Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 504: Chapter 504

Marvin's dark eyes, sharp in contrast, briefly flickered with frustration and helplessness.
He instinctively bit down on his lower lip, pressing so hard that it turned pale, making him look both conflicted and resigned.
Clearly, he had never expected his mother to act so recklessly on such an important occasion, completely disregarding the dignity and respect owed to the deceased.
"That has nothing to do with me," Marvin said, pressing his lips together slightly before speaking. His voice was firm and unwavering, and every word conveyed his unmistakable discontent and resistance to Yvonne's actions.
Yvonne shot him a sidelong glance, her eyes as sharp as a knife, brimming with coldness. Then, her gaze shifted to me.
She lamented, "Laurel, I know you're not someone who chases wealth and status. The Adams Group was built from the ground up by your Uncle Michael, through years of hard work. Back then, he gave the shares to Jamilah out of guilt.
"But now that she's gone, shouldn't those shares return to their rightful owner—your Uncle Michael?"
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, her expression seemingly full of deep emotion. Yet, hidden in the depths of her gaze was pure calculation.
Instinctively, I furrowed my brows and subtly withdrew my hand from hers. My lips curved into the faintest of smiles, barely noticeable.
Seeing my silence and indifferent attitude, a flash of anger flickered in Yvonne's eyes, though it vanished just as quickly.
She met my gaze, then raised her voice, her tone full of justification. She plainly stated, "Angela has always treated you like a sister, and the Adams family has always considered you one of their own. Think about it—when you and Angela went to school together, didn't the Adams family take care of you? Now that you have a different status, surely you wouldn't still covet what belongs to the Adams family?"
Hearing her words, I couldn't help but admire her skill. I thought, 'No wonder she was able to make Michael abandon the woman he once deeply loved. She's truly formidable—she struck straight at my weakest point.'
If I accepted Jamilah's gift without hesitation, in the eyes of everyone present, I would undoubtedly be seen as a woman driven by greed and vanity.
The moment she realized I wasn't affected by her previous attempts to slander me, she immediately changed tactics, bringing up the kindness the Adams family had shown me in the past.
She wasn't wrong. If not for Michael's help back then, I wouldn't have attended the same school as Angela, had the opportunity to excel academically, met Austin, and certainly had the chance to marry Alex.
To them, marrying someone like Alex should have been enough to make me eternally grateful. I had no right to even consider keeping the inheritance Jamilah had left behind.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself before speaking slowly. "Yvonne, I never intended to take anything that doesn't belong to me.
"Mrs. Adams had her reasons for leaving the inheritance to me, and I will respect her wishes. But if Uncle Michael ever encounters difficulties in the future, you can rest assured—I will not stand idly by. I will help."
The moment Yvonne realized I wouldn't be swayed, the false smile on her face disappeared completely, replaced by an expression of cold darkness.
Seeing this, Michael hurried forward and grabbed Yvonne's arm. His face was filled with anxiety and embarrassment.
Lowering his voice, he pleaded, "Stop making a scene—everyone is watching."
But Yvonne, as if possessed, disregarded his dignity entirely. She forcefully shook off his hand, pointed at me, and shouted, "You treat her like family, but how has she repaid us? I say she befriended Angela with ulterior motives from the very start! And you still protect her? Aren't you afraid she'll be the death of you one day? She's a curse!"
Instantly, the eyes of the entire crowd turned toward me like a floodlight. Their stares felt like needles piercing into my back.
Leah emerged from the crowd with an amused smirk, her expression dripping with mockery. She sneered, "Laurel, one should never be ungrateful. The Herrera family has treated you well too."
Just as I was drowning in frustration, unable to defend myself, Carey's calm gaze landed on Yvonne. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a firm weight as he spoke, "If Ms. Parks refuses to accept Jamilah's inheritance, she would have donated everything, leaving nothing behind."
The moment those words left his lips, the entire room erupted into murmurs. The guests whispered among themselves.
Someone commented, "Looks like Jamilah had already foreseen this."
"Indeed. She would rather donate everything than leave it to Michael," another added.
Yvonne's face turned deathly pale as if she had seen a ghost. She looked at Carey in disbelief, opening her mouth to argue but ultimately swallowing her words.
Her eyes burned with unwillingness and resentment. She cast me a vicious glare before turning toward Michael, muttering under her breath, though I couldn't make out what she was saying.
Michael sighed helplessly, exhaustion written all over his face. He gently comforted Yvonne while offering apologetic glances to those around him.
Carey stepped beside me, lowering his voice. He said, "Miss Parks, you don't need to overthink this. This was Jamilah's decision. You have the right to handle the inheritance as you see fit."
I looked up at him, my gaze sincere. "Thank you, Mr. Lester."
He nodded slightly, offering a faint smile that was as reassuring as a spring breeze. "It's my duty. Come to my office on Monday to finalize the paperwork."
After the funeral, as I was preparing to leave, I realized that Alex had disappeared without a trace.
Marvin approached me, his expression filled with guilt. His voice was hoarse as he murmured, "I'm sorry. My mother... she went too far."
I shook my head as I reassured, "Marvin, I have no interest in the Adams family's fortune, but now is not the right time to return it."
Marvin reached out, grabbing my arm, his face full of confusion and concern. He asked, "Do you know who killed Angela?"
I lifted my gaze to meet his and slowly shook my head.
"Then do you realize that the higher your status, the more dangerous your situation becomes?" Marvin's sharp eyes bore into me as he spoke.
"I'm not afraid of death." As I looked at him, I curved my lips into a smile that carried defiance and a hint of recklessness.
"But I am," Marvin's voice cracked, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He refused to let a single drop fall, just as he always had when he was a child. Even when he cried, he would turn away, unwilling to let anyone see—especially not his mother.