Chapter 843
“Vanessa, is this really true?” Johns asked, his eyes fixed on her.
Under the intense scrutiny of everyone in the room, Vanessa finally spoke, “The will is real, but there’s a catch.”
She turned to Colby, her gaze steady. “Dad’s condition was that Colby marries me. Only then can he legitimately inherit the White family fortune.”
As Vanessa’s words hung in the air, every eye turned to Sophie. Colby had just declared Sophie as his wife, defying Mr. White’s stipulation.
Sophie’s fingers twitched, feeling Colby’s grip tighten around her hand. Her heart sank.
“Colby,” Vanessa continued, “when my father died, he entrusted me to you, asking you to take care of me for life, and you promised him. Everyone knows he always intended for you to marry me and become the White family’s son–in–law.”
“That’s right,” someone chimed in. “Mr. Elwood always saw Colby as the ideal son–in–law.”
“Yet, Colby, you betrayed that trust. After securing the White family’s wealth, you turned your back on us! It wasn’t long before you married another woman. How is that fair to the late Mr. Elwood and Vanessa?” another voice accused.
The directors seemed to pounce on Colby, pointing fingers and hurling accusations.
Colby’s brow furrowed slightly.
Suddenly, a group of bodyguards in black suits stormed in, surrounding the board members. The same shareholders who had been so bold moments ago were swiftly subdued, their faces turning pale with fear. Colby’s voice was ice–cold as he commanded, “Cut off their fingers and feed them to the dogs.”
“Right away, sir!”
The bodyguards promptly drew small knives, and in a few swift motions, the shareholders‘ index fingers were severed, their screams echoing through the room.
Vanessa paled, never having witnessed such brutality. The previously vocal shareholders quickly fell silent.
“Since you refuse to listen to reason, I have no choice but to take action,” Colby said, causing a ripple of fear to spread through the room. Over the past year, Colby had been more restrained, leading many to mistakenly believe he had changed his ways. But now he was making it clear: any further defiance would be met with severe consequences.
“Colby, how could you harm these uncles? They are the elders of the White family!” Vanessa’s voice trembled, lacking its usual force.
Colby shot her a cold glance, making her shudder. The shareholders, sensing Vanessa’s
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Chapter 843
clear disadvantage, kept their heads down, fearing Colby’s wrath.
“Considering Mr. Elwood was once my godfather and you’re his daughter, I’ve tolerated you many times: I never hit women, but don’t test my patience,” Colby said, his voice dripping with menace.
Vanessa felt the sting of his words, her eyes welling up with humiliation. She had known Colby for years, her feelings for him no secret. Yet here he was, publicly shaming her.
Biting her lip, Vanessa said, “Colby, if you want to inherit the White family’s fortune, you must fulfill your promise. Marry me!”