Married At First Sight Chapter 3701
Chapter 3701
Serenity nodded, relieved. “It’s good that it’s over, and I’m glad everyone is okay.”
Now that the issue had been resolved, Serenity felt at ease. She asked, “Sister, will you be able to come back next week? When is Aunt coming back?”
“Probably when I get my New Year’s holiday. Grandpa Jimenez wants to stay in Jensburg a bit longer. He’s lived there for decades, so it’s like his hometown.”
Mr. Jimenez was elderly and in poor health. The doctor said he might have two or three years left, or even less. It could be as soon as next year. He wanted to spend his final days in Jensburg, and after his death, he asked Audrey to bring his ashes back to be buried near the Farrell family’s private cemetery so he could continue watching over his master.
Liberty added, “Zachary and Clive should be back in a couple of days. Both families have businesses in Jensburg, so they’ll be checking in on their subsidiaries and hotels.”
Serenity smiled, “Now that I know everything’s settled, I’m not in a rush for him to come back. How is Kathryn doing? Is she okay?”
Liberty paused before answering. “Her mother just died—how could she be okay? No matter how cruel Clarissa was, she was still Kathryn’s mother. Clarissa feared a fierce battle and didn’t want Kathryn to get hurt. She even tried to send her away multiple times. Her love for Kathryn was real.”
Even though their relationship wasn’t deep, there was still a bond between mother and daughter. Despite Kathryn’s strong morals, she was grieving. After her mother’s death, Kathryn could only hope her cousins and their family would let go of their hatred.
If any atonement was needed, Kathryn would take on that responsibility for her deceased mother.
Liberty continued, “Kathryn’s biological father was shot but is expected to survive. He’s still in the hospital. No one else was hurt, except Clarissa’s assistant, who also committed suicide, following her.”
Clarissa’s assistant had been fiercely loyal, even in death.
Unlike him, Grandpa Jimenez didn’t follow his master to the grave because he wanted to avenge her death. Now that Clarissa was dead, his revenge was complete, and the Farrell family could return to normal. However, without that purpose, Grandpa Jimenez’s health was declining, which is why the doctor said his life wouldn’t last much longer.
Even though he was nearly 100 years old, it hadn’t been long since they’d reunited, and everyone wished for him to live even longer—ideally to 120 years.
“When Kathryn’s feelings settle, I’ll visit her at her company,” Liberty said.
She and Kathryn had a lot in common. If it weren’t for the conflict between their families, they would have been good friends. Although Kathryn was technically older, Liberty felt like the big sister.
Serenity nodded. “Yes, let’s check on her. What did Aunt say?”
“Aunt said we’ll handle everything after New Year’s. With the holiday so close, there’s no rush.”
Clarissa was gone, and Kathryn now knew the truth—that her mother had indeed killed her aunts to take control of the family. When Kathryn met with Audrey, she said that if this was true, she wouldn’t take over the Farrell family. Instead, she would return everything to Audrey’s side of the family.
Married At First Sight Chapter 3702
Chapter 3702
Whether Audrey wanted to take over or let the younger generation, like Liberty, handle things was up to her. Kathryn didn’t care; she simply returned what wasn’t hers back to Audrey.
Serenity said, “Don’t worry, let’s focus on the good news about you and Brother Duncan first.”
Liberty suddenly went quiet.
Serenity asked, “Sister, what’s wrong? Haven’t you decided yet? Didn’t you say you and Brother Duncan would make it official before the New Year?”
Duncan was already planning the proposal.
“I’ve thought about it,” Liberty replied, “but when it’s time to actually do it, I get nervous. I don’t know if Sonny will accept it. I’ll be spending a lot of time in Jensburg—will Duncan be okay with that?”
She paused before continuing. “Thinking about it is one thing, but actually doing it is different. Duncan and I haven’t been together for very long, not even as long as I was with Hank. Hank and I were together for years, but in the end… Seren, I know Duncan is different from Hank, but after going through one divorce, it’s hard not to overthink things. If this marriage doesn’t work out, I don’t think I’ll believe in marriage again. I won’t want to get married anymore.”
Liberty had thought carefully before agreeing to marry Duncan. He was kind, treated Sonny like his own, and had genuinely touched her heart, which is why she was willing to give marriage another try.
Serenity reassured her, “Sister, follow your heart. When people get married, they always hope to spend their lives together, facing whatever challenges come. But we know that not every couple makes it through tough times. The best thing we can do is cherish the present and hope for the future, hoping our husbands will grow old with us.
When Zachary and I first got together, we weren’t sure we’d make it a lifetime. Life is long, and we don’t know what challenges are ahead. But I believe as long as we work together, we can handle anything that comes our way. I believe we’ll grow old together. You and Brother Duncan have already been through a lot, so you’ll value each other more and trust your love.”
Liberty did truly love Duncan, which is why she was so anxious about the future. If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t be so worried about what might happen.
Liberty smiled, “You’re right. I’m overthinking. Duncan is nothing like Hank. He saw me at my worst and never judged me, unlike Hank.”
When Liberty was with Hank, she had gained weight and lost her confidence. But with Duncan, she had transformed, regaining her figure and her beauty. Duncan had seen her at her lowest and still treated her with love and respect. Why would he change now?
“Serenity, don’t tell Zachary what I said. I don’t want him to worry Duncan.”
Serenity promised, “I won’t tell.”
This was a private conversation between sisters. When Serenity had doubts about her own relationship with Zachary, Liberty had supported and advised her, helping her make the right choices. Now, it was Serenity’s turn to guide Liberty through her own uncertainty, just as Liberty had done for her before.
Married At First Sight Chapter 3703
Chapter 3703
Serenity said, “Anyone can see how much Brother Duncan cares for Sonny. Even someone who can’t see would feel his love for Sonny. He’s the perfect stepfather and treats Sonny like his own son. Sonny is now much closer to him than to his biological father.”
“I know, Seren, I know. I won’t let my thoughts get the best of me again. Duncan and I have been married for years, and we’ve known each other for so long. We understand each other completely. I don’t regret marrying him!”
Liberty was only confused for a moment, but after talking to Serenity, she regained her clarity and calm.
She and Duncan had faced resistance from their families. But after Duncan’s car accident, the Lewis family stopped objecting, and Duncan is recovering now. Even if Duncan visits their home, his family won’t oppose them anymore.
If they have a daughter in the future, she will take Liberty’s surname, and Duncan’s family will accept that too.
What more could Liberty worry about? She’s ready to embrace this new chapter of her life and find happiness again.
Liberty asked, “Zachary called you, right?”
Serenity replied, “Yes, he told me everything. I didn’t know at first. I figured you didn’t want me to worry, so I pretended not to know and took Sonny on vacation.”
After saying this, Serenity felt a bit guilty. “I feel useless sometimes. When you needed help, I wasn’t there, and you had to arrange everything for me. Zachary told me Clarissa tried to take you hostage. If I had been there, and she tried anything with me, I would have knocked her down.”
Serenity was both angry and afraid when Zachary told her. She was furious that Clarissa, near death, tried to drag Liberty down with her.
She was terrified of what might have happened if Liberty had fallen into Clarissa’s hands. Even if she survived, she would have suffered terribly. Thankfully, Lilian saved Liberty.
Lilian had assured Serenity not to worry because there were enough people there to protect Liberty.
When Lilian returned, Serenity planned to thank her personally.
If something had happened to Liberty, Serenity would never be happy again, and it would have created a rift between her and Zachary because he had kept the truth from her.
Liberty smiled, “There’s no need for you to worry. We had already set a trap for Clarissa and just waited for her to fall into it. Now that everything’s over, you can relax. Don’t let this stress affect your sleep. Make sure to eat well too. You’re carrying my first nephew, and I love him just as much as I love Sonny.”
Serenity smiled too. “Sister, I may skip meals sometimes, but never when it comes to the baby.”
Even if she didn’t eat, the baby would take nutrients from her body. But she wasn’t going to go hungry, especially since Jane at the Johnson house made sure she had nourishing soup every day. Jane didn’t want her losing weight, especially when Zachary returned.
Serenity felt touched, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
“Well, let’s talk more when I get back. I have work to finish and need to go to Farrell Group this afternoon. Kathryn should be back at the office today.”
Since Clarissa’s death, they had left the Farrell family mansion and hadn’t returned. There were only a few days left in the year, and there was still so much to do.
Even if Liberty officially takes over the Farrell Group, she won’t move into the mansion too quickly.
Married At First Sight Chapter 3704
Chapter 3704
Liberty usually stayed at Fortress Hotel or sometimes at the company. She was thinking of buying a house in Jensburg so that when Duncan and Sonny visited, they wouldn’t have to stay in a hotel. They’d talk more about it after moving into the Farrell family mansion.
After the call, Serenity felt good. She put away her phone and was about to go downstairs when she saw Jane.
With a smile, she asked, “When did you get here?”
Jane replied, “I’ve been here for a while. I saw you were on the phone with your sister, so I didn’t interrupt. Is everything okay?”
Jane already knew what had happened that night. Her brother and sister-in-law were involved. While she didn’t play a big role, she was there to support Audrey and the others.
Sariyah and her husband were also there, just to watch how things unfolded. Mr. Jimenez and others were in Jensburg too, and Sariyah wanted to meet with her master.
Now Dakota had gone back to Meadspring with Sariyah and her husband, along with Ezequiel and others. Bianca had returned to the Du family. She had been away for a long time, and if she didn’t go home soon, her elders would scold her.
As for Jane and Evan, there was no rush. Evan still didn’t know that Jane was actually Fox, or Abby Du. He had his suspicions, but no proof. The one who should be worried was Evan, not her.
When she wanted to marry Evan as Abby, he had turned her down, saying he didn’t love her, even though his grandmother had chosen her to be his wife. It’s not like she had no other options—she didn’t have to marry Evan.
Abby decided that during the New Year, when everyone was free, she would go on a few blind dates her family arranged. She’d give herself and those suitors a chance. There was no point in fixating on Evan.
People had tried to advise Evan, but he didn’t listen, so Abby wasn’t going to blame herself.
Serenity nodded.
“Where are Titus and Sonny? And what about Avah? Isn’t she with you?”
Jane answered, “The boys took Avah downstairs to play. Laurel and the others are with them too. The boys are having fun, and Avah loves playing with them.”
Jane suddenly asked, “Seren, I’m planning to take the kids to my mom’s place later. Want to come with us for a couple of days? But my mom still lives in the countryside—it’s not very exciting.”
She worried Serenity might not enjoy it.
Serenity laughed. “I grew up in the countryside, how could I not be used to it? I’d love to go if you’re willing to take me and the kids. I hear your parents have a lot of chickens and ducks—they’re free-range, right? I bet they taste amazing!”
Serenity wasn’t short of food; she just wanted Jane to know she was looking forward to the trip.
Jane smiled. “Yes, they raise a lot. I keep telling them not to, but they insist. They even sent me a dozen chickens over the holidays. Every time I go back, they load my car with eggs, rice, homemade peanut oil, sweet potatoes, and taro.”
“They always complain that my trunk is too small and joke that I should drive a truck. They say nine out of ten daughters are thieves, and I feel like one every time!”
Married At First Sight Chapter 3705
Chapter 3705She brought back a car full of goods from her parents and grandparents. Her parents packed her car with farm-grown treats.
Of course, she didn’t mind at all, and even her in-laws loved them. Every time she returned from visiting her parents, her uncles and aunts would come over to share the farm goods she had brought back.
Jane knew her in-laws’ elders were excited to share the things she brought because it was their way of showing respect to her.
It was an honor for her to be part of the Johnson family.
Serenity said enviously, “That’s the love your parents have for you.”
Her parents had passed away, and she could no longer experience that kind of love. She had no family home to go back to. Even though the house still existed, without her parents, going back would only make her feel sad.
Although her relationship with her grandparents had improved, it wasn’t as close as Jane’s bond with her own family.
Jane had returned to the Murphy family, even though she wasn’t their biological child. The Murphys treated her better than their own children. She usually visited her adoptive parents, while her biological parents were traveling abroad and only returned occasionally.
Now that Sariyah was in charge of the Lafayette family, Jane’s parents felt they could finally enjoy retirement and live their lives. They had lost over 20 years due to other circumstances, and Jane’s mother had been deeply affected by Jane’s disappearance. It wasn’t until they found Jane that her mother slowly recovered.
“My mom has also been asking when you’ll be free to visit us. The weather’s nice today, so let’s take the kids and stay for a couple of days. The sweet potatoes are in season, and we can roast some when we get there.”
Serenity said nostalgically, “I can’t even remember the last time I had roasted sweet potatoes—real ones roasted in the field, not in the oven.”
Jane smiled. “Then I’ll make sure you get some this time.”
“Let’s go and take the kids too. If I don’t bring Enzo and Avah, my parents will be disappointed. They always joke that once they have grandchildren, they don’t need me anymore. It’s a typical generation gap.”
Sometimes, Jane felt a little jealous seeing how much her parents spoiled the kids. Before they had children, she was the center of attention. Now, her parents wouldn’t even let her visit without bringing the kids. If she said the kids weren’t feeling well, her parents would immediately pack up and head to her in-laws’ house, as if being there would magically make the kids feel better. Luckily, the children were healthy and rarely got sick.
Serenity laughed. “A lot of elders are like that. They’re always closer to their grandkids.”
As they chatted, the two headed downstairs.
Jane called out to the kids, “Titus, Sonny, we’re going to your grandma’s house for a couple of days.”
Alannah, who was sitting on the sofa playing with Enzo, heard Jane and asked, “Jane, are you going to your mom’s?”
“Yes, Mom. We’re going to stay for two days. My mom misses the kids.”
Alannah kissed her grandson’s cheek and said, “Avah’s going to grandma’s house? Grandma will miss you too! Jane, why don’t you take me with you? I haven’t had a good chat with your mom in a while.”
In reality, the two in-laws had only spent a week together. Alannah had invited Jane’s mother to the city for shopping, beauty treatments, and dining. Mrs. Murphy stayed at her daughter’s house for a night, but Jane had arranged for a driver to take her back the next day. Mrs. Murphy said she couldn’t stay longer because she had to look after her chickens and ducks, or she would have stayed a few more days.
Married At First Sight Chapter 3706
Chapter 3706
Sometimes, Alannah and her husband would take the grandmother along, and without telling Jane, the three of them would drive to their in-laws’ house and stay there for a week, not wanting to leave.
Grandma Johnson especially enjoyed visiting Grandma Murphy and listening to the rural women talk about family matters—basically gossiping. She loved it and was the most talkative of all.
Jane smiled and asked, “Mom, do you want to tell Dad?”
Alannah replied, “No need, your dad won’t mind. If anything, he’ll just drive me there.”
“Alright, let’s go then,” Jane said as she picked up Avah, took Titus by the hand, and her mother-in-law followed, carrying Enzo.
Serenity held Sonny.
“Where are Laurel’s two little ones?” Jane suddenly remembered her two nephews.
“They’re asleep. The nanny took them back. It’s better not to bring them; they’re too mischievous. If we take them to your mom’s, we won’t get a moment of peace. Their parents aren’t coming along, and it would be hard to manage them.”
At home, Jane didn’t mind Alannah helping to watch the nephews, and it was fun to have more kids around. But when going out, she wouldn’t take them without their parents.
It’s too much responsibility to watch someone else’s kids, and if something happened, it would be hard to explain to their parents.
Jane nodded. “It’s good they have a nanny.”
Even without her mother-in-law reminding her, Jane knew not to take the kids without their parents.
The group got into several cars and headed to Jane’s mother’s house.
Meanwhile, in Jensburg.
At the hospital, Kathryn finally found time to visit Holden, who had been shot by Clarissa.
Holden lay in bed, looking much older and frail. Though he was in his seventies, he had always taken care of himself and looked younger. Now, he appeared as old as Mr. Jimenez.
“Miss,” the servant taking care of Holden greeted Kathryn respectfully, then stepped aside so she could approach the bed.
“How did my father end up like this?” Kathryn muttered to herself.
She had been busy with Clarissa’s funeral, comforting the family, and handling Mr. Dunn’s arrangements, so this was her first visit since Holden was hospitalized.
After Clarissa’s death, Holden was said to be in a bad state, but Kathryn hadn’t thought much of it until now. Seeing him so weak and aged in just a few days surprised her.
She had assumed Holden wouldn’t be sad about Clarissa’s death and might even be relieved.
Kathryn also understood why Clarissa shot Holden. Clarissa knew she was going to die and feared Holden would try to control things after her death. She wanted to take him down with her.
Kathryn sighed inwardly.
If Clarissa was so concerned about Holden, why did she provoke him and invite him over?
After being married for decades, they had turned against each other in their old age.
The servant softly added, “Mr. Janzen has been like this since hearing about the Farrell family’s troubles. When he isn’t like this, he just sleeps.”
Married At First Sight Chapter 3707
Chapter 3707
Kathryn softly asked, “Is my dad willing to eat?”
The servant replied, “He’ll eat, but not much. He’s mostly in a daze. Sometimes he talks to himself, but I can’t make out what he’s saying.”
Kathryn was quiet for a moment before saying, “I understand. You can leave now. I’ll talk to him.”
The servant nodded respectfully and left the room.
Now, only Holden and Kathryn were in the ward.
Kathryn pulled a chair over and sat by the bed, looking at Holden for a long time before speaking. “Dad, Mom’s gone. We have to face the truth. The dead can’t come back.”
She paused. “Mom made so many mistakes.”
Kathryn stopped herself from saying more. In an unspoken way, she believed that death was too easy for her mother, considering how many lives her mother had ruined.
Holden turned his head, and his eyes seemed to come alive again. He stared at his daughter for a long while before finally speaking. “Kathryn, I thought I’d be happy when your mom died, but when I heard the news, I wasn’t happy at all. Instead, I felt empty. The truth is, I loved your mother. If I didn’t, I would’ve never stayed with her.”
“Yes, the Janzen family was in decline, and I did marry into your family partly for my own reasons. But I did love your mother.”
He sighed. “Over time, your mother became too controlling. I never had more than $500 to myself. Even your brothers, when they were little, had more pocket money than I did. I used to sneak money from them behind her back.”
Holden paused, confessing, “I was weak. I’d look at younger, beautiful women and have thoughts, but after your mom caught me once, I didn’t dare act on them again. I thought about cheating because she was so strict. She was always in control, always in charge.
She was ruthless—everyone feared her. She was the head of the family, and everything had to go her way. I was afraid. I might’ve had wandering thoughts, but I didn’t have the courage to act on them.”
Holden’s eyes brightened as he recalled the past. “When I cheated, I thought I was being so careful. Your mom was out of town, but somehow, she came back early and caught me. Looking back now, I realize others were stirring up trouble behind the scenes. They used me to hurt your mom, and I didn’t even know it. That’s what led to this mess.”
Holden’s voice broke, and tears ran down his face.
“Kathryn, sometimes I truly hated your mom and wished she would die. But now that she’s gone, I regret it all. I regret everything I did to make her angry. If only I had just kept enduring it a little longer, we wouldn’t have ended up like this in our old age. I tolerated her for decades—what was a few more years? Why didn’t I just let her have her way? If I had known, I would’ve endured it until the end of our lives.”
At least then, people would’ve remembered them as a loving couple.
But now, everyone in Jensburg knew their marriage had fallen apart, and Clarissa, even in death, had wanted to take him down with her.
His infidelity had caused a scandal, and Clarissa must have been deeply disappointed in him.
No, Holden thought. She never had any hope or love for him at all.
Married At First Sight Chapter 3708
Chapter 3708
“Did your mother ever love me, Kathryn?” Holden asked, but before she could answer, he laughed bitterly. “No, she didn’t. She never loved me. Few people wanted to be with her, but I did. She couldn’t get Mr. Jimenez’s love, and she needed an heir, so she stayed with me.”
Kathryn remained quiet. She didn’t know if her mother had ever truly cared for her father. Maybe she had, maybe she hadn’t. But now, it didn’t matter—her mother was gone.
Holden continued, “I spent decades trying to warm her heart, but I couldn’t. I failed as a man, Kathryn. If she had loved me even a little, I wouldn’t have looked for excitement elsewhere or cheated on her. I did those things mostly to get back at her.”
Kathryn pursed her lips and said, “I think my mom still cared. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have had four children with you, and she wouldn’t have been so angry when you cheated.”
Desperate for reassurance, Holden asked again, “Really? Did she love me?”
Then he laughed through his tears. “Kathryn, don’t try to comfort me. I know she never loved me. She only had children with me because she needed an heir. If IVF had been an option back then, she wouldn’t have married me at all.”
“When I cheated, it wasn’t because she cared about me. She was angry because I embarrassed her. She couldn’t stand my betrayal. Honestly, if Mr. Jimenez had returned sooner and been willing to be with her, she would’ve left me for him.”
“She would’ve cheated first, and she wouldn’t have cared whether it hurt me. She only thought about herself, controlling others as she always did. In her eyes, I was just there to help her have children. She had love, but it was for Mr. Jimenez, for Shiloh, and the last bit was for you, Kathryn.”
Kathryn softly responded, “Dad, she did love me as a mother.”
“Motherly love is still love. She didn’t love your brothers as much because they weren’t driven or capable. If they had been more successful, maybe she would’ve loved them more. But your mother always said my blood was bad, that your brothers took after me and were therefore useless.”
“She always said the daughters of the Farrell family were exceptional, but not all of them are. Many are just like regular people.”
Only the direct bloodline truly stood out.
Kathryn sighed, “Dad, Mom’s gone now. You don’t need to dwell on these things anymore. It’s all in the past. Focus on getting better, leave the hospital for the New Year, and afterward, maybe my eldest brother can take you on a trip to relax.”
Holden wiped his tears, calming down. After a moment, he asked, “Did your mother say anything before she passed?”
Kathryn hesitated before replying, “She called my aunt and apologized.”
Holden looked disappointed.
Had he hoped Clarissa would think of him in her final moments? He knew he didn’t deserve that.
“She found peace,” Holden said softly. “I think she felt guilty all these years. She was close to your aunt. If not for that… I’m not sure how things would’ve turned out. By the time I met her, she was already the head of the Farrell family.”
Married At First Sight Chapter 3709
Chapter 3709
Kathryn thought to herself: What did it matter if her mother and aunt had been close?
It didn’t change how cruel her mother was.
In the end, her aunt died because of her mother’s schemes.
What had her aunt done wrong? Her mother not only lost her older sister but caused her death.
Her aunt likely never realized it was her own sister who betrayed her. And those who had even an inkling or helped her mother were later killed too.
Some lost their entire families.
After that tragedy decades ago, so many innocent lives were ruined.
Clarissa truly deserved her fate. But Kathryn couldn’t say that out loud—it was still her mother.
Holden said, “Your mother always favored daughters. I didn’t know you and Shiloh were switched before. She loved Shiloh the most. Whenever I made her mad, Shiloh would always beg for me.”
Kathryn stayed silent.
When she first returned to her family, she saw how much they adored Shiloh, the girl they thought was their real daughter.
Kathryn said quietly, “Don’t talk about Shiloh…”
Holden sighed and tried to sit up.
Kathryn stood and helped him, placing a pillow behind his back for support.
Holden then said, “Kathryn, can you get me a glass of water? I’ve been talking so much, and I’m thirsty.”
Kathryn went and got him a glass of warm water. After he drank, she put the cup aside and asked if he wanted some fruit.
“I’m not hungry. You can take it back or have the servant clear it later. Nothing tastes good to me now that your mother’s gone,” Holden replied.
Kathryn sat down again.
Holden then asked the critical question, “Now that your mother is gone, how will the company and the family be managed?”
This was about the future of the Janzen family and Holden’s own security in his old age. His wife, who had been in control for so long, was gone, and it left him feeling lost and older than ever. But despite the sadness, Holden wasn’t thinking of following her in death. He wanted to live, to enjoy the years ahead and make up for what he had missed.
In his mind, Kathryn, his biological daughter, would be in charge of the Farrell family. Even if they weren’t close, she would still take care of him as her father.
But Kathryn responded firmly, “My mother became head of the family by betraying my aunt. That position should have gone to my cousin. If my cousin doesn’t want it, she can appoint someone else. If everything goes as planned, Liberty will take over.
I won’t be running the Farrell family. That position was stolen by my mother—it doesn’t belong to us. It’s not mine, and I don’t want it.”
Unless her aunt’s descendants refused the role, Kathryn would not step in. Audrey had already set things in motion for Liberty to take charge, and Liberty had spent months getting familiar with the city. There shouldn’t be any issues with the transition.
If Liberty needed help, Kathryn would assist, but once Liberty was firmly in place, Kathryn would leave Jensburg.
She didn’t need anything from the Farrell family to survive—she had her own career.
Holden panicked when he heard this. “Kathryn, how can you give away everything your mother worked so hard for? Wouldn’t her death have been for nothing?”
Married At First Sight Chapter 3710
Chapter 3710
Holden continued, “What happened in the past is over. Your mother was the head of the family, and now that she’s gone, you, as her daughter, should take her place. Don’t be foolish and let everything go back to your cousin.”
Kathryn remained calm. “Dad, it’s not mine to take. Our family wronged my cousin and her family.”
Holden tried to reason with her: “We didn’t do anything wrong. It was your mother who killed your aunt, and she’s paid for it with her life. What more do they want? Kathryn, don’t give up everything from the Farrell family. If you do, what will happen to us? Your brothers won’t be able to survive.”
“Dad, I’ve said this before. If my mother really killed my aunt, I will give up the Farrell Group and everything that belongs to them. It was never ours to begin with,” Kathryn replied, unmoved.
She never liked the Farrell family. If she weren’t biologically tied to them, she would have stayed out of this mess.
Holden grew more upset. “How can I not care? This affects my retirement! If you hand over Farrell’s, will Audrey let you or your brothers stay in the company? How will we make money?
You’re young, and Pedro is there for you—he’s loyal and can support you. But what about your brothers? It’s hard to find a job after 35. Both your eldest and second brothers are over that age. If they can’t find work, how will they take care of themselves, let alone me in my old age?
I raised sons to take care of me in my old age, but if they have no money or food, how can they? You can’t just give everything away. That’s the inheritance your mother left for you!
Ignore what others say. They’ll always talk. We just need to live our own lives. If you don’t look out for yourself, you’ll suffer. Also, how much private property did your mother leave? Since we never divorced, I’m entitled to half. You’ll give me half first, then divide the rest equally among the five of us—me and the children.”
Kathryn quietly observed her father. Suddenly, she realized everything her mother had planned. Even on her deathbed, her mother wanted to remove her father from the picture to protect Kathryn from being burdened by him.
Her mother saw this coming and had prepared to play the bad guy so Kathryn wouldn’t feel guilty about cutting ties with him.
It was only by chance that her father had survived.
Kathryn stood up and said coldly, “My mother’s private property has already been divided according to her will. It will be distributed exactly as written.”
Clarissa had made a will years ago, when Shiloh was still alive and Kathryn had just returned to her family. The whole family was present when it was drafted.
Kathryn said, “Dad, have you forgotten? Mom made a will two or three years ago. Everything will be divided according to that.”
Holden fell silent. He had indeed forgotten about the will.