The Heir

chapter 16

A LONG silence ensued after Victoria revealed the contract in front of everyone.

So, this is the sweet taste of success, she thought.

She was about to speak again when Franklin laughed mockingly, breaking the silence no one dared to do.

“Victoria, Victoria, my dear cousin, Victoria,” said Franklin.

She did not like the tone of his voice. It seemed like there was a hint of evilness in it. Well, wasn’t this cousin of hers evil? The devil might feel ashamed if she started to count Franklin’s wicked deeds.

“What now?” She still held her head high. But hid her hands inside her pocket when she felt them trembled.

“Do you really think we are dumb to buy this charade of yours?” Her cousin sneered.

She felt all her blood went up to her head. Victoria was not dumb, too, not to understand what Franklin meant by that.

“Charade?” Maximillian chimed in. “Don’t you have anything—”

“You better shut your mouth, Maximillian. You may be Victoria’s husband, but when it comes to business and internal family matters, you have no right to interfere,” Franklin cut him off without looking in his direction.

Victoria’s hands clenched inside her pockets. She could feel her fingernails dug on her palms.

Iris grabbed the folder. She opened it and scanned through the pages. “You mean to say… this contract is fake?” Her cousin raised her head and looked at her with eyes wide open. “Oh, my gosh,

Victoria! Tell us the truth!”

Maximillian moved from his spot, and Victoria knew very well what he was about to do. And before her husband could even reach Franklin and Iris, she met him halfway and blocked his way.

“Max.” She shook her head. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“But—”

“Please, don’t do it.” She grasped his arms. “Don’t do it for me…”

She was well aware that all he ever wanted was to avenge her. However, she also knew the weight of the consequences if she let him do what he wanted.

“Victoria,” her grandmother said firmly.

She abruptly turned in her grandmother’s direction.

“Grandma, there is no charade—”

“Grandma, please allow me to check the authenticity of this contract,” Franklin chimed in and grabbed the folder from Iris’s hands. “We never know what Victoria could do just to get the general manager’s position.”

She narrowed her eyes on his cousin.

“I swear in our ancestors’ grave that I will never do such a thing, Franklin!” Victoria could no longer control her emotions. She raised her voice. “How the hell can I fake a deal between our company and the LS Group?”

Franklin shrugged. “I don’t know. I have never done so.”

Victoria ran her fingers through her hair and let out an exasperated sigh. She was about to curse at him when her grandmother’s secretary came over.

“Madam,” Charlotte, the secretary, handed over the tablet to her grandmother. “Take a look at this. The LS Group once again announced something on their website’s bulletin.”

Everyone gathered behind her grandmother and looked at the screen, except for her and Maximillian. They chose to remain on their grounds.

“Victoria, it’s legit! You are telling the truth!” Iris exclaimed and looked in her direction.

She just arched her brows and put her hands to her sides.

“Victoria,” said her grandmother. Old Mrs. Griffith might not be smiling at that moment, but her eyes tell that she felt ecstatic knowing that she succeeded in closing a deal with the LS Group. “Franklin, come over here.”

Her cousin did what he was told. He stood beside the chair where their grandmother was sitting. Victoria pressed her lips together when her grandmother’s cane landed behind Franklin’s legs. A series of ouch echoed in the corners of the study room.

It was Griffith’s way of reprimanding everyone who did wrong. Old-fashioned, yes. But the elders believed it would help you reflect. And for her grandmother, no matter what generation you are, you will feel the cane on your legs.

“Are you nuts? You just slandered your cousin Victoria in front of our family when she did nothing wrong!” Mrs. Griffith snarled at Franklin. Her grandmother even poked the end of the cane to his chest. “From now on, you are to be mindful of everything you say about your cousin. Understand?”

“Y-yes, Grandma,” Franklin responded like a scared puppy.

Victoria turned to her husband, who was just watching Franklin getting scolded as he caressed his chin.

Now that she got her grandmother’s approval and favor, Victoria hoped that somehow, the family will learn to accept her husband as part of the family.

When her grandmother beckoned Franklin to move away, she was called next. Victoria immediately came forward and crouched in front of her grandmother.