Chapter 1726:
The guests exchanged incredulous glances, their minds struggling to comprehend what they had just heard.
Gilmore wasnât just anybodyâhe was a rising force in the political world, a man countless people sought to align with. And yet, Lexus was publicly disowning him? And who exactly was Harlee? Lexus wasnât just cutting off his own sonâhe was handing his entire fortune to a woman unrelated to him by blood, while his beloved grandson received nothing. Had Lexus lost his mind?
Whispers erupted throughout the banquet hall. The verdict among the guests was unanimousâLexus had finally gone off the deep end.
Errolâs hand curled into a tight fist beneath the table. Fury burned beneath his skin. Lexus was actually giving everything to Harlee? The old man had lost it. Completely.
Nola, too, was barely holding herself together. She had always looked down on Lexus, but seeing the way he openly favored Harlee made her blood boil. Why did Harlee get everything handed to her so effortlessly, while Nola herself had been forced to scrape and bow just to cling to the Happer familyâs coattails? It wasnât fair! Not in any way!
The murmurs in the hall only grew louder, every pair of eyes fixated on Harlee, waiting for her reaction. But she remained as composed as ever, as if she were merely an observer in a drama that didnât concern her.
Then, with effortless grace, Harlee turned to Lexus. Their eyes met, and after a brief pause, she spokeâcalm, casual, yet firm.
âI already have more money than I know what to do with. You should leave your inheritance to Ableson. As for the things youâre worried about⦠donât fret. As long as Iâm here, no one will dare lay a finger on Ableson. No one will take whatâs his.â
Harlee wasnât just saying it to ease Lexusâ concerns. She meant every word. The money she had was enough to sustain her for lifetimes. Besides her own wealth, she had Rhysâ assets and the money from Lonnie and Skyla, more than she could ever spend. And as for fame? She thrived in the shadows, slipping in and out of different identities at will. Titles, recognitionâthose meant nothing to her.
But Harlee understood Lexusâ fears. Gilmore had never cared for Ableson, and if Lexus were to die unexpectedly, there was no doubt that Gilmore would drain Ableson dry, using him until there was nothing left, before casting him aside without a second thought.
Lexus was one of the rare few who had shown Harlee kindness when the world had turned its back on her. That was a debt she wouldnât forget. And when she decided to protect someone, they would never be let downâcome hell or high water.
Lexus, seeing she had the wrong idea, quickly clarified, âHarlee, this isnât about anything else. I just want to do one last good thing for you while I still have my wits about me. Take it as my final wishâwill you grant it?â
Lexus wouldnât deny he had indeed harbored concerns when he set foot in Harleeâs seaside villa, entrusting Ablesonâs care to her. But after witnessing her unwavering stance toward Ableson, those thoughts had long since faded. This decision wasnât just about legacyâit was about trust.
Born from obligation or manipulation, it was the last thing Lexus could do as someone from an older generation who had watched Harlee struggle.
Lexus had thought it through. Even if he left this fortune to Ableson, Ableson would ultimately rely on Harlee to protect it. That would only drag her into a storm she had no reason to weather. It was better to sever the connection completely.
âI know,â Harlee murmured, her voice soft enough that only Lexus could hear.
âAnd I meant what I said. Iâm not starving for wealth or recognition.â
Lexus exhaled, relief flickering in his eyes.
âThen hear me, Harlee. What I said wasnât just words. I meant every damn syllable. Consider it my last wish. I want nothing to do with that ungrateful son anymore.â
His words were delivered without a microphone, swallowed by the heavy air between them.
From the audienceâs perspective, it appeared as though Lexus was pleading with Harlee to accept an unimaginable fortune.
The guests sat in stunned silence, struggling to comprehend what they were witnessing. Lexusâ wealth might not shake nations, but it was still an empire in its own right. And Harlee was refusing it? What kind of person turned down a golden goose that willingly walked into their arms?
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