Falling For My Accidental CEO Husband
Chapter 130: Hostile

Chapter 130: Hostile

"Ladies... please, calm down," Sidney said, stepping between Ava and Serena as Ava’s hand was sharply brushed aside by Serena. Ava’s gaze turned icy, narrowing her eyes as she focused on Sidney who was now holding her wrist. "Why did you have to bring her here yourself? Couldn’t she find her own way? Or does she need my fiancé to escort her everywhere now?" The venom in Ava’s voice cut through the air, her words dripping with suspicion and accusation.

Serena froze, the weight of those words sinking in. Her fiancé? Slowly, her gaze drifted to Sidney, whose eyes had already shifted toward her as he looked at her as if wanting to explain... Seriously? Did he think he could explain away everything? Nostalgia, trust—he’d been trying to use them as weapons to manipulate her, while already being in bed with the enemy? Quite literally possibly.

But in that moment, relief washed over her—a strange and unexpected relief. She had been on the verge of turning down Aiden’s proposal, but now, with this new revelation, she was even more thankful she hadn’t. Maybe siding with Aiden and not forgiving Sidney wasn’t such a misstep after all.

"Well, I think you two lovebirds can hash this out here," Serena said, her voice light, almost playful, as she forced a smile. "I’ll be inside." Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away, the false smile vanishing the second her back was to them.

As she strode further inside, Serena’s mind raced. She had miscalculated, and badly. Until this moment, she had believed Sidney might have remained neutral in the power struggle that surrounded them. Yes, he hadn’t been an ally, but neither had she suspected him to be actively working against her. That assumption had been a mistake. His interests were clearly tied to the other Dawns now, and Ava’s presence only confirmed it. Serena would have to tread more carefully than ever.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to discuss the execution of the will and the penalties should anyone choose to contest its terms." He paused, scanning the room as if gauging their reactions. "Our client requested that this transition be handled as smoothly as possible, with minimal conflict. To that end, we will now take a moment to explain the legalities, so everyone fully understands the situation."

Serena sat up straighter, her attention focused as the lawyer turned toward her.

"Miss Serena," he began, his tone more measured now, "as I mentioned to you last night, you have two options regarding the will."

He cleared his throat and continued. "The first option is to execute the will immediately. Should you choose this path, you will inherit the largest percentage of shares in the company, as well as a separate retail enterprise that was established in your name by Mrs. Dawn, along with several other significant estates."

He let the information settle for a moment before proceeding. "The second option, should you choose it, is to delay the execution of the will and hold off for the next three years. However, by doing so, you agree to forfeit all the above-mentioned assets. Instead, you would receive only a small fraction of the company’s shares and a modest house, which is intended to provide you with a comfortable but less substantial lifestyle."

The lawyer’s voice was steady, but the implications of his words were heavy. Serena understood perfectly well what the stakes were.

"The terms of the will," he concluded, "clearly reflect what Miss Edwina would have wanted you to choose."

"Why does she get to have the choice is what I do not understand! And what about the retail enterprise that was established under her name? When is this? Do we not have a right to this?" Ava asked sharply causing the older lawyer to turn a disapproving frown towards her.

"The retail outlet was established by Miss Serena herself, with Mrs Edwina as the investor for her start up. However, she did not claim ownership of this because she did not invest. Mrs Edwina intended for Miss Serena to have it since it is her hardwork. If Miss Serena decides to not execute the will, then she will be giving up her own success as the business will be sold off and the money will be invested back into the main business."

"What about their penalties, should they choose to contest any part of the will?" Serena asked quietly.

The lawyers sent a disapproving glance at her as well and stated," Anyone who does not respect the wishes of Mrs Edwina will forfeit their right."

Serena watched fromt he corner of her eye as Ava almost stood up, ready to explode. It seems Ava was in form today. The two older men, her dear uncles were being exceptionally quiet. And yet, before Ava could say a word, Sidney’s hand on hers stopped her and she sat back down, looking at him with a frown.

As expected, Sidney stood up to be the mediator "Rena. Grandmother’s wishes are clear. Isn’t it better to simply take your part and let the others have what is rightfully theirs? After all, if you choose to hold onto this, you’ll only be making a big mistake. You’ll suffer the biggest loss." He looked into her eyes then as if trying to tell her that she should consider the profit and loss to herself.

Serena scoffed in her heart. Just because she liked business did not mean that she was only interested in profits for herself. But of course she did not show her disdain on her face.

The lawyer nodded in agreement, reinforcing Sidney’s words. "Miss Edwina was adamant about this. Her final wish was for the family to respect each other’s roles and not fight over what she left behind. The will is designed to prevent any conflicts, and to encourage peace within the family. Mrs. Edwina wanted this transition to be smooth, and for everyone to benefit without animosity."

Finally, Serena spoke up. She crossed her fingers in her lap and spoke in a low voice, "It seems that my choice is quite obvious."