Chapter 4 Reading Of The Will

• Jason went up to the 6th floor of his apartment after instructing his bodyguards to pick up the people whose names Julia had mentioned for interrogation. He had given the entire 5th floor of the apartment to be occupied by his security team. Just so they can intercept anyone coming to the 6th floor. He has security guards on all the floors except for the 7th floor.
• On the first floor directly above where Julia was being kept, Tilly, Julia's friend, was sitting on a chair surrounded by three fearful guards. She trembled with fear as the first question was thrown at her.
• "I ...I... I fell sick a few minutes later so I left the place and went home. Julia was still at the club dancing when I left. Nothing, fishy," Matilda replied almost stammering.
• After a few more questions, Matilda was sent away and Michael was brought in by the guards with his hands tied behind his back. He was pushed to sit down and his hands untied. Jason began questioning him too.
• "I was with my male friends. Julia left us and I couldn't find her again. I didn't know where she went," Michael had replied.
• "You didn't see her leave to know which direction she went?" questioned Jason furiously.
• "Me and my friends were a little high," he confessed, lowering his head.
• He was sent away after getting some beatings which brought no useful information out of him. Jason got nothing from them but Matilda went home untouched.
• He still had no idea what had happened that night and now he had to wait one and a half years before he could start divorce proceedings. This was crazy.
• He had his own issues with women in general and the idea of staying with a woman for one and half years was already working him up. He decided he need not stay under the same roof with her. Whatever the reason behind the marriage, he didn't care and would not go with the craziness.
• With the decision in mind, he went to the basement and opened the door. Julia looked a lot better; the bruises were not so evident on her again and the swell on her face was gone but some red patch remains. After all, he did it to her, something about her made him ask one of the servants to attend to her and ensure her bruises were treated.
• Even though he was unsure what to make of it, he wanted to see her face again. So instead of asking his guards to release her, he went to the basement to do that for him.
• "How are you?" he asked her, his voice sounding cold.
• She stared at him in silence and he frowned, his face becoming darker and his aura more terrifying.
• "When I ask a question, you answer," he said through gritted teeth.
• "Yes please," she replied quickly trembling in fear.
• He started walking towards her and she moved back, seeing he was closing the gap between them, but her back hit the wall and she could go no further. He grabbed her hand, making her let out a cry. His gaze moved from her face to her hand to see how well her bruises had healed. He noticed she was still wearing the ring.
• "Why are you still wearing this?" he questioned showing her own hand to her face.
• "Because it's the only nice thing I have," she replied in one breath, causing Jason to frown deeply.
• "I always wanted to have jewellery with diamonds. It's the only one I have with diamonds," she replied honestly but her voice trembling and her head lowered.
• Standing in such proximity to her, he lifted her head and stared into her eyes and all he could see was fear. She was beyond terrified. He let go of her and said in a low calm voice,
• "You are free to go."
• He moved away from her giving her free access to the open door, surprised at his behaviour towards her. He had always kept women a distance away from himself. So why was he standing so close to this one?
• "Thank you," she said and ran out of the basement as fast as she could.
• He watched her run out of the basement like someone was after her. He was about to leave too when he remembered his guards had abducted her so obviously, she didn't have the means to return home. It was quite a journey from where they were to her house. Walking out of the basement, he called one of the guards, requesting they stop her from leaving the compound.
• The basement connects to the garage through a long hallway which feels more like a tunnel. She kept running and saw an open door. She ran towards it and was soon in the garage but was stopped by two bodyguards before she could proceed any further, causing her to scream out of fear, as she was not expecting that.
• "Please let me go," she pleaded but they looked at her expressionless and some even laughed enjoying her plight.
• The guard who had caught her held her by her wrist so tight that her little struggles could not set her free but rather ended up bruising her delicate skin.
• Jason soon entered the garage and the place went silent. He saw Julia being held by the bodyguard. His eyes shifted to her wrist which had turned red and he frowned deeply.
• "I asked you to stop her, not to bruise her, idiot," he said in a stern voice.
• He didn't understand why he seemed so concerned about her skin getting bruised but that didn't stop him from treating her badly, leading to the same results. He concluded he didn't like anyone hurting her.
• "Put her in the car and come with me," he said.
• Julia was put in the back seat of the car with him. She sat in the car shaken all over.
• "I am only taking you home. Do you have money to go home?" he asked in a low voice and she shook her head no.
• He pulled her hand and examined her bruise. Opening a compartment in the car, he gave her an ointment.
• "Here, apply this on it," he said in a low cold voice which sent chills down Julia's body.
• She felt she was going to freeze to death by him.
• She quickly took the ointment from him, opened it, applied some to her hand and gave it back.
• "Thank you," she said in a trembling voice and the corner of his lips curved upwards briefly and he put his stern face back on.
• He took the ointment from her and put it back where he took it without responding to her nervous appreciation.
• They soon dropped her off and the car turned around to leave.
• Jason's phone buzzed, it was Mirenda.
• "Hi bro," she said.
• "Hello," he replied.
• "Mum asked me to call you and tell you to come home. It's important," she said.
• "What is it about," he asked.
• "Some lawyers are in the house; I think it is about Dad's will," she said.
• "Okay," he said and disconnected the call.
• He had forgotten all about that. His father was very rich and had achieved a lot in life. He was wondering what his father left for him. It would be a great addition to his current business.
• "Let's go to the family condo," he instructed.
• "Yes sir," replied the chauffeur.
• After driving for 45 minutes, they arrived at the family condo and Jason went inside the house.
• "Jason, sit down. Where have you been? We were waiting for you," his mother scolded him.
• "Sorry, Mum. I forgot about today," he said coldly.
• Even though he was apologizing, he sounded like he was talking back at his mother rather than apologizing.
• Once seated, the lawyer opened his briefcase and brought out the sealed envelope that he showed to them. He opened it and pulled out the documents inside and began to read.
• In the will, his father had listed all the properties he owned, their locations and their worth including those that he was in the process of acquiring.
• "To my daughter Mirenda, I will give you the family condo. It's yours to do as you please. James, I have two businesses in Chicago, I have made you the CEO of both businesses. The rest of my properties, the Estates, the hotels, the rest of the companies and the money in the account, a total of 131 billion dollars, will be managed by the chosen heir. Any of my children can become the new heir of the Haward family under one condition. They should be married. The chosen heir will be responsible for taking care of my beloved wife. In the absence of that my beloved wife will manage those properties until such time that either of my children decides to settle down, only then shall the properties mentioned be given to such," the lawyer read.
• Their mother kept a straight face but smiled inwardly. Knowing she will manage that property as neither of the three children is currently married.
• She had executed her plan well. She will transfer everything to her name and give it to her dearest son, James.
• She has always wanted a way to inherit the Haward fortune since her husband found out about her infidelity. Lucky for her, she overheard him when he was writing his will with the lawyer in his study and acted fast before he could make any changes based on what he had found out. That was when she got the medication which advanced his cancer stage quickly, leading to his death.
• The lawyer continues.
• "If none of the children is married, his wife shall manage the property till one of them does," the lawyer repeated and lifted his gaze to look at all of them seated.
• "Which of you is Jason?" asked the lawyer.
• "I am," replied Jason as they all turned to look at him with their mother wondering why the lawyer asked of him.
• "This is for you from your father," the lawyer said and handed him a white envelope.
• Jason took the envelope from his hand and saw that it was addressed to him. He opened it under the questioning gaze of his family and the lawyer waited for him to finish reading the content.
• Dear son,
• I know by now you are wondering how you got married. I want you to manage my properties for me. I did what I did which you don't understand now, but you will someday. The only way you can inherit that property is when you are married. This is why I got you married that night so you can manage my properties for me. I trust only you.
• Signed
• dad
• "None of my children is currently married, lawyer," their mother, Mrs Haward spoke, breaking the silence in the room as she struggled to keep her joy down.
• "I am married Mum," Jason spoke without thinking after reading the letter from his father.
• "What!" exclaimed Mrs Haward, looking at Jason questioningly, while Jason fetched his ring from his pocket and placed it on his finger.
• "Married?" asked his mother angrily and his siblings were a bit surprised to hear he was married but more surprised about how angry their mother was.
• "To who?" she questioned getting up from her seat.
• "Julia Harrison," Jason replied, not giving it much thought.
• There was nothing he wouldn't do for his father.
• "Who the hell is that and from which family?" her mother questioned angrily.
• "She is from Belle Glade," he said and relaxed in his seat.
• "I don't believe you," she retorted. "You are just making it up so you can become the heir," she added.
• Jason lifted his head to look at her, "Dad, arranged it for me," he replied.
• "I won't believe it till I see the woman," said his mother.
• "Sure, that is fine," he replied and pulled up his phone and called his trusted bodyguard over.
• "Go bring Julia Haward," he said, addressing her with her surname for the first time and the bodyguard nodded and stepped out.
• "You were not joking," his mother questioned.
• "No, I wasn't. I am married," replied Jason.
• Her mother sat down and forced a smile, but inwardly she was crushed.
• 'Alright then, Jason, as your father wishes, you are the heir of the Haward family," the lawyer said.