CHAPTER 32
I couldn't believe it. Shawn had already prepared a will without telling any of us, and the realization hit me like a freight train. At his age, why would he even think of arranging a will? He was still young, not married, and had no major responsibilities that would require such a thing.
What was his reason for making a will? Was this a sign that he somehow knew something was going to happen to him soon? That he anticipated something bad in the future, and that's why he made arrangements in advance with his lawyer?
My mind spiraled. Oh my god...
The room was silent, everyone frozen in place as the weight of the situation settled over us.
No one dared to speak, the tension in the air almost palpable.
Mom looked shaken, just as much as anyone else.
Shawn's disappearance had clearly taken a toll on her—she had barely been able to keep it together since that day.
My sisters, however, seemed to react differently. Shelby had a devastated look on her face, though I could tell it was mostly for show, an act to appear as though she was affected. Meanwhile, Shanelle was busy on her phone, clearly uninterested in what was about to unfold.
The fact that we were about to read Shawn's will felt so wrong. We still didn't know whether he was truly dead or not. The police were still investigating his disappearance, but the somber mood in the house seemed to suggest to anyone walking in that my brother was gone for good.
Attorney Hughes, a close family friend and Shawn's personal lawyer, stood at the front of the room. He was a tall, well-dressed man, always wearing glasses. He was married to a high school teacher and had a teenage son.
We all stood up as he entered, greeting him with forced politeness. He smiled warmly at each of us before sitting down and placing a red file on the coffee table. His gaze turned to Dad.
"Shall we begin, sir?" Attorney Hughes asked. Dad nodded once, and the lawyer opened the file while adjusting his glasses.
"All Mr. Shawn Falcon's possessions will be passed on to Miss Shay Falcon.
His two properties on the New York East Side estate will now belong to Mr. Kevin Ripley, his secretary and best friend.
His inheritance, however, he had requested to be divided amongst his sisters.
Twenty percent for miss Shelby Falcon, twenty percent for miss Shanelle Falcon, and lastly, sixty percent for miss Shay Falcon. That is all."
The words echoed in the room, and immediately, all eyes turned to me.
I could feel the weight of their glares, especially Mom's.
Her face was red with anger, and she shot me a death stare that made my stomach churn.
Dad cleared his throat, breaking the silence, and thanked Attorney Hughes before our butler escorted him out of the house.
The moment the door closed behind him, the tension in the room exploded. Mom stood up from the couch, furious, and stormed out of the room. Shelby, quick to follow, cast me one last resentful glance before exiting as well.
"Lucky you," Shanelle muttered under her breath, before leaving the room without a second thought.
I couldn't stand being in the same room with Dad anymore. His cold, calculating gaze on me felt suffocating, like he was analyzing every move I made, trying to figure out what my next step would be. I needed to get out of there, to escape the suffocating atmosphere.
I stood up and excused myself.
"I'm going upstairs," I mumbled, trying to keep my voice steady.
Without waiting for a response, I turned and left the room.
The hallway felt like a refuge as I walked upstairs, my mind racing, but I wasn't ready to deal with another awkward meal with the family.
I decided to skip lunch, hoping the solitude of my room would give me some space to breathe and process everything.
I closed the file in front of me, the weight of the documents still lingering in my hands, and placed them aside before grabbing another set to sign.
As my pen hovered over the pages, the door suddenly burst open.
Chase stormed in, his face contorted in anger.
The tension in the room immediately thickened.
I stopped writing and leaned back in my seat, regarding him calmly.
"What brings you here?"
He pointed his finger at me, and I noticed the way he was trying, almost desperately, to control his rage.
"About Shay Falcon... when did you know? That the Shay who went on that arranged marriage date with me and the company secretary are the same person?"
I stared at him for a moment, then slowly chuckled.
"Did you find out after I told you in the car last time?"
"Why are you curious about that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He pursed his lips and shrugged.
"Just curious why a smart guy like you couldn't connect the dots. Those thoughts just popped into my head."
"Are you sure? Those thoughts don't just 'pop up.' They come after deep consideration," I said, a knowing look in my eyes.
"Why did you pretend not to know?" he asked, his frustration palpable.
"What about you? Why didn't you tell me?" I countered.
He glanced down at the floor, clearly struggling with something.
"I know right. Why didn't I tell you?" He sounded almost defeated.
I stood up, my posture stiffening as I fixed him with a hard stare.
"I asked you twice already."
He nodded slowly, as if realizing something.
"Right. When you asked me, you knew the truth already, didn't you?"
I walked over to the large floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the city below. My fingers moved to unbutton my suit jacket as I gathered my thoughts. This was it. The time for real confrontation had come.
"Let's say the first time you didn't tell me was because you didn't want to talk about it, because you were upset. The second time... why didn't you just tell me the truth?"
Chase stood beside me now, looking straight ahead.
"She asked me to keep her real identity a secret, and because her brother already threatened me, I had to keep my promise."
I smirked, turning to face him.
"We're partners, aren't we? And on top of that, you're my best friend. Did you suddenly not trust me? Did you think I wouldn't keep her secret too?"
"Cut the bullshit, Jason!" His voice rose, filled with an edge I hadn't expected. "I know how you feel about the Falcon family. You'd jump at any chance to get back at them, and exposing her to the media was part of your twisted plan!"
His fists clenched, his face tight with anger. It was then that I realized... he truly cared about her. He was more invested in this than I had thought.
"You knew who's daughter Shay was and purposely came onto her," he accused, his gaze narrowing.
I turned fully to face him, locking eyes.
"Let's say that's true, but why is it something you're so mad about? You used a marriage tactic that was reasonable. Why is it wrong when I use one that you think is immoral?"
He stepped closer, his jaw clenched tightly.
"At least I was honest with her."
"Honest or not, it's still a personal choice. Why do I have to take the blame for something like that?" I shot back, my voice cold.
Chase pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated. When he looked back at me, his anger was still palpable.
"Even if it's a small matter, you have to get the blame from me. Your whole relationship with her is based on one damn lie! Shay's already struggling, and you're doing this to her? Imagine how she'll feel if she finds out."
I walked over to him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder, my grip tightening slightly as I glared back at him.
"She won't know. And you won't say a thing. This conversation stays between us, Chase. Understood?"
He brushed my hand away, fury in his eyes.
"Unbelievable," he muttered before storming out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
I exhaled sharply, sitting back down at my desk. I wasn't worried about him—Chase wouldn't talk to Shay or anyone else. He valued our friendship too much to betray it, even if he had started caring for her. He might want to tell me I was wrong, but in the end, I knew he'd keep this to himself.
This was my problem, and I'd handle it the way I wanted to.