at Sophia, even though she only had her mother by her side growing up, the temperament she exuded was undeniably admirable.

The Sterling Family really had a keen insight; if he didn’t have a bit of capability himself, Willow Sterling might not have even looked at him.

Zane glanced at Shelley and then directed his gaze to Sophia, who was leisurely enjoying her dessert a short distance away.

She seemed composed, as if nothing had happened.

Seeing that she hadn’t been at a disadvantage, he felt relieved.

At Shelley’s level, she was no match for Sophia at all.

"Why aren’t you guys talking to me?" Shelley pouted.

Do you really not understand why they’re ignoring you?

Shelley didn’t seem to mind, as these two blockheads rarely paid much attention to her anyway.

"Sterling, I want the same dessert that Sophia is having."

Zane ignored her request and instead spoke firmly, "Call her sister-in-law."

"She’s not even as pretty as Sawyer..."

Shelley hadn’t finished her sentence before Ian grabbed her arm and pushed her away.

"If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak at all; nobody’s going to think you’re dumb!"

Ian pushed her away, while Zane, hands in pockets, looked at her with an ambiguous coldness in his eyes.

Tim Sawyer and Shelley attended the same school, they were senior and junior. They met through Zane, and they maintained a relatively good relationship.

Today, she actually mentioned this person in such a context.

Zane cast a sidelong glance before turning around to find his woman.