Chapter 139 Alice's Family Assets
Chapter 139 Alice's Family Assets
Alice only smiled and nodded. She felt proud seeing Evan now, so much calmer and more authoritative in handling business matters, no longer explosive like he used to be.
The night grew deeper, yet the celebration only became more vibrant. Classical music played by a small orchestra in the corner of the garden enhanced the elegant atmosphere.
Lavina approached Alice, who was chatting with several officials’ wives.
“Alice, Grandma sees that you’re starting to look tired. Do you want to rest inside?”
“Just a little later, Grandma. I still want to stay here for a bit. The air feels very fresh,” Alice replied.
“Alright, but don’t stand too long. Evan! Watch your wife, don’t keep talking about stocks with them!” Lavina called out to Evan, who was several meters away.
Evan immediately excused himself from his circle of business talk and walked over to Alice. “Come on, let’s sit over there.”
They headed toward a quieter balcony area, away from the crowd of guests. From there, they could see the party lights reflecting on the surface of the swimming pool.
“Alice, are you happy today?” Evan asked, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.
“Very happy, Evan. I never imagined we could hold an event like this without any disturbances or fear,” Alice rested her head against Evan’s chest. “It feels like the heavy burden I’ve carried for so long has finally disappeared.”
“I’m glad to hear that. This is only the beginning, Alice. There are still many happy days ahead of us,” Evan said.
As they enjoyed that quiet moment, Rico appeared with hurried steps. His face looked slightly tense, a stark contrast to the cheerful party atmosphere.
“Young Master, I’m sorry to interrupt your moment,” Rico whispered.
Evan frowned. He released his embrace around Alice. “What is it, Rico? I said there were no urgent matters tonight.”
“This isn’t about enemies or business, Young Master. There is someone at the front gate forcing his way in. He isn’t on the guest list, but he’s carrying something he claims belonged to the late father of Mrs. Alice,” Rico reported.
Alice immediately turned toward him. “My father’s? Who is he?”
“He claims to be an old lawyer from the Smith family in the countryside, Ma’am. He says there is an additional will that must be delivered personally once your pregnancy reaches four months,” Rico added.
Evan looked at Alice with hesitation. “Do you want to see him?”
“I… I don’t know. But if this concerns Father, I want to hear it,” Alice replied.
Evan nodded at Rico. “Bring him to the small study near the hall. Don’t let any other guests see him. Alice and I will go there now.”
They walked toward the private study on the ground floor. Inside, an elderly man with thick glasses and a worn leather bag was already waiting. When he saw Alice, he stood up and bowed respectfully.
“Mrs. Alice, my name is Darma. I was Mr. Smith’s legal assistant ten years ago at the village branch office,” the man said in a trembling voice.
“Please, have a seat, Mr. Darma. What would you like to tell us?” Evan asked cautiously.
The old man took out a brown envelope, aged and beginning to crumble. “Mr. Smith left this message with me. He said that if one day Alice married a Nathaniel and became pregnant with his child, I was to give this to her.”
Alice accepted the envelope with trembling hands and opened it slowly. Inside were an old warehouse key and a small map leading to a location on the outskirts of the city.
“What is this?” Alice asked, confused.
“That is the location of a secret warehouse where Mr. Smith stored the original evidence of the true ownership of Elino land. He knew that one day the Nathaniel and Smith families might come into conflict, and he wanted you to have a weapon to protect yourself,” Mr. Darma explained.
Evan took the map and studied it. “This is a protected forest area in the north.”
“And that’s not all, Young Master,” the old man said, looking at Alice with a deep gaze. “In that warehouse, there is also Mr. Smith’s final voice recording before the tragedy. A message that will change how you see your family’s history forever.”
Alice looked at Evan, her face pale. “Father’s final message? Evan, should we go there now?”
“We only need to listen to that final recording,” Evan replied quietly.
The light in the small study felt too bright as Mr. Darma took out an old model digital voice recorder from the brown envelope. Alice sat on the sofa, holding her breath, while Evan stood firmly beside her, his eyes fixed on the small device on the table.
“Mr. Elino knew his life was in danger at the time,” Mr. Darma said hoarsely. “He recorded this one day before the dam tragedy that caused the massive flood. He entrusted it to me because he knew I would not be suspected by Edwin.”
Mr. Darma pressed the play button. Static crackled briefly before a deep, very familiar voice filled the room.
“Alice, my beloved daughter… if you are hearing this recording, it means Papa is no longer by your side.”
Alice’s tears fell instantly. She covered her mouth with her hand, her shoulders shaking. Evan squeezed his wife’s shoulder, giving her strength.
“Papa must set something straight before it is too late. Edwin, Papa’s younger brother, has betrayed us. Ten years ago, Edwin sold all his shares and assets in Elino Group to outside parties to pay off his gambling debts. Papa secretly bought them back so the Smith family name would not be destroyed. In return, Edwin signed a letter of absolute renunciation of inheritance rights.”
Elino’s voice in the recording was calm but firm.
“So, Alice, listen carefully to Papa. All of Elino Group’s assets, the family house, and whatever remains of the Smith family’s wealth are entirely yours. Edwin has no right to a single cent. He has only been living off us all this time. Papa stored the original agreement letter in the secret warehouse whose location is on this map. Do not let him take what rightfully belongs to you and your future children.”
The recording ended with the sound of Elino’s long exhale. A suffocating silence filled the room.
“So all this time…” Alice whispered hoarsely. “Uncle Edwin knew? He knew he had nothing, yet he acted as if I was the one freeloading in that house?”
“Of course he knew, Alice,” Evan replied, his voice cold as ice. “That’s why he was so obsessed with getting rid of you or forcing you to marry someone he could control. He wanted to steal back what he had already sold.”
“Edwin Smith is truly a sly fox,” Zavian growled. He had apparently been standing at the doorway the entire time. “He blackmailed the Nathaniels using the Elino name, when in truth he was nothing but a thief in his own brother’s house.”
Mr. Darma nodded weakly. “That’s right, Sir. Mr. Edwin searched for that letter for years, but he never found it because Mr. Elino trusted only me, someone small and insignificant in his eyes.”
Alice wiped her tears, her expression shifting from grief to pure resolve. “Evan, we have to retrieve that letter. I don’t want even the slightest legal loophole that Edwin or his lawyers could use to sue us again from prison.”
“We’ll go early tomorrow morning, Alice,” Evan said. “But tonight, you must rest. You’ve heard the truth. Your father protected everything for you.”
“But Evan, what if Edwin has a copy? Or what if he tells Selena?” Alice asked anxiously.
“Selena has nothing left, Alice,” Evan said, cupping his wife’s face. “Remember her condition at the rehabilitation hospital? She can’t even remember her own name. And Edwin? He will rot in prison with the knowledge that he has lost completely. He is no longer part of the Smiths or Elino.”
Zavian stepped further into the room. “I’ll send an advance team to secure the warehouse location tonight. Mr. Darma, you will go with them to make sure the key matches.”
“Of course, Sir. I will stake my life to ensure Mr. Elino’s mandate reaches Mrs. Alice,” Mr. Darma replied obediently.
Alice stood up, though her legs were slightly weak. She looked at the small map on the table. “Papa sacrificed so much to protect me. I feel so foolish for not knowing sooner.”
“You are not foolish, Alice. You were simply too kind,” Evan whispered. “But now, you are the sole legitimate ruler of Elino. No one can question your position anymore.”
Alice looked at Evan deeply. “This isn’t about money or the company, Evan. This is about the truth. Now our child will be born with a clean name, without the shadow of betrayal from their own uncle and aunt.”
Evan wrapped an arm around Alice’s waist, guiding her out of the room toward their quiet bedroom. But as they passed through the hall still bustling with guests, Alice paused and looked at the large portrait of Elino hanging there.
“I won your war, Papa,” Alice whispered in her heart, before walking away and leaving her dark past behind forever.