LOVED BY STEPDAD

[5]

The lawyer, who was representing Yossie Barlow, had a furious face. He had no chance to speak at all until... he kicked the table in front of him. He couldn't stand that the family that had just abandoned one of their family members, who had been his client since a few years ago, was really annoying.

“Can you end the argument?” asked Jasen, the lawyer's name. His eyes gazed at the middle-aged woman who was dressed and wearing quite a lot of makeup. It was a bit too much and the lipstick she wore really gave Jasen a headache.

“I just want them both to realize, they are nothing more than bloodsuckers for my daughter. And I don't want Yossie's inheritance to fall into their hands!” Luna, the woman said as she bent at the waist. Her eyes glared with dislike especially at the little girl sitting in the corner of the sofa.

Since their arrival, the girl had not made a sound. Let alone dare to look at them. That's good, Luna felt triumphant because of Susan's attitude which should have been fearful and hoping for mercy from her. Because she was sure, Yossie would definitely leave a lot of relics for her. Especially the house and the life insurance against Yossie's recent death. Not to mention the vehicles and some assets that her daughter must have had. Ah, Luna couldn't wait to hear the reading of the inheritance deed in person. And if it all fell into her hands, Susan's fate would clearly be to get her out of this house.

“It's good that that little bastard is still living and enjoying the good life on top of my daughter's hard work. I warned her from the start, there's no point in taking care of a child who doesn't know herself.” Luna said to herself.

“Right,” snapped Idris. The man who had come in the morning and caused the commotion immediately interrupted his mother's words. He supported whatever his mother said because he knew and understood very well that his mother's plan was not just to let them enjoy Yossie's legacy. But to control it.

So Idris would be at the forefront of fighting anyone who stood in the way of his mother's goal. Including Yossie's husband who was now in front of him. Since their arrival, Lucian hadn't said much. He preferred to listen, but Idris believed that Lucian must have come up with a plan. There was no way he didn't know that Yossie had a lot of money. It was all right. As a sibling, he was the one with the most rights to the property.

Including her younger sister; Selena.

“My sister works hard to support herself. And I really object to her inheritance falling into the hands of outsiders from my sister's life,” Selena said casually. Eyeing her freshly polished nails with a bright purple polish. Just like the accessories she wore this afternoon. She had deliberately chosen the best from her collection. Although she had wanted to take over Yossie's main room at home, but now that goal had changed. The room Yossie occupied in this house had obviously left behind a lot of clothes and branded bags and shoes.

Selena didn't need to spend a lot of money to buy nice things. Including... when her eyes glanced at the man sitting quietly in front of her. Yossie's ex-husband. Ah, how unfortunate for that man. Already back to single status when he hadn't been married for long, let alone their plan to go on a honeymoon. Unfortunately... it ended tragically like this.

“And I guess,” Selena winked at Lucian. The poor, handsome man was not one to be ignored. “You need a suitable companion, Lucian.”

Once again, Jasen cleared his throat. This time louder than before. “Can't I be given time? If you guys keep arguing about Mrs. Yossie's legacy, can you all shut up until I finish reading out the inheritance distribution?”

Luna smiled widely. “Oh, forgive my impoliteness. I don't want to set expectations too high for the two of them, Mr. Jasen. So please read what my daughter wrote as a final message.”

Jasen really couldn't get enough of his client's family. Being so maniacal with wealth was exactly what Yossie had complained about before making a will as a preventive measure in case something unexpected happened. Like this time. Who knew that Yossie had suffered such a horrible accident. Jasen himself could not believe that his kind and friendly client had left him forever.

“Alright, I'll read Mrs. Yossie's last will and testament.” Jasen took out a file that was in his bag. He opened the letter slowly and read it out loud.

“If this letter is read by Mr. Jasen Oliver, it means that I am already in heaven. I can no longer be with you, especially my beloved daughter; Susan Barlow. Thank you for coming into my life nineteen years ago. I was very lucky to find you in front of the garage. If we had more time, I would tell you how we first met. To you, my dear daughter, I leave you the house and its contents. And enough savings until you finish college. Please forgive your mother for not being able to be with you any longer.”

“NO!!!” Luna shrieked impatiently. “I can't accept Yossie writing something like that!”

“Will you shut up?” warned Jasen. “It just so happens that the police are here. If you can't be quiet, then I can order you to wait outside until I'm done reading all these letters!”

Luna's breath caught in her throat. her eyes stared at Susan angrily. she was angry, not expecting Yossie to make such a crazy decision. but calm down, there was still a much bigger legacy; Yossie's life insurance money.

Luna knew the amount and it was much bigger than this house and its contents.

While Idris had a sour face, Selena was even worse. Because she couldn't take control of Yossie's master bedroom and her sister's many belongings, but Selena wouldn't run out of tricks. To her, the girl who looked flabbergasted by the lawyer's words was still in full control.

Jasen cleared his throat again. “Alright, I'll continue.” He adjusted his glasses. “To your husband, Lucian Bernandes. It's a shame our time was so short. I love you, darling, I really do. I asked you to manage the little company I have. Some of the work I'm doing, you'll know. I'm sorry to hide this from you. I believe you can manage much better than I could there. When Susan turns twenty-five, you can hand over to her. In exchange, your stake in the company will be 40%, Susan's 30%, and let my mother enjoy the rest. I trust you can manage that well.”

Luna blinked in surprise. “Company?” She looked at Jasen in disbelief. “Yossie... also owns a company?”

“You're right, Lady Luna. Mrs. Yossie, besides working as one of the managers in the automotive company, also manages a small company. It hasn't brought in much profit yet, but if it's developed well, I'm sure it will grow rapidly.”

The twinkle in Luna's eyes lit up even more. “And why is my share the same as this ignorant child?” she accused Susan. “I don't. I'm sure you've changed it. Didn't you?”

Jasen growled in annoyance. “Can you watch your speech?”

“What else did my sister write there?” interrupted Selena immediately. “Mom, can you please calm down? We haven't finished listening to all of Yossie's wills yet.”

“You're right,” Luna muttered trying to calm down. “Go on. I want to hear the whole thing.” There was still one thing Luna had to know; Yossie's life insurance. If Yossie could afford to own even a small-scale company, it meant that Yossie could afford to pay high premiums and the coverage in the event of the worst happening would definitely be large. Luna was sure that the money would definitely fall into her hands.

If Jasen could grumble, he would have done it long ago. “Regarding the insurance for my death, I've asked Mr. Jasen to help take care of it. And the only beneficiary I've designated as eligible is my daughter; Susan Barlow.”

“No way!” Luna quickly refuted. “Susan Bar-ah no, I don't know this girl's last name,” she pointed at Susan who still looked surprised. “See? Her face is full of theatrics. Just like when Yossie first found her on the roadside! She's just an outsider to our family! Doesn't deserve to have the name Barlow behind her name. I don't want to. Because it was my love for Yossie that made me melt. and this love resulted in such a painful reality?” Luna stared fiercely at Susan. “I'm not willing to recognize her as part of the family! She's an outsider! A hitchhiker in my daughter's happy life!”

“Watch your language, Mrs. Luna,” Lucian said. He could no longer stand hearing all the words that kept bringing up Yossie's estate coming out of Luna's mouth.

“Oh, you're talking too? Aren't you embarrassed? How could you be asked to manage Yossie's company? Idris should have the right to manage it. He's Yossie's biological brother. And you? You've only been her husband for two weeks!” Luna didn't care if she had to deal with the police later. She didn't accept the whole reading of the will.

It was all good.

“You're just like Susan! Just an outsider who happened to come into my daughter's life!”

“Everything written and read out by Mr. Jasen is already regulated and legalized by the law. It means that whatever Yossie wrote there, that's what she wanted. Even though I'm an outsider, I'm still her husband. And even though Susan is Yossie's adopted daughter, she's the source of Yossie's happiness. Not you.” Lucian stood up. His eyes didn't flinch as he stared at the woman in front of him. “If you object to Yossie's decision, you're facing the law.”

“Did you forget something, Lucian?” Luna grinned. “My prosecution of my daughter's death case is still continuing. What you just said makes me even more certain that you're after Yossie's estate.” She wiped the corners of her eyes that were suddenly wet. Her voice also began to tremble. “It's unfortunate that my daughter loved a man who was only after her wealth.” She sobbed. “I will not remain silent, Lucian. And as for you ignorant boy, I'll appeal to the court and get the house and the inheritance you shouldn't have. Remember that!”