Chapter 2: The Will Reading

“The Will of the late Mr. Robert Van Driscoll,” Mr. Edwards began, his voice steady but not without weight.

“Signed and witnessed six months before his death.”

The room fell silent.

Each of the brothers wore a different expression, but the meaning behind all three was the same:

Shock.

Then came the words that froze the air.

“Van Driscoll Global belongs to all three of you. You must run the company together for one full year before any other assets or properties can be shared. If any of you walks away… the entire inheritance will be forfeited.”

“What?!” Leo roared, rising to his feet like someone had slapped him.

His voice bounced off the golden walls, echoing through the heavy air.

“What did you just say?!” His tone was sharp, stunned—desperate to make sense of it.

“The company belongs to the three of us?”

He turned toward Mr. Edwards, eyes wide with disbelief. “That has to be a mistake.”

The veins on his neck bulged from the force of his rage. His fists clenched. His jaw locked so tight it looked painful.

“Leo?” Mr. Edwards called carefully.

But Leo didn’t answer. He stormed forward, snatched the will from the lawyer’s hands, and scanned through the pages with angry eyes—desperate to find a loophole, a misprint, something that proved this wasn’t real.

When he found none, he threw the document down hard on the table. The sound rang through the room like a gavel.

His whole body shook—not because he was weak, but from the pure rage bubbling inside him.

He couldn’t believe it.

How could his father do this to him?

He was the one who grew up under his strict rules. He followed every word. Even when it hurt—even when it went against what he wanted—he obeyed.

He gave up the woman he loved just because his father said so.

All his life, he was made to believe he was the chosen one.

The heir.

The one the company would be handed over to.

But now? This?

He had to share the company with them?

That was the only thing he ever wanted.

He never cared about the mansions, the properties, the offshore accounts.

He only wanted Van Driscoll Global.

“How could he do this to me?” he shouted, voice shaking with frustration.

His father knew they didn’t get along. He knew they couldn’t work together.

“After everything I gave him—after everything I sacrificed—this is what I get?!”

No one spoke.

“I built that company. I gave him my soul. I did everything he asked. Everything. I bled for that empire. I lost myself. I ruined…”

His voice cracked.

“And this is how he thanks me?”

“Ugh, please stop shouting,” Luca snapped, clearly just as angry.

“Is it that hard to believe your old man would do this?” he asked mockingly.

“Shut your mouth, Luca,” Leo warned.

“You really thought you were the next boss, didn’t you?” Luca added with a bitter smirk. “Must’ve been nice, walking around thinking the company was all yours.”

He wasn’t hiding how pissed off he was.

Luca didn’t even care about the company.

He only wanted his share of the money and properties—and to be done with everything.

But the old man had other plans.

“Don’t you ever talk to me like that,” Leo warned coldly, eyes narrowing.

“Isn’t that what you’ve always thought of yourself?” Luca fired back. “Daddy’s perfect little dog.”

Leo’s eyes darkened.

Luca smirked, his voice turning sharp.

“Too bad your ‘perfect daddy’ in the grave doesn’t feel the same way anymore.”

Leo clenched his teeth in anger, stepping closer to him. “What did you just say?”

“Leo, calm down!” Mr. Edwards said quickly, sensing a fight about to break out.

But Luca didn’t stop.

“Do you want to fight, Daddy’s Boy?” he spat, stepping forward too.

Just when it looked like fists were about to fly...

A small chuckle broke the tension.

It was quiet, but loud enough to stop everyone.

They turned to where the sound came from.

It was Jace.

He was sitting on the couch, legs crossed, scrolling through his phone like nothing had happened.

His posture was calm and relaxed.

Like all the noise and shouting had nothing to do with him.

The room went silent. His chuckle was the only sound.

Jace raised his head slowly when he realized everyone was staring at him.

He paused the scrolling and looked at them with mild confusion.

“Is there something on my face?” he asked, looking from one person to the other.

“Leo and Luca were about to fight,” Mr. Edwards said tiredly.

“And?” Jace asked, like he didn’t see the big deal.

He looked genuinely unbothered.

Mr. Edwards was speechless. He didn’t even know how to respond to that.

Leo finally turned away from Luca and faced Mr. Edwards again, his face burning red.

“This isn’t right. He can’t force us into this,” he said, shaking with frustration. “Call the board. Find a way. Change it. Do something.”

Mr. Edwards looked down at the folder and gave a long sigh.

“I’m afraid it can’t be changed,” he said softly. “This document was signed, witnessed, and filed with the authorities. It’s final. It’s legally binding.”

Leo’s eyes burned.

“You’re telling me we’re stuck with this?” he asked.

“Yes,” Mr. Edwards replied. “That’s correct.”

Leo stepped back like he’d been slapped. There was a moment of silence.

Then Jace’s voice came from across the room.

“So that’s all? That’s all that thing says?” he asked, calling the will “that thing” like it was a grocery list.

Mr. Edwards swallowed and glanced at the document again.

“There’s one more thing.”

His voice wavered, as if even he was afraid of what came next.

“You have just two weeks from today to make your decision,” he said, his eyes moving slowly from one brother to the next.

“If all three of you do not come to an agreement by then…”

He hesitated before finishing.

“…every single asset—shares, properties, company control—will be handed over to a silent partner.”

“What??” Leo and Luca shouted in unison.

Mr. Edwards gave a small, nervous nod, bracing himself for another outburst.

But instead—

Leo collapsed into his seat like the strength had left his body. His hands trembled on the armrest. His face turned pale—like he’d just been punched in the gut.

Luca didn’t speak. He staggered back and dropped into his chair. His leg bounced furiously, but his eyes were blank.

This had hit him, too. And hard.

And Jace?

He didn’t say a word.

He just scoffed, irritated but calm.

Then he stood. Slowly and deliberately. Adjusted his collar. Fixed his cufflinks. Straightened his sleeves.

There was something about the way he moved—so quiet, but powerful. Like the storm never touched him.

“I’ll be leaving first, then,” he said, already walking toward the door.

“You don’t care about your father’s last wish?” Mr. Edwards called after him, rushing to stop him.

Jace stopped. Turned slowly. And looked the lawyer dead in the eye.

“Did he care about mine when he was alive?” he asked, voice flat, eyes cold.

Mr. Edwards had no response.

“This is your father's legacy,” he said weakly, already tired of the chaos.

Jace gave a dry laugh.

“Then maybe he should’ve taken it with him to the grave.”

He glanced over at Leo and Luca.

There was no sympathy in his gaze. Just a thin, sharp smile.

“Even from the grave, he’s still stirring up drama. His soul’s definitely not resting.”

He stepped back and added under his breath,

“And honestly? I hope it doesn’t.”

With that, he stormed out of the mansion, his throat burning from the anger still crawling inside him.

He couldn’t believe this.

They made him waste his time flying across the country for that circus?

That old man was still playing games—even in death.

He pulled the car door open and sank into the backseat like the place itself disgusted him.

“Take me out of here,” he ordered sharply, his voice low but full of edge.

Staying even one more minute felt suffocating.

The driver nodded and pulled away from the estate.

Jace yanked the window down, letting the cool breeze hit his face. He closed his eyes for a second, trying to breathe out the frustration. But when he opened them again—

He froze.

There. On the sidewalk. A girl walking past.

The same dress. Same figure. Same dark hair.

His heart skipped.

He leaned forward, ready to tell the driver to stop.

But then she turned her face.

Not her.

His eyes narrowed as disappointment settled quietly on his face. He leaned back into his seat and let out a tired sigh.

It wasn’t her.

Just someone who looked like her.

His hand moved to his pocket without thinking. He pulled out the handkerchief she left behind.

Pressed it to his nose.

Her scent still clung to the fabric. Soft. Feminine. Warm.

It hit him like something unfamiliar.

No woman had ever taken up this much space in his head before. Not like this. Not after such a brief moment.

“Sir… we’re here.”

The driver’s voice cut through the silence.

Jace blinked. He had been so lost in thought, he hadn’t noticed they’d already reached the hotel.

He tucked the handkerchief back into his coat pocket, stepped out of the car, and walked into the lobby without a word.

His steps were firm and confident, his sharp figure leaving an impression as he passed through the luxurious five-star hotel he had been staying in for over a week.

People turned to look — especially the women behind the reception desk, who blushed and whispered among themselves.

But Jace didn’t notice.

Or maybe he did, and just didn’t care.

His expression was blank as he stepped into the elevator. Stared at his own reflection in the mirrored walls.

He looked tired. He looked… distracted. By a girl whose name he barely remembered.

The suite door clicked open and shut behind him. Jace loosened his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, and threw both on the nearby armchair.

Then he collapsed on the bed, face down, arm flung across the pillow.

He didn’t want to think. Didn’t want to be disturbed. Not by the past. Not by the will. And certainly not by some strange, quiet girl who couldn’t leave his mind.

He closed his eyes. Just for a moment.

But he didn’t sleep.

Something felt… off.

His eyes opened again.

And then he saw her.

Standing by the foot of his bed. Wearing a white hotel robe, her dark hair damp as if she had just showered. Her skin glowed beneath the soft lights, her bare legs peeking through the folds of the robe.

He stared, frozen.

His chest twisted, eyes wide.

It was her. The girl from the elevator. The girl he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about.

But… how?

“How did you get into my room?” he asked, voice rough with confusion.

She didn’t answer. She only smiled. That same soft, beautiful smile that had stopped him earlier.

Then she moved.

Walked to the side of the bed and climbed on. Slowly. Gently. Like she belonged there.

“What’s going on?” Jace asked again, barely able to breathe. “Am I dreaming? You can’t be real. How… how are you in my room?”

Her eyes stayed locked on his.

“Shhh…” She whispered, pressing a finger to his lips.

Then leaned in closer.

Closer.

Her face just few inches from his. Her breath warm on his skin.

Jace didn’t move. He couldn’t.

He just stared—caught between reality and something else entirely.

Then her lips hovered just above his...