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Chapter 1
At Vicente Swann’s funeral.
Vicente Swann’s funeral drew an impressive crowd, as the Swanns were one of Casier’s three most influential families. It was no surprise that the venue was filled with prominent figures, members of respected families, and people with power.
Amidst the murmurs and the heavy atmosphere, one figure caught the attention of everyone present—a young girl in a simple white T-shirt.
The attendees were used to seeing wealth and grandeur, and yet, this girl stood out starkly against the opulent surroundings. Despite her obvious beauty, she wore a cheap, worn T-shirt, an odd contrast to the elegance of the occasion. Her attire alone marked her as different from the others, and her quiet, determined stride towards the Swann family piqued the curiosity of the crowd.
Whispers quickly spread like wildfire. “Who is she? Why is she sitting with the Swanns?” one guest asked, unable to contain their curiosity.
“I heard she’s Miss Catherine, the second daughter of the Swanns who’s been living away from the family. Vicente asked her to come back before he passed,” another guest replied.
“Really? I heard he planned to read his will in front of everyone before he died. I bet she only returned for that,” someone speculated.
Despite being the subject of hushed conversations, Catherine Swann remained calm and composed. Her gaze was fixed firmly ahead, her expression unreadable, and her attention focused entirely on her grandfather’s portrait displayed at the front of the room. No one could tell what she was thinking, but she seemed far removed from the surrounding noise.
At the sight of Catherine, Liana Swann, the youngest and most favored daughter of the Swann family, couldn’t hold back her complaints. She turned to her mother, Rachael, seated beside her.
“Mom, what’s wrong with that country girl? Grandpa’s gone, and she can’t even pretend to cry? If the media catches her like this, they’ll think the Swanns have mistreated her. She wouldn’t even change out of that filthy shirt when we asked her to. It’s embarrassing! What will people think?” Liana muttered, her frustration evident.
Rachael Swann’s expression tightened as she listened to her daughter’s complaints. While she was more reserved about the matter, she couldn’t help but agree with Liana’s sentiment. She had never been fond of Catherine, and the girl’s arrival had only added to her irritation. Rachael had hoped to deal with this “situation” discreetly, but she knew better than to address it during such an important moment.
Looking up, Rachael saw her husband approaching and quickly whispered to Liana, “Let it go, darling. Your father is here. We’ll deal with Catherine after the funeral. We have more pressing matters to attend to right now.”
Liana, unable to voice her annoyance in public, reluctantly bit her tongue. Meanwhile, Catherine, unaware of the conversation taking place just behind her, simply smiled to herself. Her hearing was exceptional, and she had clearly caught every word spoken by her mother and sister.
As she stood in silence, staring at Vicente’s portrait, a faint trace of sadness flickered in her eyes.
Did she have to cry to show her pain? She wondered silently.
Korbin Swann, Vicente’s eldest son, slowly made his way to the stage. After delivering a lengthy eulogy about his father’s greatness, he finally announced the family’s intention to read Vicente’s will. The crowd wasn’t surprised, as many had expected this to be the reason for the public gathering.
Vicente had one son and one daughter. It seemed obvious who would inherit the Swann family fortune, yet the reason for the public reading of the will remained a mystery. Was it merely a formality?
The lawyer Vicente had trusted during his life stepped forward with the sealed will and began to read it aloud. The room fell into a heavy silence as the lawyer’s voice filled the air.
“After careful consideration, I, Vicente Swann, leave all my shares of the Swann Corporation, real estate properties, and a 500 million-dollar deposit at the Bank of Nospines to my granddaughter, Catherine Swann…”
The room erupted in shock.
The guests were stunned. Even the Swann family members were in disbelief.
Catherine Swann? The second daughter? The one Vicente had sent away to the countryside so many years ago? How could she inherit everything?
The shocked looks from the crowd spoke volumes. No one could quite process the weight of Vicente’s decision.
And yet, amidst the murmurs and gasps, Catherine remained unmoved. Her gaze was still fixed on her grandfather’s portrait, her face as unreadable as ever.
With barely a whisper, her lips parted, and she spoke to no one in particular, her voice barely audible but carrying a certain bitterness.
“Old man, what were you thinking?”