Chapter 165 Entrustment
The weight of Gerard’s words hung heavy in the air as he revealed more details about Natasha’s, or rather Athena’s, mysterious background. Rose listened intently, her face a mix of disbelief and concern.
“Highly confidential work,” Rose murmured to herself, her mind racing. “That would explain why no one knew about her. If they were involved in something like that, it would make sense they’d have to keep their child’s whereabouts hidden.”
Gerard nodded, his expression grim. “Yes, and as for Natasha, it wasn’t until recently that we were able to trace her location. Sir William’s obsession with finding her was not just for the inheritance, but because he felt responsible for what happened to Stacy’s daughter. He wanted to make amends.”
Rose, now deeply moved by the new information, placed a hand over her chest. “Stacy must have known something was wrong before she died. She must have felt so alone, so abandoned… And now her daughter is involved in this mess.”
Gerard continued, his voice softening. “That’s why Sir William trusted you with everything, Madam Stella. You were the one he counted on to protect Natasha. He couldn’t leave this to anyone else.”
Rose swallowed hard, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “I didn’t know… I had no idea Stacy had a child. If only I had known, maybe I could have helped her sooner.”
Gerard looked at her with empathy. “It’s not your fault. Sir William knew that too. He understood the circumstances, and that’s why he made sure that his legacy would go to her, no matter what.”
Meanwhile, in the conference room, the tension was thick. Lien’s eyes were wide with fury, still processing the revelation. She could barely contain her anger, her hands trembling as she gripped the edges of the table.
“How could this happen?” Lien spat. “Stacy’s daughter, after everything that’s happened… and she gets everything? It’s not fair! She doesn’t deserve it!”
Cato, though equally stunned, looked around the room, trying to make sense of it all. His father-in-law, the man who had always been so focused on legacy and family, had left everything to this stranger, this Athena. But more than that, he couldn’t shake the suspicion that there was more to the story—there had to be.
“Maybe this isn’t over,” Cato said quietly, his voice tight with frustration. “We don’t even know where she is. We don’t know if she’ll even accept the inheritance.”
But deep down, he knew it wasn’t just about the money or the property. There was something else at play here—a deep, painful history that had been kept secret for far too long. And now, it was about to come to light.
Rose and Gerard returned to the conference room, their expressions somber. The rest of the family fell silent, the weight of the will and its consequences settling over everyone.
“Madam Stella,” Gerard began, his voice gentle, “I think it’s time to find Natasha, to bring her into the fold. She deserves to know the truth, and she needs your protection.”
Rose nodded slowly. “I will do whatever it takes to protect her. Stacy… she trusted me with this, and I won’t let her down.”
The tension in the room was palpable, but for the first time, it felt as if the pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place. Athena—no, Natasha—was the key to everything. She was the heir to Sir William’s legacy, and her arrival would change everything.
“Where do we start?” Cato finally asked, his voice tinged with defeat.
Gerard looked at him, then back at Rose. “We start by finding her. The sooner we do, the sooner we can bring closure to all of this.”
As the family prepared to move forward, Lien sat back in her chair, still fuming with rage. She had lost this battle, but the war was far from over. There was more at stake now than ever before.
And as for Athena, the woman who had unexpectedly been thrust into the spotlight, she was about to find out just how deep the secrets of the past ran.