Chapter 144
When Robert said this, everyone's faces showed subtle changes.
The most obvious were William and Grace. The existence of a second will meant that Robert favored Oscar. If he had already wanted to give Oscar and me sixty percent back then, who knew what changes there would be this time.
Robert's face still wore a calm smile as he instructed the butler, "Go get a voice recorder and record everything I'm about to say. It'll serve as additional proof besides the original will."
William gasped in disbelief, "So you were the one that wrote the will the lawyer brought over a while ago?"
Robert nodded. "Yes."
"Why?" William asked with a frown. "Dad, even if he's back now and you want to divide the inheritance, I should get more and he should get less. Don't forget what you promised my mom before she died. The will we have should be the one with legal effect."
Robert's smile faded a bit. "A will must be completely voluntary. That will back then was written because your mom forced me to. Besides, after your mom passed, you also got half of her assets, so the way I'm dividing things now is completely fair."
After saying this, he seemed to have trouble breathing, his face turning red as he patted his chest and coughed violently.
The butler quickly stepped forward to pat his back. Oscar handed him the water in front of him and waited silently for him to continue.
But Grace spoke up, "How can you calculate it that way? Even after splitting Mom's inheritance in half, we only got a quarter. Dad, if you do this, Mom won't be able to rest in peace."
Robert's face grew colder. After drinking some water, he slammed the cup down on the table: "The Novagen Group was originally just a small factory. I spent decades getting the company listed and making it one of Emerald City's most prominent enterprises. I decide how to divide it. Your opinions mean nothing to me."
William quickly put on a smile. "Dad, Grace didn't mean it that way. She just feels this kind of fairness isn't really fair. You did make The Novagen Group stronger over the decades, but we didn't hold it back, did we? What about him? He's only been back six months—why should he get sixty percent of the shares?"
Robert took a deep breath to calm himself. "Didn't hold it back? You really think I became deaf and blind after retiring? The Novagen Group's performance has been poor for three years and the stock price keeps dropping—you think I don't know? And Gregory, is he really too busy with work to come? What's he actually doing?"
William and Grace exchanged glances, neither daring to say more.
Robert looked at them and continued, "I may be old, but I'm not confused. I've carefully divided the shares of The Novagen Group. This is all the wealth I've earned in my lifetime. I have a clear conscience toward you, but I owe Oscar too much. As my eldest son, the Lopez family has given you enough support. If you're still fussing over this, you'll really disappoint me."
Grace frowned in protest. "Dad, that's not fair. William does have the family's support, but isn't that what he should enjoy? If Oscar had grown up with you, he would have had the same treatment. But William didn't cause any of this. If you want to compensate Oscar, you shouldn't take from our interests to do it. Besides—"
She glanced at me. "What about Emily's share? She's not even married to Oscar yet, so she's not part of the Lopez family. Why should she get an inheritance? Don't tell me you owe her something too?"
Robert looked at her calmly. "What if I said I do?"
Grace almost laughed in anger. She leaned back against her chair and crossed her arms. "Dad, if you're going to say that, then I have to ask—what do you owe her? Is she your illegitimate daughter too?"
"How dare you!" Robert was clearly angry, his face reddening as he scolded her. "Is that something you should say?"
He started coughing violently again.
Grace still sat with her arms crossed, not moving. William, who was standing beside her, didn't stop her, instead he let her continue.
"You're being so unfair, and we can't even speak up? We don't accept this will, Dad. I've been married to William for over twenty years. Even if I haven't contributed much, at least I've produced descendants for the Lopez family. Why isn't my name even on the will, while this fiancée who's only been here six months gets a share—even more than your son and grandson? Dad, aren't you worried about what people will say?"
I looked at Grace. Beneath her seemingly calm expression, her hands were trembling slightly. From her perspective, these words seemed to make some sense.
Robert just looked at her coldly and laughed. "My son? My grandson?"
He gestured to the butler. "I'm a bit tired. Take me back to my room to rest."
William and Grace both fell silent, their faces dark, watching helplessly as the butler wheeled Robert into his room and closed the door before they finally snapped out of it.
I looked at Oscar and he looked back at me. Apparently, we both understood that perhaps Robert knew about William's true parentage. As for when he learned the truth, no one could say.
After the butler came out of Robert's room, he smiled and said, "Mr. Robert Lopez wants to sleep for a while. He asked me to tell you that he hopes you brothers will support each other and work together to make The Novagen Group great again."
After the butler left, only silence remained at the dining table.
William looked at Oscar with a dark expression. Then he frowned in confusion. "What exactly did you tell Dad? Why has everything changed since you came back?"
Oscar laughed lightly. "Aren't you wondering why I came back?"
William's hands clenched tightly. Of course he understood. Initially, the reason for having Gregory bring Oscar back was to help The Novagen Group, but William had probably also realized that Robert was the one who came up with this suggestion. So the truth about bringing Oscar back was becoming clear.
I guessed it too—perhaps that was when Robert learned William wasn't his biological son, which finally made him think of Oscar.
Seeing William's silence, Oscar stood up and pulled me to my feet. "The food's cold. Besides, we're full. You two can take your time."