Sweet Hatred-Chapter 444: Judgement Day pt 2

ARIA

The room felt like it was holding its breath.

Marcus Whitmore stood at the head of the table, the thick document spread before him, his reading glasses perched on his nose. He cleared his throat, and the murmuring in the room died immediately.

"I, Ewan Alistair Roman, being of sound mind and body, do hereby declare this to be my last will and testament, executed on the fifteenth of October, in the year of our Lord..."

His voice was formal, measured, carrying the weight of legality and finality.

I sat beside Kael, our hands still intertwined beneath the table. His thumb traced slow circles on my skin, the only outward sign of whatever he was feeling.

Across the room, Andrew slouched in his chair, tissues still pressed to his nose from where I’d broken it. His eyes were bloodshot... whether from pain or whatever substance he’d taken, I couldn’t tell.

Sabrina sat rigidly beside him, her hands folded primly in her lap. She looked perfectly composed, but I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her jaw was clenched just slightly too tight.

Marcus continued reading through the preliminary statements... revocations of previous wills, declarations of mental competency, the appointment of executors.

Then he reached the meat of the document.

"To the disposition of my assets and holdings," Marcus read, "I hereby bequeath the following:"

The room seemed to lean forward collectively.

"First, to my son, Kael Alexander Roman, I leave the entirety of my shares in XE Corporation, comprising sixty-five percent of all outstanding shares, granting him controlling interest and the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer."

My breath caught.

Sixty-five percent. Controlling interest.

I glanced at Andrew. His face had gone pale.

The lawyer continued without pause.

"Second, to my son, Kael Alexander Roman, I leave all holdings in Roman Holdings International, including but not limited to subsidiaries in manufacturing, technology, real estate development, and venture capital investments."

Murmurs rippled through the room.

Sabrina’s hands tightened in her lap.

"Third, to my son, Kael Alexander Roman, I leave the entirety of my personal real estate portfolio, including the primary residence located at 1847 Northridge Estate, the penthouse suite at Roman Towers, the vacation properties in Aspen, the Hamptons, Italy, Vernice, Spain, Qatar, Thailand, Switzerland and Monaco, as well as all associated furnishings and contents."

The primary residence.

The house where Sabrina and Andrew lived.

Now belonged to Kael.

"Fourth, to my son, Kael Alexander Roman, I leave all art collections, wine cellars, vehicle collections, and personal effects currently housed at any of the aforementioned properties."

Marcus turned the page, adjusting his glasses.

"Fifth, to my son, Kael Alexander Roman, I leave all liquid assets held in personal accounts, including checking, savings, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit, totaling approximately five hundred and seventy million dollars."

Someone gasped.

I felt Kael’s hand tighten slightly on mine.

"Sixth, to my son, Kael Alexander Roman, I leave all investment portfolios, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and hedge fund holdings, valued at approximately nine point four billion dollars."

The number hung in the air like a thunderclap.

"Seventh, to my son, Kael Alexander Roman, I leave all intellectual property rights, patents, trademarks, and copyrights held under my name or any associated entities."

Marcus paused, taking a sip of water.

The room was completely silent now. No murmurs. No whispers.

Just shocked, heavy silence.

"Eighth, to my son, Kael Alexander Roman, I leave the Roman Family Trust, currently valued at approximately twelve point six billion dollars, to be administered according to the terms outlined in the separate trust documents."

I couldn’t breathe.

Everything.

Every single thing Ewan owned was going to Kael.

"Ninth and finally," Marcus continued, his voice steady, "to my son, Kael Alexander Roman, I leave all remaining assets, properties, holdings, and interests not explicitly mentioned herein, to be transferred upon my death or incapacitation as defined by medical professionals."

He set down the page and looked up.

"That concludes the disposition of assets."

The silence stretched.

Then shattered.

"This can’t be right."

Sabrina’s voice cut through the room like a knife.

She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor.

"This is fake," she said, her voice rising. "It has to be. There’s no way—Ewan would never—"

Her composure was cracking, piece by piece.

"Mrs. Roman," Marcus said calmly, "I assure you, this document is authentic. It was executed in my presence, witnessed by two independent parties, and—"

"I don’t care!" Sabrina’s voice was shrill now. "This is fraud! Kael must have forged it! Or—or you helped him! You colluded with him to—"

"That’s a serious accusation," Marcus said, his tone hardening.

"I don’t care!" Sabrina repeated. "Ewan would never leave everything to just one son! He would split it equally! He wouldn’t—he wouldn’t leave Andrew with nothing! He wouldn’t leave me with nothing!"

She was trembling now, her carefully maintained facade completely shattered.

"Why would he do this?" she demanded, looking around the room wildly. "Why would he leave everything to Kael? It doesn’t make sense! Unless... unless Kael did something! Unless he manipulated Ewan somehow! Unless—"

"Mother."

Andrew stood, moving to her side, his hand on her arm.

But his eyes were fixed on Kael, burning with hatred.

The room erupted in whispers now.

Board members leaning toward each other. Advisors exchanging glances. Lawyers shuffling papers nervously.

I looked at Kael.

His expression was completely neutral. Calm. Almost bored.

But I could feel the tension in his body. The coiled energy just beneath the surface.

Sabrina was still ranting, her voice growing more hysterical.

"This is wrong! This is all wrong! Someone needs to contest this! Someone needs to—"

And that’s when Kael stood.

The room went silent again immediately.

He didn’t say anything. Just stood there, tall and imposing, his presence commanding attention without effort.

Then he walked toward Sabrina.

Slowly. Deliberately.

I watched, my heart pounding, as he closed the distance between them.

Sabrina took an involuntary step back.

Kael leaned in close, his lips near her ear.

And whispered something I couldn’t hear.

But I saw Sabrina’s reaction.

The color drained from her face. Her eyes went wide. Her entire body went rigid.

"What—what are you—" she stammered.

Kael pulled back slightly, that dangerous smile playing at his lips.

Whatever he’d said, it had shaken her to her core.