Chapter 4
Vivian's funeral was held on a grand scale.
Business elites, friends, and family all came.
As her husband, I stood there in a black suit, face calm, accepting various looks of sympathy or scrutiny.
Blake came too, holding the hand of the boy named Finn, both dressed in white.
Eleanor was supported throughout, casting hateful glances my way.
In front of all the guests, she pointed at my nose and cursed.
"You useless trash! You killed my daughter, and now you want to divide up the Ashford family fortune? I'm telling you—as long as I'm alive, you won't get a single penny!"
She lunged at me trying to tear at my clothes, but was pulled back by nearby relatives.
I stood in place, motionless. I didn't even raise an eyebrow.
"Please calm down."
My words only made her angrier.
"How can you be so heartless!"
Blake "fainted" at just the right moment, causing chaos.
"Blake! Blake, what's wrong!"
"Quick! Get him to a hospital! He's practically half a son of the Ashford family now!"
A solemn funeral completely devolved into a farce about inheritance.
I watched coldly, finding it utterly ridiculous.
After the funeral came the reading of the will.
The Ashford family's private attorney, Mr. Peterson, opened the document folder.
Everyone held their breath, especially Blake and Vivian's parents. They were certain Vivian would have left her fortune to her "son."
Mr. Peterson cleared his throat and began reading.
"I, Vivian Ashford, hereby establish this will... All property in my name, including but not limited to fifty-one percent shares in Ashford Corporation, three properties, and all bank deposits and securities..."
He paused and looked at me.
"Shall be inherited entirely by my legal husband, Mr. Marcus Bennett."
The air fell deathly silent.
Every eye focused on me with shock, confusion, and fury.
Blake's face instantly lost all color. He swayed unsteadily.
Eleanor was the first to react, screaming out loud.
"Impossible! This will is fake! How could my daughter leave everything to you, you bastard! This will must be fake!