As I entered the room, I could feel a powerful aura radiating from me, a visible determination to face and overcome any challenges that lay ahead today.
My eyes drifted toward Amanda, who seemed to pick up on my inner turmoil. Without hesitation,
she intertwined her fingers with mine, lending me her strength as we walked together toward the family meeting hall, hand in hand.
It had been three long weeks since Dad's passing, and already, the vultures were circling, eager to claim their pieces of the inheritance pie.
"I'm sorry I'm late," I announced as we stepped through the threshold, still clutching Amanda's hand.
She wore a stunning silk dress in a deep shade of red, one that perfectly accentuated her feminine curves and commanded attention with every step she took.
The grace and confidence she exuded seemed to fill the room with an unspoken authority.
We found empty seats among the assembled family members; the entire Drake family was present, yet I somehow felt like an unwanted guest in my own home.
"Killian? You actually made it," Aunt stuttered, her surprise palpable in her voice.
"Why does everyone seem so shocked to see me?" I inquired, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.
"No, no, she didn't mean it quite like that, son; it's just... concerning your emotional state," my mother chimed in, a strained smile attempting to mask her worry.
As I glanced at her, a turbulent wave of resentment washed over me.
Was it possible that she could have been involved in something so sinister as plotting against Dad for his wealth?
The thought consumed my mind as I scrutinized each family member present. It dawned on me that their grief was as thin as the facade they wore.
Were they truly mourning him, or were they simply focused on securing their financial futures?
I felt a swell of disappointment blossom in my chest, bittersweet and painful.
Instead of celebrating the life of a man who had meant so much to us all, they were hungrily strategizing how to divvy up his possessions as if he were merely a stepping stone to their fortunes.
Clenching my fists beneath the table, I was pulled from my dark thoughts when I felt Amanda's gentle touch on my skin.
Her presence was a balm to my jagged emotions, steadying my heart as she offered her silent support.
"What? After all these years, the only things I inherit from Edson are a rundown estate, two modest firms, and a measly thirty million dollars?" My mother's voice rose in outrage, startling me.
It was a shock to hear her expressing such blatant dissatisfaction.
One by one, my relatives began to voice their complaints, their sense of entitlement striking me as deeply ungrateful.
I sat there, bewildered and hurt, realizing that the family I once knew had been nothing more than a mask, hiding their true, greedy selves.
That's when Mike, the family lawyer, stepped up to deliver the news we had all been waiting for.
"... The Drake Conglomerate, along with all family wealth and businesses, has been bequeathed to the rightful heir of Mr. Edson Drakes, Killian Drakes," he stated with a surprising level of formality.
The room fell silent, faces frozen in disbelief. "What?" they chorused, their shock reverberating through the air.
I could hardly believe it myself; after all these years, I had thought I shared a bond with my family, a connection that had vanished in the blink of an eye.
My uncle slammed his fists on the table, his anger palpable as he rose to confront Mike.
"Are you absolutely sure about this, Mr. Mike? Killian is just a kid! He's barely turning twenty-one in a few months!
He's far too young to shoulder the responsibilities of the family business. I can't condone this!" He shot me a glare filled with disapproval.
"While I understand your concerns, the law is clear. Not only must he take on these responsibilities, but he must also meet the requirements of family inheritance law.
He must be married to secure this legacy," Grandma interjected, her voice steady.
I scoffed, my anger simmering just beneath the surface as I regarded them all with bitterness.
"I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but these are Mr. Edson's handwritten wills, there's no room for additions or removals. Furthermore, it's already stated here that all requisite inheritance rites have been performed. Mr. Killian Drakes is indeed married and recognized as such by the board of the Drake companies," Mike laid out the facts without flinching.
"Married?" my mother blurted, her expression shifting from shock to disbelief, mirroring the rest of the family.
"Please tell me this is some kind of elaborate joke, Killian! Are you actually married?" my mother demanded to know, the betrayal in her voice standing in stark contrast to my own emotional turmoil.
I was too injured to respond, unable to reconcile how someone I had always loved could stoop so low.
"Yes, he's married to me," Amanda responded firmly, wrapping her arms around mine as she stood resolutely by my side, defiance evident on her beautiful face.
"You've got some nerve..." my mother began, her voice dripping with contempt.
"Hold it right there! She's my wife by law, and I refuse to let you speak to her that way. As for the rest of you, if you have issues with this arrangement, you are more than welcome to leave the Drake companies for good. Do not come back," I declared, standing my ground with newfound authority.
"Killian, you're just a boy! What do you even know about marriage?" Aunt challenged, attempting to undermine me.
"I sacrificed my youthful years to fulfill my father's last wishes. I don't care what you think or say; just stay out of my way," I warned them, turning my attention to Amanda.
"Let's go, honey," I said with a calm firmness as I extended my arm to her.
She smiled back at me, her eyes shining with support and understanding as we exited the room, leaving the chaos and disappointment behind us.