The next morning,I went alone to the law firm to finalize the inheritance transfer.
This was the only arrangement my grandmother made for me before she passed away and it was the last protection she left behind.
The lawyer explained that,according to proper procedure,before the inheritance could be transferred,he was required to notify the family members,even those who had long since severed ties with me.
However,this did not deter me.After all,in the past,I held onto foolish scraps of hope,wishing that just once,they might truly treat me like family.I had not even dared to accept my grandmother’s inheritance because I wasn’t the Snow Family’s biological daughter.I was afraid people would say I didn’t deserve it.
But now,looking back,I had spent twenty-five years treating them as family,yet when I knelt before them begging for justice for my child,they drove me out of the house like a dog.From the moment I was thrown into the basement and tortured to the point of death,I was no longer part of the Snow Family.
So today,even if they were to kneel before me and beg,I would not yield an inch.
The lawyer opened the will and read out the core content solemnly,"I,Daniel Atkinson,bequeath all my legally owned assets,including real estate,company shares,bank deposits and equity trusts,with a total valuation of one and a half billion dollars to the sole legal heir—Clara Snow.”
There was no“daughter of the Snow Family”prefix.
Only my name.
Just me.
Suddenly,there was a commotion at the door.
Mrs.Snow and Mr.Snow stormed in,followed by Olivia and several relatives.
When Mrs.Snow caught sight of the document,her face drained of color.
“Ridiculous!”she shouted.“Why should she inherit this?She’s not even part of the Snow Family!She’s not even related by blood!”
Mr.Snow roared right after,“This must be fake!A fraud like her has no right to inherit the family money!”
Olivia’s expression was the most awful.She glared and her voice was sharp,“This is unfair!I’m the Snow Family’s biological daughter!Have you lost your minds,letting a fake heiress inherit billions?”
The lawyer gave a cold smile.Then he spoke in a matter-of-fact tone,“First,the old lady had already completed the legal notarization.She was of sound mind when she made the will and there is no evidence of coercion.”
“Second,Miss Snow.”He looked at Olivia,pausing for emphasis.“The will does not mention you.You are not one of the heirs.”
“Third,although Miss Clara Snow has no blood relation,she was formally adopted by the Snow Family for over twenty years under legal terms,possesses legal status and holds an irrevocable right of inheritance.”
Mrs.Snow was so enraged that she nearly fainted,while Mr.Snow slammed the table in anger.“Impossible!That old woman must be mad to give all that money to her—”
“Grandma wanted to leave it to me,so she did.There was no explanation needed.”I interrupted him,speaking coldly,“You call me not a member of the Snow Family,so you have no right to touch this money either.”
“You think I'm lowly and after forcing me to kneel,forcing me to divorce and now you want to take the inheritance my grandmother left me?”
"Well…dream on!"
Olivia glared at me hatefully.“Clara,you are so despicable!You almost killed me and now you want to steal my family's property?”
She was grinding her teeth.The dowry she received when she married into the O'Hara Family had been almost entirely invested in the Snow Family and what was left had been spent over the past three years!
I turned my head and looked at her,speaking slowly,“If you want to die,go ahead.You don’t need me to push you.And Olivia…"
"I'll personally send you to prison.You killed my son and you can get away with it.This is what you owe me and him."
Olivia trembled with anger,her voice hoarse as she screamed,“You dare to threaten me?”
“It’s not a threat,”I sneered,pulling out a formal court summons and handing it to her.“This is the official notice of litigation.”
“See you in court,Olivia.”
The entire Snow Family panicked.
“Clara!”Mrs.Snow shrieked.“Are you insane?You actually dare to sue Olivia?Are you trying to push the Snow Family to the brink of ruin?”
I remained unmoved,staring expressionlessly as they raged and gestured wildly.
And then,James suddenly appeared at the doorway.
It seemed someone had called him.Seeing the chaos,his brows knit in disapproval.He didn't know yet that I had inherited a multi-billion-dollar fortune;he was just following the Snow Family's lead and trying to persuade me with a gentle approach.
“Clara,”he said gently,stepping closer.“Don't act impulsively.Go home and live a good life.We can sit down and talk about anything.”
I tilted my head slightly and smiled coldly."James,you and I no longer have any connection.So,you have no right to negotiate with me.”
His expression stiffened.He could not accept that we had truly divorced and were no longer connected in any way.
He tried to continue persuading me,but I cut him off with one sentence,"You’re nothing more than Olivia’s ex-brother-in-law,her boyfriend for now and perhaps her husband in the future.”
“But you will never be a family to me,Clara.”
“Never.”
James's expression darkened,his gaze intense as if he wanted to devour me.
The Snow Family was in an uproar.Apparently,they wanted to control me first before discussing the inheritance.To put it bluntly,I was alone now and couldn't stand up to their entire family.
Of course,I wasn't completely unprepared.
“Vroom—”
An awesome engine roar suddenly pierced the air as a bright red Ferrari came to a smooth stop at the law firm's entrance.
The door opened and a lazy voice echoed,“I hear that the Snow Family helped my older sister-in-law cheat on her husband with another man?”
Finn O'Hara,the second young master of the O’Hara Family,casually scanned the Snow Family and James,speaking each word clearly,“Come on,I’d like to see who has the nerve to steal someone from the O’Hara Family.”
