"In light of the behavior just now, I hereby, on behalf of my client, declare that the four gentlemen have lost all rights in the Rivers Family."
Sophia almost lost her footing.
Before the four of them could speak, she fell to her knees with a thud in front of me.
"Mellan! I know you’ve always been jealous of having less than me. Even when I supported you, you never felt grateful. But you can’t be so cruel as to set up this kind of trap! You hate me, fine—I can give you the identity of Miss Rivers and never come back! Please, spare my four brothers!"
I laughed in fury. "I am already Miss Rivers. What exactly are you giving me?"
"Enough!"
The four of them quickly stepped forward, holding Sophia protectively in their arms.
"Can you stop being so malicious all the time!"
I nodded and gestured to my Flying Cavalry Special Unit.
"You’ve seen Miss Rivers’s intentions. Get these ungrateful brats out of here!"
The Flying Cavalry had already reviewed my mother’s will moments ago. At this moment, everyone sprang into action.
The bodyguards clashed with the Flying Cavalry Special Unit. But how could a group of bodyguards possibly win against my elite unit?
Just as the four of them, along with Sophia, were about to be driven out, a commanding voice rang from the doorway.
"What are you all making a scene at Rose’s funeral for!"
My eyes lit up. "Dad!"
I was overjoyed, wanting to rush to him like I used to. But when I saw the woman linking arms with him, my steps froze instantly.
Looking at the middle-aged woman whose face was so strikingly similar to Sophia’s, my hand trembled slightly as I pointed at her.
"Dad, who is this?"
But he didn’t answer me. He simply picked up the will that demanded the four foster brothers leave with nothing. Then he tore it in half and slammed it in my face with a sharp “smack!”
"Ungrateful wretches!"
I stared in shock at this man, who had once had his heart and eyes only for me and my mother, unable to believe what I was seeing.
"Dad… what are you saying?"
"Who allowed you to speak recklessly!" He pointed at me. "If it weren’t for my daughter’s generosity in supporting you, I wouldn’t let you call me ‘Dad’. I’m letting you only out of respect for her. Do you really think you have the right to be my daughter? My daughter supports you and you show no gratitude and on top of that, you dare to forge my wife’s will to try to drive my sons and daughters out of this house! Who gave you the audacity!"
"Who are you calling your daughter!" I shouted in anger.
Dad froze, not expecting me—usually so gentle—to act like a shrew at this moment.
I pointed at the woman behind him. "You yourself said my mother was your wife, so what does it mean that you brought another woman to her funeral!"
My father was at a loss for words.
The woman and Sophia exchanged a glance and shook their heads.
It was Andrew who broke the awkward silence.
"Karen is Mom’s close friend. Dad hasn’t been eating or sleeping these past few days. Without Karen, he would have starved himself. She’s here supporting him to see the funeral through. What’s the problem with that?"
My father’s eyes suddenly reddened.
Many of the funeral attendees shed tears.
"They always said Ms. Rivers and her husband’s love was stronger than gold. Now it really seems so."
"Thankfully, Ms. Rivers has Karen, her close friend. Otherwise, how heartbroken her husband would be."
My father wiped at the corners of his eyes—though no real tears were there—and spoke solemnly. "I’ve decided—from today onward, the Rivers Family will cut off all support to this ungrateful wretch!"
"Support?" I laughed bitterly in anger. "Dad, have you forgotten? You’re just a son-in-law. What right do you have to touch the Rivers Family’s inheritance!"
