Chapter 328

Julian Kensington, the sly fox, strutted toward Alistair with a predatory grin. "Ladies, let's not be too cruel to Olivia," he drawled. "Olivia can go. I'll take care of dear grandfather myself."

His fingers curled possessively around Alistair's frail wrist, the smile never reaching his cold eyes. "No need to worry. I'll be here to tend to Alistair while Olivia and Donovan are gone."

Olivia's emerald eyes turned glacial. "He's your grandfather, Julian," she spat through clenched teeth.

Julian batted his lashes with practiced innocence. "Whatever do you mean?" he asked, voice dripping with false sweetness. "I'm merely being the devoted grandson."

The air thickened with unspoken threats. Everyone present knew this was nothing short of a hostage situation.

The Kensington clan sat like statues. Even Margaret remained uncharacteristically silent.

Though Frederick and Margaret's husband shared a bitter past, Margaret had always been close to Frederick's branch. A bitter laugh threatened to escape Olivia's throat. Could Donovan truly have been raised by this viper? The contrast between mother and son was staggering.

Olivia's shoulders sagged in surrender. "Fine," she conceded with a weary sigh. "I'll cancel the arrangements."

Gwendolyn plastered on a saccharine smile and patted Olivia's arm. "There's a good girl. This is what's best for the family. Perhaps you and Seraphina can finally make peace. You are cousins, after all."

Olivia forced her lips upward. "I'd be perfectly content if you and Seraphina would simply vanish from my life. But since that won't happen, spare me the pretense of concern."

With that, she turned Alistair's wheelchair toward the exit.

Gwendolyn's mask slipped the moment Olivia's back was turned. "The audacity!" she hissed under her breath. "Who does she think she is? That senile old fool is blind to her manipulations!"

Seraphina approached her mother, hesitation coloring her voice. "Mother... is it true Olivia inherits a third of grandfather's estate?"

"Yes," Gwendolyn whispered sharply. "When Alistair was still lucid, he gave the will to Donovan. Margaret saw it—otherwise we'd never have known."

The very notion of Olivia claiming any portion of the Kensington fortune made Gwendolyn's blood boil. In her eyes, Olivia was merely the daughter of Alistair's deceased child—entitled to nothing. The revelation that Alistair intended to bequeath her such a substantial share had sent shockwaves through the family.

Alistair had originally planned to divide his wealth equally among his three children.

Frederick argued Olivia deserved nothing since her mother was gone.

Yet Alistair remained adamant about including her. Naturally, this didn't sit well with Gwendolyn and the others.

Initially, Margaret had no interest in the family squabbles. But the moment she laid eyes on that will, she swiftly allied herself with Frederick's faction, supporting their schemes without hesitation.

The day of Seraphina's procedure arrived sooner than expected.

Having anticipated Seraphina's delicate condition and the extremes to which Frederick's family would go, Olivia decided to take precautions this time.