"...will be inherited by her legal husband, Mr. Peter Harding."
Boom—
The room erupted.
The relatives' eyes bulged with jealousy.
Even Lucas, who'd known this was coming, darkened slightly.
But he glanced at my bandages, sighed, and said nothing.
Looked like he'd accepted it.
I was ecstatic—fifty million? That was small-minded!
This was hundreds of billions!
I was about to reach out, sign, and walk toward the peak of my life.
"Wait!"
A shrill howl cut through the chaos.
Madeline pushed forward.
No evidence in her hands—just that vicious smile curling at the corner of her mouth as she stared me down.
"Sir! This will is invalid!"
Lucas frowned. "Madeline, what nonsense is this?"
She jabbed a finger at my nose, voice like nails on a chalkboard:
"Because he isn't the madam's legal husband at all!"
"That marriage certificate is fake!"
My head buzzed.
How?
Mia and I went to the Civil Registry Office ourselves—took the photo ourselves, picked up the certificate ourselves!
Lucas shot to his feet, gaze razor-sharp. "What did you say?"
Madeline whipped a photo from her pocket and slapped it onto the table.
"Sir, look! I found this among the madam's belongings!"