There were ten of us sitting at grandmother's study, which include the six Elders, father, his first mistress, their daughter and me. We were still waiting for grandmother's lawyer to come to read grandmother's will. A few minutes later, the butler knocked on the door and announced the arrival of Mrs Smith.
"Let us start the reading of Madam Ho Lan's will, shall we?" asked Mrs Smith. "25% of Ho company shares and half the cash in all her banks worth 58 million yuan are given to her son Mr Ho Chen. The other half on the other hand is donated to the welfare of the Ho clan. She also decided to give the Elders the authority to manage this donation. Lastly, her jewelries worth 4.5 million yuan are given to her granddaughter, Miss Ho He."
"Mrs Smith, did Madam Ho Lan not give anything to her granddaughter Ho An?" asked Elder Yi.
"No. The only granddaughter she mentioned in the will is Miss Ho He," said the lawyer.
"Impossible! Everyone knows she loves little An," said another Elder which followed by some nods from other elders.
"How is it not possible? Mother told me before she died that she feels guilty not caring for my daughter, Ho He. It is not like she gives her money. They are just jewelries. Tch, no need to be stingy!" father argued.
"It is fine Elders. I was raised by grandmother to go out and work and not just sit back and wait for money to grow on trees," said I to the Elders.
"You're just bitchy you're not getting anything from grandmother. What a loser," said that half sister of mine.
I thanked the lawyer for her help with the funeral arrangements and everything else. I then somehow managed to convince the Elders that I am fine with the will and not contest it in the future. They left the study grumbling and sighing for my luck.
"I give you 10 minutes to pack your things and leave this house," ordered Liu Yifiei. I have never really looked at this woman's face. She is the first of father's mistresses; the one that managed to stay with him even after 30 years. Quite an achievement I would say since father has five other mistresses throughout the Hainan province. They all bore him many children but the main reason why Liu Yifiei and her daughter managed to stay in the clan's ground is because Ho He's manifestation of an ability at the age of 12; summoning the rain.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"This lady, you have no right to kick me out from this house. Didn't father tell you why this house was not included in the will? Too bad only the next clan Head can kick me out. Why else do you think you and your daughter can never live here even after my mother died? ALL of us will leave here in 10 minutes," I retorted.
"You ... honey, look at that unfilial daughter of yours. How can she raised her voice at me?" Liu Yifiei complained with her whiny voice.
"Ignore her. We should leave. Why argue about an old house when we can build a new one with the money I inherited," said father.
"Father's right, mother. Let's go. I can't wait to try out the jewelries," added Ho He loudly. I bet she just wants to rub it in my face that the jewelries passed down from one generation to another on grandmother's side of the family is hers instead of the eldest granddaughter's.
Sigh, what a bunch of show offs. They soon left the study leaving me there alone thinking of my next plan. I decided to go to my old room and pack all of my old stuff first before meeting the Elders who are now discussing how to spend the money grandmother left in their hands. I told them I will be leaving the clan's grounds and living outside. Elder Er who is the closest to me wanted to coax me to stay but I told him I have matters to settle such as my precarious position as the CEO among others. They had no choice but to let me do as I wish and told me to take good care of myself and to contact them if I need their help.
I drove to my own apartment near the company on a four wheel drive. A few people looked at me weirdly as I am too 'fragile' to be driving a 'manly' vehicle as I passed by them. Even my secretary told me I am more of a mini cooper kind of a driver. Something that is small and cute; just like me. Not like I have a choice. It was a gift from grandmother who said I did a great job in learning to make pickled food. Weird reason ... not like I am going to reject a free vehicle.
I laid down on my bed and opened a small box that grandmother left me a month before she died. She had told me that my inheritance is inside the box. I was not surprised when my name was not included in today's will. You see, father's ability is charm. His charm works on all females outside of the Ho clan. Even mother was attracted by him. Scroll up and read the lawyer's name. Yes, she is a female and an outsider. So, the will was altered.
In the box were two letters written by grandmother among others. One addressed to a certain Ashikaga Yoshi who lives in Akihabara and the other to me. That would explain the Dummies Guide on how to Speak Japanese Fluently book included in the box. I threw everything in the box onto my bed and arranged them neatly. Everything looked normal except for the 12 boxes of condoms, some combination pills that can last my entire lifetime if I decided to pop them into my mouth like candies and three pregnancy tests.
Knowing grandmother's ability and eccentricity I started deciphering her hidden messages. 1. I will have sex with a man 2. It is not suitable or encouraged to get pregnant and 3. I might have at max three children. No! The first letter is addressed to a man. It is not him, is it? I started to panic. Grandmother, how could you send your granddaughter to that man's arm just like that! Someone I don't even know. This is some shitty marriage arrangement, if you asked me.