Will part 2

Bethany's Pov

A handkerchief was handed to me and Danny's tight smile seemed to have gotten tighter. "What is this?" Vicky asked with what sounded like annoyance. I would’ve taken offense to her blatant insensitivity but I wanted to know the same thing.

Danny turned his attention towards everyone else at the table with a forced smile. "Your brother asked me to make this video of him to go with the will. He didn’t feel comfortable just sending out copies of the will or having me reading it." He said as he turned around and pushed a button.

Before anyone could reply the recording started and my fathers lips formed into a smile and my daughters loud babbling sounded. I looked down at my daughter and smiled lightly at her. She was busy biting the sleeve of her onesie and was oblivious to what was going on.

"I'm not really good at making personal videos. I'm more of an interview and business type of man but After meeting my grand daughter I knew what I had to do." My fathers weakened voice sounded causing my daughter and me to look over towards the tv. Had I not known my father I would’ve thought that he smoked a pack of menthols a day his whole life because of how hoarse his voice sounded from his sickness.

Even with the yellowing of his skin, I could see the life that had been pushed back into his eyes. He no longer looked like he had given up on life but instead he looked like he was recovering from a horrible illness.

His mouth formed a smile that caused dozens of wrinkles to form around his mouth and eyes. All showing the genuine happiness and love that he felt. My heart swelled and hope consumed me. Of course he would love her even though she wasn't a boy. I should’ve known that I wouldn’t matter to him.

"After finding out that my daughter lied to me and had a girl and not a boy, I had to change a few things in my will. Thats the reason some of you are here today even though I had warned you last year that you wouldn't be in my will." He said as he grabbed my daughters finger with a soft smile on his face.

My chest tightened and I blinked away the tears and balled up the handkerchief not bothering to wipe them away. He was about to break my heart and hurt his granddaughter. I just knew it.

I looked around the room and all the impassive faces seemed to have changed to what could only be considered hope. He had stolen my hope and given it to everyone else. He had promised me that I would have the world and be happy even after his death but now he was taking that promise away.

"I know you are going to hate me after today my beautiful daughter but you have to understand that I am doing this for you and for Bella." He said softly. I should've felt anything but anger but that's all I could feel. He was going to hurt us even after he died. I wanted to leave and run away with my daughter but I couldn't give anyone in this room the satisfaction. They would love it if I left. They always hated that I was my fathers only child and that after I was born he stopped helping them so much. They hated me just as much as I couldn't stand them.

Danny cleared his throat having me slowly turn my face towards him. I could see the video was still going but now only Bella's babbling could be heard and my father had given her all his attention. The way he interacted with her almost had me fooled.

"Your father had asked me to read part of the will and than he will read the ending so there will be no misunderstandings.” Danny started as he fixed a stake of papers by gently tapping the ends on the table.

“The video and signed will has already been taken to the courts and all of his lawyers have already processed everything. So there will be no arguing or else he will give everything besides what he has given to Bethany and Bella to charity." Danny stated sternly. Multiple mumbles went around the room. Other than the small annoyance in their voices, it seemed like everyone had agreed.

He tugged at his dark grey dress shirt collar like it was suffocating him. I could only assume that he was nervous because it looked to fit perfectly. After stretching out the fabric of his shirt he finally let go of his collar and grabbed the reading glasses from around his neck. He set his finger on the first paper and slowly started to skim through it. At least my father had given Bella something I thought as I stared at Danny's finger.

"We will start with Bethany." He stated as he opened up his suit case and pulled out a small folder with my name on it. I could see multiple folders in his suitcase but the names were blocked off. I could only assume who each folder was for because some were bigger than others. I would've assumed mine was bigger but of course he couldn't give me too much because I was not a man.

He cleared his throat as he opened up the folder. I tried to lean forward to see but his sharp gaze had me stopping instantly. "Now your father was extremely generous, even after your lie. I want you to remember that as I read his will.” He stated pointedly. My cheeks got hot as I looked down at the table. I shouldn’t have felt shameful but I did.

“Now after careful consideration he has signed over 2 billion dollars and multiple properties that he owned to you." He stated as the folder was pushed towards me. I froze as I took in his words. Did I hear him correctly?

"2 billion dollars." I whispered as I grabbed the folder with a heavy heart. He actually cared about me. I always knew he did but sometimes I didn't feel like he loved me with all his heart since I was a girl. He had been so set on me having a boy that I could only take it that he was unhappy with me being a girl.

"Yes everything in there is now yours but with a few conditions." He stated lowly. My chest tightened as I slowly looked up at him. The dreadful look he gave me told me I would hate what he had to say.

"What conditions?" I asked through a small hiccup. The apologetic look he gave me had me a little light headed. He wouldn’t do something drastic would he?

"How about you look at all the properties he's given you first. There's at least 40." Danny pleaded in a coaxing way. I slowly closed the folder and looked at him with a hopeful or maybe helpless

expression, I couldn’t be sure with how my emotions were all over the place.

"What conditions?" I asked lowly. He gave me a tight smile but still nodded his head reluctantly. He sighed as he looked down at the black business portfolio that I hadn’t noticed he had pulled out.

"You are not allowed to divorce Victor. If you get divorced, your accounts will be frozen and properties donated to charity." He stated reluctantly.

I heard a few chuckles and Victor cursing over the ringing of my ears. Bella's soft babbling was the only thing helping me stay sitting straight. I slowly looked down at her and allowed her toothless smile to sooth the never ending panic that had settled in.