I Fell For The Boy His Daddy Was A Bonus

Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Pltiful Inheritance

“I now know why I had to lose my best friend Luca.”

For a fleeting moment, Luca’s heart ached. She still thought of me as her best friend?‘

Hearing Scarlett‘s next lines, however, Luca‘s body stiffened. She said, “It‘s because... I was meant to be with someone greater.”

Almost immediately, Luca’s eyes narrowed at Scarlett. He thought, ‘She was meant for someone better? It‘s exactly what Courtney said to me. Scarlett never saw me as someone who deserved her... How could she?‘

To his understanding, Scarlett merely pitied him. There was a time when he became ill. He was never the same again and only Scarlett knew about it. She accepted his marriage proposal because of his connections, his father‘s law firm, just so she could achieve her dreams of becoming a successful lawyer.

UCCe

‘She never truly loved me. It was all an act,’ Luca reminded himself.

Recalling the phone call he made to her a few days back, Luca was taken aback. He never expected a man to answer her mobile. Whoever it was, even suggested that he was below him.

‘Who was he?‘ Luca speculated, ‘Who would even want to date Scarlet after the video of her circulated around the internet? And the fact that she could not get a stable job?‘

Luca‘s heart became filled with hatred. It has been a year since he had purposely delayed his wedding with Courtney, but after learning that Scarlett had moved on with someone new, he finally agreed to set a

date for their union.

“Now don‘t say that, Scarlett. How could you look down on Luca? You never really appreciated Luca before. Who would be someone greater?” Luca heard Courtney say. She purposely approached Luca and sat on his lap, saying, “For me, Luca is the best man to marry. He is smart, he has a good family, and probably is the youngest attorney to become a partner amongst all the law firms in the city.”

She pecked on Luca‘s cheek and said, “I am so proud of you, my love.”

“And we know you‘ll be in good hands, Courtney. After all, you are getting married to Luca James. We are proud of you for finding a true gem,” Cindy said, smiling at Courtney.

While Luca and Courtney briefly displayed affection toward each other, Scarlett just looked down at her shoe. She recalled how Luca used to be her gem. He was the one who put a smile on her face and the same man who put the sparkle in her eyes. ‘How in the world could Courtney suggest that I never appreciated Luca? And how could her parents not recognize her when she was with Luca?‘

A sigh left her lips, and she could not help but swing her head.

“What are you thinking, Scarlett?” Courtney asked, her eyes narrowing at her. “Why are you shaking your head?”

“Nothing.” She forced a smile and said, “I did not look down at Luca. I am merely saying that I am happier now.”

“Are you with someone?” Peeling off from Luca, Courtney interrupted her trail of thought.

“Yes, I am with someone and he is a greater match for me,” Scarlett replied, her ears burned at the thought of Kaleb. Not that she was boasting herself, she just did not want to be pitied by Courtney.

“In any case, I am not here to talk about my life. Again, Courtney.” She turned to Luca and deliberately made eye contact with him. She forced a smile and added, “I am sincerely happy for you. Thank you for

letting me go it might have been the best thing that happened to me.”

Cindy clearly saw the frown on Courtney‘s face She was quick to glare at Scarlett, asking. What are you suopesting Scarlett? There is no one better than Luca

Mother, it doesn‘t have to be someone better than Luca, Scarlett suggested. “All I am saying is, now ! thank everything happened for a reason and I am happy.”

Clearing her throat she proposed, “Can we just move on from here? Again, we are not gathered here to talk about me. I‘ve already made it clear that I am not bothered by Courtney and Luca’s relationship. I. A M NO LONGER BITTER”

y no longer love Luca. He and Courtney made sure I came to my senses a year ago, remember?”

“But why do you still bother, Courtney?” Luca asked, his hand clenched on the side of his lap, his voice undoubtedly shaking in anger

Completely puzzled, Scarlett asked, “What? I‘ve been trying to live for the past months, Luca. I don‘t have the time to bother Courtney.” NôvelDrama.Org holds © this.

ler‘s continue. I‘m tired,” Philip said, groaning as he leaned back in his seat. That ultimately ended the heated exchange between Scarlett and Luca. “Scarlet can think whatever she wants. She can make false claims Her opinions and decisions no longer matter in this family.”

He coughed, and in a matter of seconds, he was gasping for air.

We should continue now,* Cindy said, turning to Luca. “Philip really needs to rest.”

Meanwhile, Scarlett felt her chest congesting. Her father just suggested that she did not have a place in their family. She clenched her jaws as she gasped. For a second, her eyes closed, trying to soothe her emotions

Very well then let‘s start,” Luca said before pointing to his associate. Copies of the will and testaments were handed out to each of the family members. Only then did Luca read.

“To Tommy Lim, Mister Barnes‘ long business partner, he will receive five percent shares of the Bares Supermarkets and Gallerias.”

“To Aurora Narsen, she will receive one million dollars for her loyalty and over thirty years of service to the Barnes family.”

There were a few who were named in the will, whom Scarlett was familiar with, but the succeeding mentions entirely made her grit her teeth.

“To Analisa Rivera, for giving up her rights as a mother of Courtney, she will receive a sum of fifty million dollars. This will be taken from the joint account of Cindy and Philip Barnes.”

“What?” Cindy reacted, her eyes rounding

Scarlett was amazed that her mother wasn‘t even aware of this decision. She studied as Cindy turned to Philip, asking, “Are are you sure, Philip?”

Philip just groaned and took a deep breath, his hand dismissing Cindy‘s words.

“Mother? How could you say that? Mother Analisa gave me up to you!” Courtney became teary–eyed, saying, “She could have taken me from you, but she didn‘t Frankly, I think she deserves more. Father and I already talked about this. He thinks it‘s fair to mother Analisa.“

For a second, Scarlett saw the frown on Cindy‘s face, but eventually, her imitation disappeared, following Courtney‘s weeping. She surrendered to the decision and caressed Courtney‘s back, saying, “I‘m sorry, Courtney. That‘s right. If not for her, we would not have had you.”

‘Yes, and if it were not for Analisa Rivera, I would have had my nightful place in this family,’ scarlett pondered inwardly

“Shall I resume%” Luca asked

“Ves, please,” Cindy confirmed

Luca returned his attention to the will and read

“To Cindy Barnes, she will receive the Bames mansion on Wilson Drive, the vacation home on stone edge rock island, twenty five percent shares of the Barnes Supermarket and Galleries, and nifty percent of all remaining unliquidated properties, whatever and wherever located.”

“To Courtney Barnes, she will receive forty percent shares of the Barnes Supermarket and Gallerias and fifty percent of all remaining unliquidated properties, whatever and wherever located.”

“To Scarlett Barnes, she will receive a sum of five million dollars, taken from the joint account of Cindy and Philip Barnes”

“Wait Wait Courtney gets forty percent shares?” Cindy protested, her brows met as she read the will again and again. She turned to her husband, who was in a near–sleep state, dismayed,

“Mother, please, don‘t be like that. Either way, when you become ill, you will pass on everything to me, Father is just... you know, reducing your load and responsibilities. We already talked this out,” Courtney said. She turned to Cindy, holding her hand. “Don‘t you realize that, mother? Father and I, we are only doing you a favor.”

Before Cindy could react, an audible laugh roared across the room. Scarlett was so amused at her father‘s last will, her stomach ached as she shrieked. “Haha! Oh, my god!”

Wiping the wetness on the corner of her eyes; she reflected silently, ‘Indeed, her role in her parent‘s life was so insignificant, she only deserved five million dollars! What was even more entertaining was the fact that Analisa Rivera, Courtney‘s mother, was given fifty million dollars!‘

In each second that passed, her laughter became louder and louder that almost everyone frowned in her direction.

Courtney asked, “What‘s so funny, Scarlett?”

“How can I not be amused? | am Scarlett Barnes, the real and biological daughter of Philip and Cindy Barnes, will only get five million dollars out of the ten–billion dollar empire of the Barnes! Haha!” Her face turned bright red, her hand holding her stomach.

In a deafening tone, she asked, “How do you think? The media will react to this should they find out about my pitiful inheritance?”

“You won‘t dare, Scarlett,” It was Luca who objected. “If you ever contest this will, I will drag you down, pin as many lawsuits against you.”

“Go ahead! GO. AHEAD.” Scarlett said. She stood up, her eyes widening and her nose flared in anger. “If you think you can keep suppressing me, then you are dead wrong!”

Scarlett‘s head snapped in the direction of Courtney, Cindy, and Philip. She declared, “I will... contest the will!”

Before anyone of them could react, Aurora knocked on the door. She came in, saying, “I‘m sorry to disturb your gathering, but someone is here to see… Miss Barnes.”