Evelyn Darkwood stared at the sprawling height of her father's estate.
It'd been more than a year since she came here, and even during his funeral, she hadn't graced this place.
Her cheeks hollowed as she slurped her boba tea, making her way into the building. She took the stairs to the second floor, and the very second she stepped out into the large living room, she was met with not just one, but all three of her siblings.
Brandon Darkwood.
Lyra,
And of course, Preston, the most stuck-up of the three and the eldest.
She, on the other hand, was the youngest, the alienated one, which…they didn't seem to like very much, not with those frowns on their faces as if an imposter just walked in.
"Why are you wearing sunglasses inside?" Lyra seemed irritated.
Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Because I want to?"
The oldest, Preston Darkwood, narrowed his gaze, frowning. "Drink, really? At our father's will reading?"
"What do you mean?"
"You are drinking at our own father's will reading, Evelyn!"
"You've got to be kidding me." Evelyn composed herself, every trace of amusement vanishing from her face. "It's boba tea. Just boba tea! Do you have to bite at me for everything?"
He examined her from head to toe like she was some pest unworthy to breathe the same air as him, and looked away, scoffing loud enough she heard.
Brandon was the only one silent, but he wasn't lacking that derisive glint in his gray eyes. Just like every other one of them, he thought of her as unequal to them, as if she didn't belong in the family.
They looked down on her—have constantly done so since they were kids. Isolated her. And it never changed, not even after they all grew up.
Though she didn't care that much anymore at age twenty-two, now she wished she could get a punch at any of their faces, even if just once.
Her phone pinged. And she looked at the message.
[Evelyn, will you be okay over there?] It was her best friend, Amber.
She responded. (Yeah. I must be here. I'll be fine, this shouldn't take more than an hour. Once we're done over here, I'll see myself out and go out on a nice date with my boyfriend)
She pocketed the phone the second the door pushed open, the lawyer walking in. Geralt Harth. He'd been the family's legal counsel—one her father had never once thought of replacing.
Behind him was another man.
Her uncle, Mr. Lincoln. What was he doing here? To serve as a witness to this will reading?
It wasn't even just him, but there were other presences within this room. Tight business partners of her father. Big, powerful men.
"Everyone, please take your seat," Mr. Geralt said.
Evelyn sprawled on one of the sofas, slurping a mouthful of her boba tea. Her siblings seemed irritated by the sound, but at this point, who cared?
"Thank you all for being here today for the reading of the last will of Sage Darkwood," Mr. Geralth, who'd taken his seat at the only desk within the living room, spoke. "This is a public will reading as you've all been notified. Surprising, yes, but this is what Sage Darkwood wanted, and so I will begin with personal assets. Last shall be followed by his corporation, The Darkwood Group."
The room was silent so much you might just hear a pin drop.
Brandon and Lyra were on edge.
Preston, however, seemed unbothered, confident even, because he knew that corporation was going to him and no one else. Everyone could already guess.
"I leave my only acre of land to Brandon Darkwood," Mr. Geralt read.
Evelyn stared.
This estate, including one other, was given to Lyra.
So far, she hasn't gotten a dime—not that she came expecting any. She wasn't exactly a favorite.
Mr. Geralt paused reading.
Was that it?
Well, at least this was all over, and she could leave—
"Now, finally," he continued, blowing out a breath. "I, Sage Darkwoood, leave the entirety of the Darkwood Group to my daughter—"
Preston and Brandon furrowed their brows.
Daughter? What?
They both look at Lyra.
A smile spread immediately on Lyra's face, and she rose from her chair.
"—Evelyn Veora Darkwood."
Evelyn spat out her boba tea, going into a momentary loss for words at her name.
A rush of shocked and angry sounds from the surrounding people followed, and she glanced around. Everyone had their gaze on her, confused, unbelieving, angry, and amused.
She took her glasses off.
Why were they all gaping at her like that? Like as if she'd been the one to kill their father and not his health issues. As if she'd been the one who penned down the will.
Slowly and cautiously, she rose from the sofa, mumbling, "A-are you sure…you didn't read that wrong, Mr Geralt?"
"I'm not blind, Ms. Evelyn," Geralt responded. "Your father left TDG to you."
Oh crap.
She looked over to Preston. He was turning red, losing it.
"What is the meaning of this?" Preston questioned, brown eyes sharp with anger. "Is this some sick joke?"
Mr. Geralt rose from his seat. "Sir Preston, please calm down. What I've read is what your father penned down. His decisions."
"Why the fuck would my father leave TDG to her?"
"That I don't know. But it is his wish, as I've read. None of this has anything to do with me. My job is to—"
"Bullshit!" He was like an angry bull, eyes shooting over to Evelyn. "Her? Are you kidding me? Father would never do that!"
"He doesn't even like her at all," Lyra commented.
Brandon balled his hands into fists. "It makes no sense. There is no way he would skip the three of us just to give the empire to you. You don't even amount to anything. Why would he leave TDG to you?"
Evelyn felt connered. Even the witnesses had their eyes on her, agreeing with the three. And honestly, it made no sense to her as well.
Their father had treated her the worst, never even liked her much. And it'd been the reason she'd left a year ago to France, never seeing him until his funeral.
What was the meaning of this?
Why would he give TDG to her?
Was this some kind of setup?
"Listen here, I have no idea what is going on as well." She sighed. "I didn't come here thinking even for a second that—"
"You did this!" Preston's sudden accusation made her pause. "You made him write this will, didn't you?"
He stormed over to her.
"Didn't you? ANSWER ME!"