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ucy couldn’t understand the sudden change in her son. She saw the way he was with that girl now and it made her uncomfortable. More than uncomfortable: furious!
She sat down in the library, waiting for everybody else, deep in thought about the nightmare she had to live though over the past few weeks.
The other day she was walking up to her car when that gardener, James, ran into her. He nodded toward the rose garden and when Lucy followed his gaze, she found Ava and Benjamin strolling under the sun, holding hands, grinning and laughing as if they were truly newlyweds.
“Isn’t it the most beautiful thing?” James had asked her. “To see your child so happy?”
Lucy looked over at the couple, but the only word fitting to describe what she felt was “rage.” All she could see was a gold digger and her idiot son lost in a world of romance and love. She frowned and walked away without another word.
“No worries, at least the six months are up and this rubbish can end,” she consoled herself. Walter would be here in a matter of minutes and the two—Ava and Benjamin—were yet to show.
She wanted to confront Ben about his sudden love story with the girl.You know she’s not really your wife, right? She is just doing this for money.But she was scared of what he’d say;what if he did something foolish? Such as insist he loved her or some other childish notion on his end. No, they were too close to be done with her. Benjamin had managed to stick to the agreement and the inheritance would be his again soon.
Walter arrived a few minutes later than planned and so did the other two lovebirds. Her jaw clenched tightly when they came into the office holding hands.
Once again, just like they’d done six months ago, they held the meeting at the Elijah’s library.
Lucy tapped the desk impatiently.Get on with it, old man!The nightmare was almost over. Benjamin would sign the divorce papers and that would be it: the wealth would be theirs again, and most importantly, that gold digger would be gone—forever for all she cared.
Ava glanced over to Benjamin. He was sitting right next to her and caught her gaze with a warm smile. Just before the meeting, he had pulled her aside, his hands trembling. He told her that he wouldn’t mind staying married to her and they could just see where it would go—”not like we would have to get married again,” he joked. Ava threw herself into his arms, tears of joy running down her face. “Only if I get a real wedding this time,” she had insisted, which he granted her with a kiss.
Lucy was also throwing Ava a look, but it wasn’t full of love, that was for sure. Ava didn’t know if she would rejoice or fear the moment when they would declare that they wanted to stay married, but it didn’t matter in the end. Benjamin was here with her, loved her, wanted to be with her. That was all she ever wanted.
Walter took out a note and said, "Please listen carefully: what I'm about to read is just as important as everything else we've been through six months ago."
"Well then, get on with it," Lucy snapped and waved her hand impatiently.
The lawyer cleared his throat and began reading a note from Elijah:
"My Dear Family, I hope everyone is here. This part of the will should be read after the proposed six months are over and the couple has gathered her for their divorce."
Benjamin squeezed Ava’s hand once more to give her courage. It worked.
Walter raised his gaze and eyed the people around him, and then focused back on the document. But instead of reading the rest of it, he just sat there, in silence, sweat forming on his forehead, his eyes glued to the paper in front of him.
“Well, what is it now? Why don’t you read the rest?” Lucy nagged.
Walter exchanged looks with Ben and Ava. “I-I was wondering, d-did you two decide on the divorce?” He glanced at Ava and Ben holding hands.
Ben narrowed his eyes. “Why would that matter? We did what my grandfather asked us to do six months ago, so let’s just sign the will or whatever else we need to do and be done with it.”
Walter lowered his gaze and stared into the page.
“Just finish reading the note, will you!” Lucy barked.
Walter nodded; his lips pressed together into a grimace. "As mentioned six months ago, the entire estate shall be awarded to my grandson, Benjamin Radcliff. Mrs. Ava Burns shall receive all monetary amounts as agreed upon at completion of this agreement.”
Lucy was nodding at Benjamin’s part but bit her lip in hatred when Ava was mentioned. She was almost ready to get up and leave when Walter raised his voice once more, loud and clear this time.
“That is…” he announced but stopped to take a deep breath, “…that is…”
“This is a waste of time,” Lucy shouted as Walter finally gathered all the courage he could find to read the rest:
“…That is, only if the couple chooses to separate and signs a legally binding no-contact order.”
“Huh?” Benjamin leaned forward in utter confusion. Walter hastily finished:
