New Heiress

“What did you do?” Burke's cold voice broke the heavy silence in the room, his blue eyes pinning hard on Silver.

When Bartholomew told Silver he would give her the key to his dynasty, she thought he was crazy. Then Mathias turned a year old, and he began the process.

“Aaron will teach you everything you need to know about the corporate world." Bartholomew declared, introducing Silver to the man who took her from a novice to the fearless woman she is today.

Silver's lips twitched again and she finally decided to let loose the smile she's been suppressing. She sat upright and faced Burke, her eyes dancing with amusement.

“Why would you think I had anything to do with this?"

“Because I know you…” Burke gritted out, pushing to his feet. Silver mirrored him. "I know who you are at your core.” He finished, invading her space.

He breathed hard, his brows twitched as he studied her. He shut his eyes briefly and when he opened them back, Silver had to make herself not step back.

He looked like a man ready to go to war.

“You tell me how you got him to do this right this minute, or I swear, I'll…" Burke exploded, trailing off with a clenched jaw. His fist clenched tight by his sides as he restrained himself from grabbing the woman and snapping her in two.

He didn't see this coming.

Silver smirked and stepped closer to Burke; their clothes were now touching. One more step and they would kiss. And oh, how she wanted to kiss him!

She briefly entertained the idea but quickly decided against it. She didn't want to pass the wrong message.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” Silver whispered innocently, batting her lashes.

"This won't stand! I…I won't allow it.” Burke sputtered, staggering back. He pulled roughly at his tie, struggling for breath. Cold sweat dropped from his forehead to his neckline, irritating his skin. Burke was burning with rage.

How could his father have done this?

It wasn't enough that he screwed his wife; he had to screw him over, too?

“Ex-wife," a faint voice whispered in his mind, but Burke was too furious to care.

He stalked towards Clem and yanked the document from him. “I am contesting this will. I do not believe it is authentic.”

The words on the document matched what had already been said. But Burke wasn't about to give up.

“There should be a video. When did he make this? It has to be recent, and he had to have made a video, show me now!" Burke demanded, bending over Clem.

“Sure." The man said calmly, waiting for Burke to ease up. Burke sighed and straightened up. Clem stood up to walk towards the TV.

Within seconds, Bartholomew's face was on the screen, and his voice was playing too, confirming what was read.

Silver bit her lips to hide her glee. Sure, she expected chaos when the news broke, but the reality turned out to be a lot of fun. Now Burke knows how it felt to be betrayed.

“Out, get out of my house, you backstabbing whore!" Felicia yelled, jumping towards Silver to grab her. Silver sidestepped the woman, but she was determined.

She tried to hit her again, and Silver instead captured her hands, hoping to stop her.

Silver had no love for Felicia; she never supported her relationship with Burke and she made things difficult for her. Still, Silver hoped they could be cordial one day.

“Stop embarrassing yourself," Silver said calmly.

“Get your filthy hands off my mother." Burke snapped, shoving Silver aside to reach Felicia.

Silver struggled to hold herself, but she managed to break the fall with Maya’s help.

“Are you okay?" Maya asked as she helped Silver straighten up.

"Are you crazy?" Burke's wife snapped, stalking towards Silver and Maya. She stopped in front of Maya.

“What is wrong with you? This bitch just screwed you out of your inheritance, and you're asking if she's okay? Who cares if she snaps her neck and drops dead?!”

Silver bit her tongue.

“Malia, Silver's not like that. I'm sure there must be some misunderstanding. Right, Silver?" Maya spoke softly, gazing at Silver with trusting green eyes.

It hurts Silver to do it, but she shook her head and crushed Maya’s hope.

"No, Maya. There's no misunderstanding. I am here to claim what's mine.”

“What's yours?! You must be out of your mind. Get out before we call the cops!” Malia spoke again, and Silver realized she was going to be an enemy.

She couldn't blame her.

Working up a bored tone, Silver rolled her eyes before she spoke.

"Relax, I'm not here for him if that's what you're scared of."

Malia scoffed.

"Please, like you stand a chance.” She taunted.

Silver chuckled, tucking a stray hair in and then caressing Malia cheek.

“Darling, trust me you don't want to find that out.”

Malia smacks her hand off. She tried to slap Silver but she ducked her aim and shoved her aside like she weighed nothing— Silver wasn't sure that she did with how thin she looked.

“Idiot.” Silver huffed in irritation, walking towards the kitchen. She needed a distraction.

Where was her mother anyway?

Now, in the background where she had always been, Maya slipped out of the house unnoticed, her heart beating fast against her ribcage.

Her father left her out of the will. Maya couldn't believe it. She didn't see it coming. And it wasn't that she cared much for the inheritance; she had a business of her own that was doing well.

She was even happy that Silver was back, but it hurt that she wasn't included in the will. It hurt that she wasn't even considered; she wasn't an option!

She felt a strong urge to drink, and so she got into her car and drove off to get drunk.

In the staff room, Tatiana could no longer hold herself back from interfering, so she burst out expecting to meet a commotion but Silver was no longer in sight.

“And here comes the whore’s mother, how could you let your daughter do this to us? After everything we've done for you people." Felicia tossed at her.

Tatiana remained quiet, not one to stir trouble. The woman wasn't entirely in support of what her daughter was doing, but Silver was headstrong.

Silver returned with a glass of wine, all eyes on her.

“Hello Mama." She greeted her mother.

“Daughter." Tatiana responded.

Silver wished her mother would be more supportive but she also understood her reluctance. It was only a matter of time before she won her over though.

“There's one more thing, two actually." Clem broke the silence, and all eyes cleaved to him.

The man awkwardly shifted where he stood beside the TV before he pressed play, and Bartholomew's voice came on again.

“Silver and Burke are to stay under the same roof for 90 days for either of them to access their inheritance fully. If… “

"You've got to be kidding me, I'm not sharing a roof with her!” Burke thundered.

Silver huffed, irritated by the outburst.

"I'm not particularly thrilled about living with you, but compromises have to be made.”

"Compromises?!” Burke barked in disbelief. "You…" He trailed off, shaking his head before stalking out of the room. He was going to make her regret this.

“Always dramatic." Silver muttered.

“Leave." Felicia said coldly.

“But we are not done." Silver said carelessly.

Still recovering from Silver's humiliation, Malia pushed to her feet. She had watched Burke and Silver exchange words with a passion that defied logic.

For years, she has had to beg for scraps of Burke's love because of Silver, and now she was back, not only to stay but also claiming wealth. Wealth that should be Malia’s. She won't let it happen, not on her watch. It was time for her to act.

“You need to give us time to process this.” Malia said gently.

"What time? She's not getting a dime.” Felicia interfered, but Malia calmly walked towards her mother-in-law and whispered something in her ear. Felicia sighed before nodding in agreement.

Shrugging, Silver walked to the middle of the room and dropped her wine on the table.

“Fine. But I'll be back soon and I won't be without my luggage." She declared, offering them a smile.

But deep within, Silver was scared. Her phone has been buzzing for the past minutes now and she was scared of what it meant the longer she ignored it.

She jerked a nod at her mother and walked out with her head held high despite her inner war. She maintained calmness until she entered her car.

“Get me home, now!" She barked at the driver when she finally glanced at her phone and confirmed it was the babysitter. She received ten missed calls in just two minutes.

Something was definitely wrong.