The heart that had nearly gone numb suddenly ached so badly it felt as if it were being torn apart.
Elliott’s gun had followed him for many years, aimed at countless enemies and criminals.
And now, it was pointed at me.
A memory surfaced in my mind, the face of a young girl still innocent, her fingers raised in the shape of a gun.
“They all say I am a tomboy. Then I will become a female soldier when I grow up. If Nicole bullies you again, I will come back and protect you.”
Perhaps that memory hurt too much. A sharp ringing filled my ears, and I bent over, retching violently.
Elliott froze for a moment, then hurried over to support me.
“Brenda, what is wrong with you?”
I looked up at him blankly.
“Elliott, tell me. Am I a criminal, or am I your enemy?”
He was stunned for several seconds before replying stiffly, “I was just acting on impulse earlier. Enough. I cannot watch you hurt Nicole again. The incident three years ago was all instigated by Tao Qianqian. Nicole never owed you anything.”
“As for Grandpa’s inheritance, we will come for it later. You should prepare yourself.”
He dragged Nicole away, sparing me the sight of his smug triumph.
I locked Grandpa’s old residence inside and out before finally returning home, only then feeling slightly at ease.
They did not know that Grandpa had left behind a hidden will.
The real assets were stored in a high security safe overseas, accessible only through my iris scan.
The domestic inheritance was merely a drop in the ocean and entirely under the control of the overseas assets.
In the end, I alone was the rightful and sole heir.
The divorce agreement was already drafted. I sent Elliott a message.
“Elliott, we should di…”
Before I could finish typing, an urgent call came through.
“This is bad, President Shen. Your spouse has brought a strange man and is claiming the company belongs to him!”
What?
I was struck dumb and rushed straight to the company.
In the conference room, both Elliott and Nicole were present.
Attorney Fang, once employed by my family, was reading Grandpa’s will aloud.
He claimed that all of Grandpa’s company shares belonged to Nicole and even presented a video supposedly recorded by Grandpa himself.
I knew at a glance that the video was forged.
The shareholders sat in silence, all eyes fixed on me.
Before I could speak, Elliott stepped forward to vouch for it.
“I am a police officer. I personally witnessed Chairman Shen recording this will. Anyone who doubts it may come with me to the police station to verify the video.”
I let out a cold laugh. “Then let us go to the police station.”
Elliott grabbed my wrist and pulled me aside, lowering his voice.
“I know Grandpa left you more than this, so I will not allow you to leave the country. And Grandpa’s ashes have already been switched. If you refuse to sign the inheritance transfer agreement, I will scatter them.”
All the blood in my body froze. I could not even react for a long while.
Using Grandpa’s ashes to threaten me. Was he even human?
Elliott’s expression was complicated, but his tone brooked no refusal.
“You know I have connections at the police station. No matter how this ends, it will never be the result you want.”
“So be good, Brenda. With me, you have everything. I will guarantee you a happy life from now on.”
Something warm touched my face. It was not tears, but Elliott’s hand.
I no longer knew whether I should cry or laugh.
“Give it to me. I will sign.”
Nicole’s eyes lit up instantly as he produced the inheritance transfer agreement.
I signed swiftly. He clutched it to his chest like a treasure and hugged Elliott tightly, completely unrestrained.
“This is wonderful, Elliott. I finally have something to rely on!”
Elliott visibly relaxed, his eyes filled with joyful tears as he looked at Nicole.
I cut them off coldly. “Give me Grandpa’s ashes.”
Elliott hesitated, then awkwardly handed me a key.
I took it, hurried home, retrieved Grandpa’s ashes, and laid him to rest once more.
By the time I headed straight for the airport, it was nearly midnight. Elliott sent me a video message.
“Nicole was in a good mood today and asked me to stay for a few drinks. You should go to sleep first.”
“Thank you for understanding me. Once everything settles, let us have a child.”
I did not reply. I blocked his number and boarded the plane bound for Country A.
Elliott, from this moment on, we will never see each other again.
