Carol sat at the head of the table, her gaze piercing and authoritative as it swept over Sharon and Lise.
“Now that Katelyn has demonstrated her artistic talent, if you have nothing constructive to add, I suggest you remain silent.”
Carol’s patience was visibly fraying. She even shot a sharp glance at Neil. How could she have such a clueless grandson who kept bringing unsuitable companions home? Lise was clearly not in Katelyn’s league.
Neil, sensing the tension, cleared his throat awkwardly. “Lise, please take a seat.”
With the banquet hall filled with guests, any further disturbances would only embarrass both families. Lise understood the implicit warning in Neil’s voice. Reluctantly, she complied, taking her seat despite her frustrations.
She had stood by Neil even after his accident, demonstrating her loyalty. Yet, it still seemed impossible to erase Katelyn’s place in Neil’s heart.
Sharon, too, begrudgingly returned to her seat, silently vowing retribution against Katelyn for the evening’s humiliations.
Carol’s intervention restored order to the now disorderly banquet.
Beneath the surface, murmurs continued among some attendees.
“Weren’t they supposed to announce something about the oil field today? Why hasn’t that come up yet?”
Another person added, “Yeah, we’ve all been anticipating this news. Could the rumors have been false?”
These whispers, though not loud, were audible enough to spread through the crowd.
Katelyn glanced at Neil, noting his poised demeanor despite sitting in a wheelchair, which suggested the oil field was indeed a reality.
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Carol cleared her throat, drawing attention as she surveyed the guests. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f?ndnovel.net
“I’m sure many of you have heard the rumors. Today, I plan to officially transfer a piece of oil-rich land that has been part of my dowry for many years. It’s time it found a new owner.”
All eyes immediately turned to Neil.
The confirmation of the land meant that the intense rivalries between the Wheeler and Adams families were likely to escalate.
A barely contained smile spread across Neil’s face. After years of waiting, the transfer of this valuable land to him was a moment of triumph, and he couldn’t hide his elation.
Neil’s recent portrayal of himself as disabled, coupled with the Wheeler family’s seemingly precarious situation, had finally persuaded Carol to relinquish control. The immense benefits far outweighed the humiliation he had endured.
Once his influence surpassed that of the Adams family, how would Vincent be able to hold him back?
The butler approached, handing the documents to Carol. The anticipation in the room was palpable, electrifying the atmosphere.
Lise, previously humiliated, now held her head high, radiating pride.
As long as Neil successfully inherited the land and leveraged the Wheeler family’s resources, she envisioned a life of luxury.
Who would dare to scorn her for marrying a disabled man when she occupied such a lofty position?
Katelyn watched quietly as Carol, clutching the documents and the microphone, stepped to the center of the stage.
She braced herself for Neil’s likely counterstrike after he secured the oil field.
Neil was notorious for harboring grudges and exacting revenge, after all.
At this moment, the guests’ views of Neil shifted from derision to envy.
After all, oil was a treasure as valuable as liquid gold. Possessing this land meant Neil could wield considerable global influence.
In this era, control over oil equated to control over power.
Carol scanned the varied expressions of the guests, her gaze lingering on the room before tightening her grip on the documents.
She was confident in her decisions. She had long ago chosen the rightful heir to the land.
An onlooker, disdainful of Lise, muttered under their breath, “Everything just falls into Lise’s lap, doesn’t it?”
They dreaded the thought of Lise’s increased arrogance should she marry into such wealth.
Carol then spoke clearly into the microphone.
“I have long decided who will inherit this land. It is a unique gift from me, meant to empower the recipient to live authentically and freely.”
Neil tensed, his hands gripping the armrests of his wheelchair, mentally preparing his speech to express his gratitude to his grandmother for her grand gesture. His face set with resolve.
“I will give this land to Katelyn!”
As Carol’s words echoed through the room, a stunned silence enveloped everyone present.
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