“So, they called you because of the will.” I sneered, right after I heard the reason why my mother was crying. My maternal grandfather, Vernon Fang died, and the Fang Family decided it was best not to inform my mother, Vernon Fang’s only daughter.

However, now that they were about to read the will, they realized it contained a stipulation that she be present when it was read. So, they called her today, three days after the funeral ceremony, informing her of my maternal grandfather’s death a week ago.

“And they wanted us to bring you to the reading,” my father added. He was sitting across from me with a weary look on his face.

“No.” I interrupted him. “I am not going to meet them.” My father’s face shifted towards me. The creases in-between his brows deepened. I spotted a few white strands in his black hair. But this wasn’t enough to mask the aura of the imposing six-foot-tall man in front of me. “I am not going to associate myself with people like them.” I wanted to make it clear as early as possible this time around.

There was a reason my mother had changed her maiden name. In China, women usually keep their maiden names even after they are married. Women who change their last names into their husbands’ family names are quite rare. The fact that my mother changed hers to my father’s said everything about how she felt about her birth family.

“So, you aren’t going to join the reading?”

“No, I won’t.” I already knew the contents of the will. There was no point in meeting those people again.

“Bella, I think you should reconsider,” my mother said. “The reason the Fang Family abandoned me was my fault. There is no need for you to involve yourself in the problems of the past. You should act cordially towards them.”

Ah, my kind mother. She must have thought that I wanted to claim my place in the Fang Family but was too loyal to her to do so.

Sometimes, I wondered, how did I end up being the opposite of this kind woman who raised me? “Ma, those people abandoned you because you married my father. There is no need to fake it.” I fought the urge to add curses into my words. I knew how much my mother hated them.

“But if you want to establish yourself in the— “

“I don’t want that.” I interrupted her. I knew my mother thought that this would benefit me in the long run.

“Bella, your mother has a point. There is a possibility that the old man gave you some shares. It would be better if you— “

I shook my head. “Sorry, I am not planning to get close to them.” I held my father’s gaze for a few minutes before he nodded. In the past, the conversation started like this too, with them pressuring me to join in. I didn’t take much convincing back then.

They had thought associating with the Fang Family would be good for me. I welcomed their idea and immediately befriended Monica and her mother. I wanted to use them as a bridge so I could establish my own name in the upper echelons of China.

“It seems that we underestimated you.”

“Hm?” I raised an eyebrow, but I honestly didn’t want to ask any more questions. In fact, I completely understood why my parents were acting like this. They knew that I was a workaholic, that I aspired to a life with Evan, and that with my current status I could never be his bride.

They wanted me to take advantage of this opportunity to give myself a good future.

“Genna… you should rest. I will accompany Bella to my study.”

I looked at the two of them. A slight smile could be seen on my mother’s face, her eyes full of relief. However, I knew this smile would soon change once they discovered that the largest share of the Fang Group was going to be under my name.

Thinking about the pressure that these two felt in the past, I smiled, full of bitter regrets. Because of this, the upcoming conversation with my father could be considered crucial.

“The Fang Family threatened your mother in the past,” my father said just as I made myself comfortable in his office. I looked at the number of books that my mother had authored on the bookshelves as I let him continue. “When your maternal grandmother died, Vernon Fang and the rest of the Fang Family didn’t even let your mother know. These kinds of people are— “

“Nasty and annoying.” I didn’t take my gaze away from the shelves. “Which is why I will never tag myself as someone from the Fang Family.” That was a declaration. Yes, in this lifetime, I would never join that family.

“What if Vernon Fang gave you enough shares to require you to involve yourself in the Fang Group?” he asked.

Just as I expected, my father already suspected that this would happen.

“There are ways to manage such wealth without putting myself in the picture.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Forget the Fangs. I just want to spend time with you and Mom.” I had no intention to repeat my mistakes from the past. This time, I was going to stay by my parents’ side, and live a good life.

“Speaking of which… your mother and I have been talking about your birthday which is in a few days. I don’t want to pressure you but you’re turning twenty-seven and you haven’t even introduced a man—“

*BZZZZZ*

I smiled when I heard my phone vibrate. The timing was impeccable. “I need to answer this,” I said without even looking at my phone. I honestly thought it was Cedric.

I was wrong.

I frowned at the name that registered on my phone.

Evan.