Chapter 179: The Will

Words : 1109 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Chapter 179: The Will A thick silence blanketed the room after the lawyer’s read, leaving the everyone in stunned stillness. The lawyer looking to be in his early forties paused, glancing curiously at the assembled guests, uncertain about how to continue. Then Mrs. Shen erupted, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "What nonsense!" She shouted, her fists pounding against her thighs in outrage. "I have no daughter named Athena. And I’m sure he didn’t impregnate any idiot outside!" But you did, Athena thought bitterly, a sharp edge of truth underlying her silence. Mrs. Shen had taken many lovers during her husband’s frequent absences, seeking solace in the arms of others whenever Mr. Shen was called away for work. Athena had never disclosed this scandalous affair to her dear master, but she suspected he was painfully aware of his wife’s indiscretions—a situation that had only come to a halt after a car accident left her with ugly scars that marred her face. "I’m sure we all know the Athena being mentioned here is Doctor Athena," The lawyer replied, his tone both calm and authoritative. "To be honest, I don’t think any of you should be surprised by this. Over the years, none of you have demonstrated any keen interest in the affairs of the academy; only in the money and fame that accompanied it." He set the document aside momentarily to push back against the rising tide of discontent. "If we can be truthful with ourselves," He continued, "we would all agree that Athena and her friend, Aiden, are the best candidates to take care of the academy." Athena shared a glance with Aiden, both of them silently questioning the lawyer’s assertion. How could they possibly run an academy when they had moved from this county to the next? Athena was about to voice her concerns when another outburst from Mrs. Shen interrupted her. "Well, I don’t agree, Mason!" She spat, her face flushed with indignation. "That old pig should have known better! He should know that family business stays in the family!" "No foul language against the dead, Mrs. Shen!" Mason shot back, his voice firm as he leveled a withering glare at her. "I suggest you respect Mr. Shen’s dying wishes, or I will personally walk you out of here!" Mrs. Shen’s incredulous eyes widened further, taken aback by the lawyer’s audacity. "How dare..." But before she could escalate her outrage, her third daughter, Hua, placed a calming hand on her mother’s arm, silencing her. "Stop, mother. He isn’t done reading the will. Let’s wait until we hear the rest." Mrs. Shen fumed, gripping her knee tightly, but she fell silent, frustration radiating off her like heat. "Thanks, Hua, for calming your mother..." The lawyer acknowledged, receiving only a forced smile in return. He cleared his throat and resumed reading the will, his voice steady and measured. "For the money and property, I have worked diligently with my attorney to pay off my debts and calculate the entirety of my networth, including savings and investments across multiple sectors, all accumulating under a tag of one hundred percent." He paused for a moment, letting that sink in. "Each of my children will receive ten percent of these total collections, and I hope you use it wisely. Mason will provide each of you with the working amounts later. You’ll also find a second document detailing the specifics of the ten percent." Mrs. Shen adjusted her posture, a glimmer of hope creeping into her expression as she leaned slightly forward, eagerly expectant. "However, for the remaining fifty percent..." Mason continued, glancing over the gathered crowd. "Fifteen percent goes to Aiden Hunt for his cherished friendship over the years. Another fifteen percent goes to Athena Caddels for being the best daughter a man could ever have, despite the limited time we shared together. The remaining twenty percent goes to her twins, Kathleen and Nathaniel Caddels—the bundles of joy in the later years of my life." As his words hung in the air, Mrs. Shen’s face fell, her eyes darting between the lawyer and the paper as if she were losing her mind trying to comprehend the unfolding situation. What about her? A low murmur rippled through the relatives, who had all anticipated their names appearing on the will. Mrs. Shen’s protests bubbled up, but Mason’s voice cut through again. "The money in my two Swiss accounts is not listed here, and that’s because they are..." "For me!" Mrs. Shen interrupted, pointing at herself, a self-satisfied grin spreading on her face. Surely, she thought, there was no one else deserving of that honor. She shook her head, the disbelief painted all over her features giving way to relief, having almost convinced herself that her husband had really left her with nothing. However, Mason threw her a sidelong glance, one that was equal parts bemusement and pity. "The money in the first Swiss account is for the running of the academy. Athena and Aiden will manage that," He explained, his tone unchanged. "The second account is specifically allocated for the charities I support. Mason will supervise that. He is a trusted companion." Athena felt a swell of amusement wash over her. Of course, he knew. It was the only explanation for why he had left nothing for his wife. She watched as Mrs. Shen struggled to grasp the reality crashing down around her, shaking her head in disbelief, her hand pressed against her chest as if trying to soothe the shocking revelation. "It’s not possible," The woman muttered, her voice a mix of awe and desperation. "Shen wouldn’t leave me empty-handed!" The lawyer cleared his throat, regaining everyone’s attention as he continued reading. Mrs. Shen perked up once more, her gaze filled with tentative hope. "And for my dear wife, whom I have loved compassionately since we got married in our youth, I leave her with her clothes and jewelry. I think that’s the best I can do for a woman who spent more than half her marital life cheating on me with different men while I was away. Even going as far as committing three abortions. The slut forgot I am connected to almost every person in our city." Silence reigned as the impact of the words settled over the room, heavy and suffocating. "She can sell the clothes and jewelry and use the money to feed herself. But," Mason continued sharply, his voice unwavering, "this is only under the condition she signs the divorce papers, which I signed prior to my death. This will relinquish her use of my name as well. Already, her accounts have been blocked..."

Chapter 179: The Will

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