CHAPTER 36: GREGOR’S WILL PART 2

Braelyn’s POV

Olivia’s lips pursed into a thin stretch. Ronan sighed like a weight was lifted before glancing at Mr Walters to start the proceedings.

"You can proceed since everyone is here." The lawyer nodded. Lucien strode into old Gregor’s study, his gaze flickering towards me. A sign of genuine curiosity. I tried to avoid his gaze, I didn’t want it to look intentional

My eyes coincidentally fell on Raphael who had a Porcelain calm expression. His gaze was locked on Lucien with a look in his eyes which was hard for me to figure out.

I glanced at Lucien, who shrugged like it was nothing; his taunting smile didn’t slip my attention. They didn’t like each other but something changed. I ignored them, not in the mood to wrack my brains.

The lawyer’s calm voice drew all our attention. "Before I start reading about the property division. The late Mr Volkov wanted to let you know he loved every one of his family and specifically left some letters for his children and Braelyn, his best friend’s daughter." He explained then pulled out some letters.

They were four in number. Olivia was genuinely stunned knowing her father had left her a letter. Ronan and Lucien didn’t have much of a reaction but I was curious. What did Gregor have to tell me?

I glanced at the envelope labelled with my maiden name, Aldersheim Braelyn. He cleared his throat once more and started talking about the property division and everyone’s attention was locked on him.

Honestly, at this point, I didn’t care about how the fortune was divided. I would have in the past when Raphael and I were on good terms. Before passing on the chairman of the Volkov conglomerate was not successfully passed on

I guess Gregor didn’t expect his death to be so sudden. We all expected to know who he was going to give the decision shares to today. Everyone including me had a good guess that it would be Raphael

Not only was he the only grandson and son of Gregor’s eldest child and son. Rapheal had been performing excellently in the company these past years learning diligently from Ronan. The companies under his management were doing very well

Despite being a horrible husband, I would not fail to recognise his business genius. Even Ronan himself had once mentioned in a family meeting in the past to Gregor that it would be better if Raphael took over and not him.

Ronan was also exceptional, but he has been working as the vice chairman for years, although he was technically the one running things since Gregor was old. Ronan suggested that having the newer generation would be better.

I never understood why he didn’t pitch himself who had been doing the work for years.

The only stumbling block to Raphael’s path was, of course, Lucien, the reckless black sheep who didn’t know anything about the family business. He was actually given a position he didn’t perform and just took his salary and wages.

Gregor was rumoured to love Lucien and highly favoured him. I once overheard Olivia talk about Gregor’s obsession with his late mother. There was the chance that Gregor made the mistake of giving Lucien the deciding shares.

The listing started with Ronan, as expected, he was given a huge chunk of Gregor’s properties, both landed and in monetary terms, including this very estate. Ronan was also giving some shares but it was enough to hold power.

I wondered if Gregor wanted his children to battle for the position. Olivia was next, and it turned out that her father still loved her, although their relationship was strained. She was given a lot of properties abroad considering her condition as a divorcee. Cash and even shares were given.

Her daughters were also given some properties and a bit of shares, nothing compared to Ronan and Olivia. Natasha and her mother, Natalia, have their fair share, but from the look of things, the deciding shares were going to be given to Raphael.

"To Braelyn, my precious granddaughter-in-law", the Lawyer says, drawing my attention.

"Casper was my dear friend and I consider you my daughter. To Braelyn I leave the vineyard her mother always loved visiting alongside ..." Gregor was pretty generous to me, a bit more than Olivia’s daughter.

When the properties, investment and shares outside the Volkov family business were mentioned, their faces visibly darkened.

"Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see my great-grandchild. This will cover all the birthdays I will miss." He said, a smile tugged my lips. My mind drifted to our last meeting. He urged me about having children saying he didn’t want to leave this world without meeting my children

My eyes stung remembering he never got to see them. I wasn’t given shares in the family business but this was good enough for me.

Then the lawyer dropped a clause that made my stomach churn. "The following properties will be handled by a trust until Braelyn conceives her first child or after 10 years of being wedded to Raphael during which she would be paid a regulated salary from the trust."

Lucien’s gaze fell on me. A soft laughter rang. Olivia truly could not hold herself. "Where would the baby come from?" She sneered.

My grip tightened on my skirt. Raphael didn’t react like he expected his grandfather to pull a similar move to my father. They desperately wanted Raphael and me to stay together..

"Then moving forward to my only grandson Raphael.." the lawyer continued immediately. Raphael was given some investments, external shares as well as internal shares. A good chunk of landed properties not under the company, as well as the money. It was enough to afford a luxurious life till he died

But that wasn’t what he was anxious about. It was the deciding shares; I could feel his emotions beside me.

There was no mention of it. "That’s about everything from Raphael." Mr Walters said

"Are you certain there is nothing more?" Natalia asked. Her hand grabbed Ronan’s arm.

"That’s all for the young master." The lawyer affirmed once more. Her face twisted

"But there are still a lot of properties not listed and the deciding shares.." she blurted. Although all his blood relatives were given shares. Even if everything was added together it wasn’t enough to hold the main deciding power..

"I am aware of that, there is still one last beneficiary..." The lawyer said and every eye fell on Lucien

Gregor seriously couldn’t play such obvious favourites. Even Lucien looked confused.