Chapter 171
Howard insisted, and no one could change his mind.
Jeremy brought over paper and a pen.
"Mr. Howard Morgan, everything's ready."
Howard leaned back against his pillow, looked around the hospital room, and began to speak slowly.
"My shares in the Morgan Group—I'm giving fifteen percent to Andrew and fifteen percent to Michael. You two split it evenly. That’s fair, right?"
Andrew stepped forward and grasped Howard's hand.
"Dad, we're family. We don't worry about these things."
Howard continued.
"Isabella, you've been married into the Morgan family for so many years, keeping the household running smoothly. You're a good girl. All the properties under my name go to you and Emily."
Isabella wiped away tears. "Dad, you’re still strong. Why not keep managing those properties yourself?"
Everyone looked tearful, except Emily, who was thrilled inside.
She knew that Howard owned properties all over the country—selling just one would be enough for her to live it up for half a year. She used to complain that Howard favored Ava, but now she finally saw the truth. When dividing the inheritance, Howard didn't even call Ava—he clearly saw her as an outsider. All that affection before was just for show; he would never truly dote on an outsider like her.
An outsider is an outsider—no matter what, she could never compare to his own granddaughter. Emily now felt Howard had his head on straight after all.
She laughed inwardly, wishing she could run to her friend Sarah right now to share this joy.
Howard paused to catch his breath, then continued.
"Jeremy, you've been by my side as my assistant since I founded the Morgan Group decades ago. You've handled everything perfectly. I've long considered you a brother. Pick any two cars from the garage, and the horse ranch goes to Benjamin."
Jeremy was overwhelmed. He never imagined Howard would include an outsider like him in the inheritance, not only giving him cars but also taking care of his son Benjamin Wright. What touched him most was Howard calling him a brother. He was deeply moved.
"Mr. Howard Morgan, don't talk nonsense. The doctor said you're fine, just need to rest properly."
Tears streamed down Jeremy's face.
Emily felt even more pleased hearing this. Even a butler got something, but Ava got nothing. For the first time, she felt she had the upper hand over Ava in this family, in Howard's eyes.
No one noticed William leaning against the wall, hands hanging loosely, lost in thought.
Howard's gaze settled on him.
"William, you're the child I value most, and also the one who disappoints me most. This inheritance isn't something anyone can easily get. What you want, you'll have to earn yourself. As for your current position at the Morgan Group, whether you can hold onto it depends entirely on your own ability. I won't support you at shareholder meetings anymore. If you can't take the Morgan Group to new heights, be ready to step down anytime. Do you accept this?"
William nodded.
"I accept it."
Everyone sighed. Howard had always doted on this eldest grandson most, often praising William for having his youthful spirit. Surprisingly, when dividing the inheritance, he gave him nothing.
Just when everyone thought he was finished, Howard rested a moment, then said to Jeremy:
"All my overseas investment projects go to Ava."
That one sentence caused quite a stir.
Others might not know, but Jeremy was well aware—those projects Howard invested in at Silver Valley in Lumaria back in his youth, any single one was worth hundreds of millions. Now he was giving all his overseas assets to Ava—that was worth even more than the shares Andrew and Michael received.
Jeremy was completely stunned. The news was so shocking, he wondered if he'd gone deaf and heard wrong.
"Mr. Howard Morgan, all overseas assets to Mrs. Ava Morgan?"
He confirmed again.
Howard nodded slightly in confirmation.
Now, everyone in the room was unsettled. Andrew was angry but didn't dare show it. His daughter-in-law was ordinary—he neither liked nor disliked her. Either way, she was an outsider, and he'd heard the young couple was getting divorced lately. Howard had given nearly half his fortune to that girl.
If Howard had given more of his assets to anyone else in this family, Andrew wouldn't feel it was unfair. But giving it to a wild girl who'd only been married into the Morgan family for three years—that felt wrong.
Right now, Isabella and Emily felt even worse.
Isabella had been married into the Morgan family for decades, bearing children, honoring the elders, caring for her husband—she'd given her all. Yet she only got some properties from Howard. Those properties were a drop in the bucket compared to what Ava received. And she'd been so happy just moments ago, ultimately showing she lacked sophistication, bought off by a few properties, thinking Howard valued her.
Isabella's face turned ashen. She glanced at her son leaning against the wall, feeling even more indignant. Howard was heartless enough not to give his own grandson a single penny!
Emily held back for a while but couldn’t suppress herself anymore.
"Grandpa, this is so unfair. Ava's just an outsider—why should she get so much of the Morgan family's wealth? My brother got nothing, and she can't even have children. Why should she get anything?"
After Emily spoke, Andrew glared at her. Howard's vital signs had just stabilized, and the doctor had repeatedly warned them not to let him get emotional again—that could be fatal.
Emily was an impulsive young lady with no sense. She never thought before speaking or acting, completely missing the warning in Andrew's eyes. She kept complaining on and on.
"Ava marrying into our family is like getting something for nothing. She made quite a deal—three years of youth for enough money to last several lifetimes. I should remind her to check if her family saved the universe in a past life."
Howard coughed a few times. After his breathing calmed, he said:
"The Morgan family owes that child. This money can't repay it. I'm doing this just to ease my own guilt toward her. I've divided everything I have among you all—it's what I worked my whole life for. No one has the right to judge whether it's fair or not. Only I decide what I'm willing to give."
His eyes fell on William again.
"Everyone out. William stays."
Following Howard's order, everyone left the room. In an instant, only Howard and William remained.
Howard narrowed his eyes, saying:
"You've really done it now. Before, I just thought that woman was pestering you, and you couldn't think straight. Turns out you've gotten her pregnant."
Howard paused.
"I've never done anything against heaven or conscience in my life, so naturally I won't force that woman to have an abortion. Just remember your own choices. Don't come crying to me when you regret it."
Every word Howard said made sense. William had no response.
It was his own drunken mistake that trapped him in this inescapable mess, and Ava became the victim of this relationship.
"Find a time to quickly finish the divorce procedures with Ava. I forced you to marry her. If you don't cherish her, fine, but you can't use this to disgust her or humiliate her."
William was silent for a moment before answering.
"I understand, Grandpa."
Leaving the hospital room, William, with half his face swollen, returned to his car carrying a cold aura.
He saw dozens of missed calls from Sarah on his phone, along with messages she'd sent. Only then did he see clearly that the woman had actually moved into SilkGrove Estates.
"To SilkGrove Estates!"
He gave the order to the driver.