The Will

The black-and-white photo of my husband, Jason Carter, still stood prominently in the center of the living room. As the third stick of incense burned down in the incense burner, the sound of a key turning echoed from the entrance. I put down the cloth in my hand and looked up toward the doorway. The adopted son, Leon Carter, entered carrying a suitcase, followed by a dark-skinned little girl. The child was about five or six years old, her hair braided into two pigtails, timidly clutching Leon Carter's shirt. "Mom, I've brought my little sister home." Leon Carter's voice shattered the silence. The cloth in my hand slipped and fell softly to the floor. Little sister? Jason and I never had any other children. "Leon Carter, what did you say?" I took two steps forward, my gaze settling on the little girl's face. Her curly hair and deep brown eyes clashed with the identity of "sister" that Leon Carter had described. "This is Julia," Leon Carter pushed the little girl forward, "Dad's daughter." "Your dad?" I nearly laughed out loud. "Have you forgotten that your dad was diagnosed infertile three years ago?" The air in the living room suddenly turned heavy. Leon Carter frowned, his tone resolute: "Mom, the doctor's diagnosis back then might have been mistaken." "When Dad was young, he worked on aid projects in Country F and had a relationship with a local woman; Julia was born then." I took a step back and steadied myself by gripping the armrest of the sofa. The year Jason went to Country F, we had just been married. When he returned, he only spoke of hard work and never mentioned any local woman. "Impossible," I shook my head. "Your father was not that kind of man." "Whether or not—that's for the DNA report to decide." Leon pulled a stack of documents from his backpack and flung them onto the coffee table. I didn't look at the papers; my eyes swept over the Carter family members who had hurried over upon hearing the news. Leon Carter's second uncle was the first to speak: "Lydia Quentin, I don't mean to be harsh, but after marrying into the Carter family all these years, you haven't even borne an heir." "Now that Jason has a biological daughter, the estate naturally should go to Julia." "Exactly," the third aunt chimed in, "You're an outsider clinging to the Carter family's wealth—what right do you have?" Their words pierced my heart like needles. Jason and I have been together for twenty years, from schooldays to wedding gowns—how have I suddenly become an outsider? Suddenly, Julia burst into tears and hid behind Leon. Leon Carter held her close, his eyes full of reproach as he looked at me. "Mom, you frightened Julia." Watching the scene before me, I felt nothing but absurdity and a piercing chill in my heart. My husband had only just passed away, and the adopted son brought home an "illegitimate daughter," with the whole family siding with him. Was over twenty years of our relationship all a lie? Early the next morning, before I had recovered from last night's shock, Leon Carter arrived with Lawyer Dawson. "Mom, today we have invited Lawyer Dawson to read Dad's will." Leon Carter's tone was calm, as if he were merely recounting an ordinary matter. I sat on the sofa, a vague sense of foreboding stirring deep within me. Lawyer Dawson pushed up his glasses, opened his briefcase, and took out a document. "Jason Carter made this Will five years ago." He cleared his throat and began to read aloud. "All movable and immovable properties under my name, as well as 30% of the shares of the Carter Group, shall be inherited by my biological children." "The 15% of the Carter Group shares held by my spouse, Lydia Quentin, shall, upon my death, be automatically transferred to the adopted son, Leon Carter." Each word struck my heart like a heavy hammer. I suddenly stood up. "Impossible! Jason clearly said that everything would be left to me!" "Madam Quentin, please calm down." Lawyer Dawson looked up at me. "This will bears Jason Carter's handwritten signature and the notary's seal, making it legally binding." Leon came to my side and patted my shoulder. "Mom, Dad only had the family's interests at heart. But rest assured, I will transfer your 15% shares to Julia, as a welcome gift for her return home." I pulled my hand away from his, my voice trembling with anger: "Leon Carter, don't forget, you were raised by your father and me! How can you treat us like this now?" "Mom, I'm only carrying out Dad's last wishes." Leon avoided my gaze, his tone cold. "And Julia is Dad's biological daughter; she rightfully deserves all this." The Carter Family gathered around again, voices overlapping as they urged me to "be realistic." "Lydia Quentin, the Will is settled; protesting further is pointless." "Exactly, just sign it quickly. Don't embarrass everyone." I looked at each of their hypocritical faces, and suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of alienation. This home where I have lived for twenty years, this home I once believed was filled with warmth, had long been riddled with schemes.