Chapter 7 Family Legacy

Preston couldn’t believe that his grandfather failed to keep his word. Didn’t he promise that he would never tell a soul about his marriage to Brooklyn for the time being?

A hint of irritation was evident in Preston's voice, and he replied, “Mom, Brooklyn is not a random woman. I have been pursuing her for the past two months, and she is a good woman.

What was I supposed to do when Grandpa forced me to get married within three months, Mom?  How would you feel if the company shares fell into the wrong hands?”

Her son’s words hit a nerve, as the shadow of her late husband’s illegitimate child loomed over the family trust.

Although Mrs James had never met the child, she knew that under the law, an unrecognized heir could challenge the company shares if their lineage was proven.

His mother nearly fainted with anger and asked, “Is your so-called wife aware that her marriage was nothing but a transaction?”

Preston furrowed his brows, then he looked at his wife’s apartment across the street and replied, “I didn’t marry Brooklyn for love, Mom, but to protect our family legacy.”

His mother softened her voice and said, “Son, you need to divorce this woman. I will never allow you to sacrifice your happiness for the sake of company shares.

I know your heart still belongs to Vivica. Your eyes lit up every time her name was mentioned. Don't let your grandfather's greed turn you into a prisoner of a loveless marriage.”

Preston shook his head and replied, “Mom, it’s not Grandpa’s fault. I chose this path with my eyes wide open. Who knows, maybe Brooklyn is my soulmate?”

His mother sneered, disdain evident in her voice, “Preston, listen carefully. I will never accept that woman as my daughter-in-law. Only Vivica will ever hold that place in this family.” Then the line went dead.

Preston wasn’t surprised by his mother’s reaction because the James family held Vivica in such high regard that any woman, especially one chosen for mere asset protection, was bound to be met with hostility.

Ziva looked at her mother and asked, “Mom, why didn’t you ask my brother to come home to give us an explanation?”

Her mother looked at her daughter with gentleness in her eyes and replied, “Please don’t blame your brother, my lovely daughter. He married that woman to protect our family legacy from your father’s illegitimate child.

Your father abandoned us because her mistress was pregnant with a son. Your brother was scared that, should your grandfather pass away, the mistress’s son might fight him for the inheritance.”

Ziva furrowed her brows and asked, “Mom, have you met the mistress’s son? What if my father’s mistress had a miscarriage when they were involved in a car accident?”

Her mother looked at her and replied, “After your father passed away, his mistress vanished into thin air.  I don’t know if the child is still alive or not, but we must take every precaution as if the worst were true.” 

Ziva started pacing up and down in her mother’s bedroom and said, “If my father’s mistress had a son, he’s a threat to our inheritance. However, if he is already dead, Elias’s marriage to this random woman was a waste of time. We need to investigate this matter, Mom.”

In Brooklyn’s bedroom, Fiona was lying beside her best friend. She looked at Brooklyn with worried eyes and asked, “What are you going to do? Since your marriage is nothing but a hollow title. Are you going to seek an annulment, Brooklyn?”

Brooklyn looked at her friend with her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, and replied, “Fiona, I am mourning a marriage that died the same day it started.

However, I can't bring myself to end it because my heart hasn't caught up to the truth yet. Please tell me, Fiona, how I walk away when I’m still so in love with him?”

Fiona pulled Brooklyn into a tight embrace and said, “My heart breaks for you, sweetie pie. Listen to me, my friend, love alone is not enough. Are you going to spend every day starving for affection that will never come?

Brooklyn, you have to make a serious decision about your future. Don’t allow that jerk to turn you into a secret ornament on his shelf. You have to take your love back, my friend.”

Brooklyn knew that her best friend was right. Staying in that sham of a marriage was a form of slow suicide for her soul. However, the heart was a traitor, whispering that if she stayed long enough, maybe Preston would see her goodness and love her back.

She looked at her friend with tears brimming in her eyes and replied, “I need time to process everything that has happened, Fiona.

I wasn't just a bride, Fiona. I was an abandoned infant who finally thought she had a name.

When I was one day old, someone left me outside an orphanage in the cold. I spent nineteen years wondering why I wasn't enough to keep.

I thought Preston would be my entire world, my everything. Unfortunately, it was my wishful thinking.

Preston knew that I was an orphan with no backup. He used my greatest fear of being discarded. He makes sure that I will never leave, no matter how much he hurts me.

The worst part is that even though Preston has trampled on my heart, I am still pathetic enough to love him.” Then tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

Fiona’s heart ached for her best friend. She squeezed her hand gently and said, “Honey, Preston was never your world. He was just a dark shadow you mistook for a shelter.

I will support you no matter what, but I won't sit by and watch you throw yourself into a man who doesn't see your worth.”

Brooklyn looked at her best friend with eyes clouded with grief and murmured, “I need to be alone. Please allow me to take you to your bedroom.” Then she hugged her tightly for a long time and led her to the guest room.

A faint smile appeared on Fiona’s face, and she said, “Sweet dream, my dearest Brooklyn.” She sighed, then she closed the guest room door.

Brooklyn walked to her bedroom at a snail's pace. Preston's words had shattered her heart into pieces. She thought she had found someone she would grow old with. Unbeknownst to her, the foundation of their marriage was nothing but a lie.

Preston couldn’t believe that his grandfather failed to keep his word. Didn’t he promise that he would never tell a soul about his marriage to Brooklyn for the time being?

A hint of irritation was evident in Preston's voice, and he replied, “Mom, Brooklyn is not a random woman. I have been pursuing her for the past two months, and she is a good woman.

What was I supposed to do when Grandpa forced me to get married within three months, Mom?  How would you feel if the company shares fell into the wrong hands?”

Her son’s words hit a nerve, as the shadow of her late husband’s illegitimate child loomed over the family trust.

Although Mrs James had never met the child, she knew that under the law, an unrecognized heir could potentially challenge the company shares if their lineage was proven.

His mother nearly fainted with anger and asked, “Is your so-called wife aware that her marriage was nothing but a transaction?”

Preston furrowed his brows, then he looked at his wife’s apartment across the street and replied, “I didn’t marry Brooklyn for love, Mom, but to protect our family legacy.”

His mother softened her voice and said, “Son, you need to divorce this woman. I will never allow you to sacrifice your happiness for the sake of company shares.

I know your heart still belongs to Vivica. Your eyes lit up every time her name was mentioned. Don't let your grandfather's greed turn you into a prisoner of a loveless marriage.”

Preston shook his head and replied, “Mom, it’s not Grandpa’s fault. I chose this path with my eyes wide open. Who knows, maybe Brooklyn is my soulmate?”

His mother sneered, disdain evident in her voice, “Preston, listen carefully. I will never accept that woman as my daughter-in-law. Only Vivica will ever hold that place in this family.” Then the line went dead.

Preston wasn’t surprised by his mother’s reaction because the James family held Vivica in such high regard that any woman, especially one chosen for mere asset protection, was bound to be met with hostility.

Ziva looked at her mother and asked, “Mom, why didn’t you ask my brother to come home to give us an explanation?”

Her mother looked at her daughter with gentleness in her eyes and replied, “Please don’t blame your brother, my lovely daughter. He married that woman to protect our family legacy from your father’s illegitimate child.

Your father abandoned us because her mistress was pregnant with a son. Your brother was scared that, should your grandfather pass away, the mistress’s son might fight him for the inheritance.”

Ziva furrowed her brows and asked, “Mom, have you met the mistress’s son? What if my father’s mistress had a miscarriage when they were involved in a car accident?”

Her mother shook her head and replied, “After your father passed away, his mistress vanished into thin air. So, I don’t know if the child is still alive or not.”

Ziva was pacing up and down in her mother’s bedroom and said, “If my father’s mistress had a son, he’s a threat to our inheritance. If he died, Elias’s marriage to this random woman was a waste of time. We need to investigate this matter, Mom.”

In Brooklyn’s bedroom, Fiona was lying beside her best friend. She looked at Brooklyn with worried eyes and asked, “What are you going to do? Since your marriage is nothing but a hollow title. Are you going to seek an annulment, Brooklyn?”

Brooklyn looked at her friend with her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, and replied, “Fiona, I am mourning a marriage that died the same day it started.

However, I can't bring myself to end it because my heart hasn't caught up to the truth yet. Please tell me, Fiona, how I walk away when I’m still so in love with him?”

Fiona pulled Brooklyn into a tight embrace and said, “My heart breaks for you, sweetie pie. Listen to me, my friend, love alone is not enough. Are you going to spend every day starving for affection that will never come?

Brooklyn, you have to make a serious decision about your future. Don’t allow that jerk to turn you into a secret ornament on his shelf. You have to take your love back, my friend.”

Brooklyn knew that her best friend was right. Staying in that sham of a marriage was a form of slow suicide for her soul. However, the heart was a traitor, whispering that if she stayed long enough, maybe Preston would see her goodness and love her back.

She looked at her friend with tears brimming in her eyes and replied, “I need time to process everything that has happened, Fiona.

I wasn't just a bride, Fiona. I was an abandoned infant who finally thought she had a name.

When I was one day old, someone left me outside an orphanage in the cold. I spent nineteen years wondering why I wasn't enough to keep.

I thought Preston would be my entire world, my everything. Unfortunately, it was my wishful thinking.

Preston knew that I was an orphan with no backup. He used my greatest fear of being discarded. He makes sure that I will never leave, no matter how much he hurts me.

The worst part is that even though Preston has trampled on my heart, I am still pathetic enough to love him.” Then tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

Fiona’s heart ached for her best friend. She squeezed her hand gently and said, “Honey, Preston was never your world. He was just a dark shadow you mistook for a shelter.

I will support you no matter what, but I won't sit by and watch you throw yourself into a man who doesn't see your worth.”

Brooklyn looked at her best friend with eyes clouded with grief and murmured, “I need to be alone. Please allow me to take you to your bedroom.” Then she hugged her tightly for a long time and led her to the guest room.

A faint smile appeared on Fiona’s face, and she said, “Sweet dream, my dearest Brooklyn.” She sighed, then she closed the guest room door.

Brooklyn walked to her bedroom at a snail's pace. Preston's words had shattered her heart into pieces. She thought she had found someone she would grow old with. Unbeknownst to her, the foundation of their marriage was nothing but a lie.