Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 397: New Will

Genevieve frowned. "What do you mean he changed that?"

Halvorsen picked up another document from the folder and slid it slowly across the desk toward her.

"This is the final version of Ryan Harris’ will."

Genevieve looked down at it but did not touch it yet. "When did he change it?" she asked quietly.

"He wrote it on the day of his death. And had Mack deliver it to me personally," he said.

Her brows pulled together. Was that what he had been talking to Mack about when they walked into the hospital room that day? She wondered.

That meant he had changed it after his conversation with Callan when he realised he had no one on his side.

Her fingers finally moved and she pulled the paper closer.

Halvorsen watched her for a moment as she read through the will, before speaking again. "The will was rewritten entirely. He took you all out of it."

Genevieve looked up and for a moment she simply stared at him. "Both Dawn and Callan, too?"

Halvorsen turned another page in the document.

"Yes. And you," Halvorsen added quietly.

"I didn’t expect him to leave anything to me after that video he made. Besides, he made it clear to me he was giving everything to Josh and his reward to me was my marriage to Jamal," Genevieve said with a shrug.

Now it felt like ages ago when Ryan had told her that.

"Yet you came to see me about his estate. Why?" He asked before she could ask who Ryan left his property to.

Again she shrugged. "Because he might not have thought of me as his family, but I still consider him my father. People are not our family only when they’re good. This isn’t to say the others are wrong in how they feel. It’s just that..."

"To whom much is given, much is expected?" He asked, and she nodded.

"Yes. I came to settle things on his end and to also help Dawn settle things if need be," she explained.

"And you did this knowing that you’d face severe backlash upon setting foot in the country? You’re far too kind."

Genevieve smiled. "I’m not kind at all. I suppose I’m used to being on the news for all the wrong reasons here. Ludus is a lot more scary than here."

Halvorsen was silent for a moment. Then he turned the last page of the document and pushed it towards her.

"Before you ask who he willed it all to, the estate has been transferred to a private charitable foundation."

Genevieve frowned. That was unexpected. "What foundation?" She looked down at the page and read the name aloud.

"Nancy Harris Memorial Foundation."

Her chest tightened. Nancy. Callan’s mother.

Halvorsen continued explaining. "According to the will, all of Ryan Harris’ remaining legal wealth is to be placed into this foundation. The foundation will fund medical research, mental health programmes, and support for victims of domestic violence as well as single mothers."

Genevieve stared at him as if the words were not making sense. Then she let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "This doesn’t make sense. Is the foundation even real?"

"Yes. I checked it out. It has already been registered."

"Why would he give everything to the foundation?" Genevieve asked quietly. "I mean, Dawn deserves to have it all considering that he took all that belonged to her maternal family."

Halvorsen sighed quietly. "He sent me a recorded statement explaining his decision. Perhaps that would answer your question."

Genevieve looked up. "A recorded statement?" Her brows pulled together.

"Yes. He sent me a video and a digital copy of the will before the handwritten one was delivered to me. I guess he did that to prove that he was in his right mind and in case Mack decided to tamper with his will." Halvorsen tapped the screen and a video opened.

Genevieve’s heart skipped a beat when Ryan’s face appeared on the screen.

He looked older than she remembered. He looked tired, his hair was slightly disheveled and the confidence that usually lived in his eyes had dulled.

From his clothes and position, she could tell it had been recorded that day before they entered the room, and he took his life.

When he spoke, his voice was calm but resigned. "Halvorsen, if you’re watching this, it means you’ve seen my new will." He gave a humourless smile and leaned forward slightly. "I know you’re probably wondering why I changed the will yet again. I’m sorry I keep going back and forth."

Genevieve’s fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.

Ryan rubbed his jaw slowly before continuing. "Well, I’ve been rethinking a lot of my life choices lately. And as a result, those thoughts affect my decision on what to leave to whom."

Genevieve felt something twist painfully in her chest.

Ryan’s voice lowered. "If I leave my money to any of them, it would only be another way for me to control their lives from the grave." He shook his head. "I’ve done enough of that. I tried playing God with their lives, and I’m exhausted. So I want to do the only thing I can think of that might do some good for once. If my money built hospitals, helped people, or saved even one life, then maybe it will do more good in death than I ever managed to do in life."

Silence followed, then he added quietly, "Don’t mistake this for redemption. Nothing balances the scale of what I’ve done. And I’m not sorry for any of it either. I choose not to die with any regrets. However, I’ve done enough damage." His eyes lifted directly toward the camera, and for the first time, his face and voice softened.

"Josh deserves a life that isn’t built on my sins. So let him grow up without my money. I know with the Hanks he will live well. He’s the only one I want to protect."

Ryan reached forward slightly, as if to stop the recording. Then he paused one last time.

"Thank you, Halvorsen," he said, then the screen went black.

Genevieve stared at the tablet for a long time before she finally spoke. "I’m not sure what to make of this. But it seems he understood something in the end."

Genevieve looked down at the documents on the desk.

Ryan Harris had destroyed lives and had built an empire on lies, and like anything built on lies, the empire he built was collapsing piece by piece.