Chapter 367

Edie lightly tapped the car's side with her fingertips, speaking with an air of superiority. "Even if you don't recognize me as your mother, I gave birth to you. I won't hold a grudge about how you cut off all my financial sources. Now, immediately transfer 20% of the Stewart Group's shares to Henry as your gift to him. When we hold the wedding, you'll give me one billion."

"The miscarriage I had was caused by Odalys. If it weren't for her making me a target of that curse, I wouldn't have been in so much pain."

"You need to compensate me for both the emotional distress and the physical damage. Transfer another billion dollars to this card," Edie said, producing a bank card from her bag and handing it to Percival, who didn't take it. "This is the new share transfer document, made out in Henry's name."

"Just transfer two billion dollars to this card, and tomorrow, go with him to complete the share transfer," Edie continued.

Henry stood silently, his head down but his gaze fixed on the bank card Edie was holding. This had all been planned before they applied for the marriage license. After they married, Edie would approach Percival for compensation. Henry was still young, so marrying Edie would definitely be a disadvantage for him. Percival wouldn't just let them have everything for nothing. Henry had built up connections and methods over the years. If Percival dared to refuse, Henry would have a way to discredit the Stewart Group and drag Percival into the mess.

Odalys couldn't hold back her laughter. She turned from the passenger seat, leaned forward, grabbed the bank card Edie was offering, opened the car door, and got out, walking around the car. Seeing Odalys leave, Percival immediately followed. He stood behind her protectively, preventing anyone from approaching her.

"You really know how to manipulate things, don't you?" Odalys said coldly. "If that's the case, how did you end up marrying such a loser? You think everything the Stewart family gives you is yours for the taking? Have you forgotten who runs the Stewart family now!"

As soon as Odalys finished speaking, Percival stepped forward, placing himself behind her. His hand seized her waist, pulling her forcefully into his embrace. He lowered his head, resting his chin on her head, and held her close with a loving smile, speaking in a deep voice. "The Stewart family is now run by Odalys."

"You were so arrogant and dismissive of her earlier. Do you really think you'll still get that two billion dollars?" Percival said nonchalantly. Odalys, pulled into his arms, felt the powerful thumping of his heart. She froze, completely stunned. This was the first time Percival had hugged her, leaving her bewildered. Why is he hugging me all of a sudden? she thought.

"What do you mean? Why does she get to decide the fate of the Stewart family? Who does she think she is?" Edie seethed, nearly spitting blood. She hadn't expected Percival to react this way. The Stewart family had immense wealth; two billion dollars was a small amount in comparison. But now, Percival was saying that Odalys controlled the Stewart family, and an unsettling feeling crept over Edie.

Percival began, "Hey, she's the lady of the Stewart family. From now on, it's all in her hands. Aren't you waiting for me to die? Well, I'm still alive, but just because I'm still alive doesn't mean I'll relinquish control. My health has declined, and Grandpa's getting older. Considering the potential for the Stewart family to have no one to carry it on, I've discussed this with Grandpa. If something happens to either me or Grandpa, the entire Stewart family will be handed over to Odalys, and she will take charge of everything."

He added, "Ms. Simpson, since you no longer have any ties to the Stewart family and have married someone else, you should stop bothering me, especially don't expect me to transfer any Stewart Group shares to compensate you. You're penniless now, living at Odalys' mercy. What's your real intention behind asking for so much compensation? Do you think getting me a stepfather will let him squeeze into the Stewart family circle?" he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Unfortunately, you're wrong. The Stewart family doesn't belong to me, and it certainly won't belong to you or him. No matter how many times you marry, it has nothing to do with me," Percival spoke in a low, powerful voice.

Edie stood frozen, unable to comprehend. Henry, too, looked up in shock. Everyone was staring at him in disbelief, never expecting Percival to say something like this.

"What? You entrusted the Stewart family to her? After you're gone, the Stewart family will be mine. Why give it to her!" Edie was furious, her face flushed with rage. If what Percival said was true, then Odalys might now have control over the entire Stewart family—a family with enormous wealth, enough to influence global decisions, making it a prime target.

"Why can't I give it to her! Oh, well, why should I give it to you?" Percival responded sarcastically. He pulled Odalys closer, pulled out his phone, and swiftly brought up a contract. "This is the will my father made before" he began. "He was concerned that, after you two married, if anything happened to him, you'd lose your security. The agreement states that, once I reach adulthood and marry, after a year of marriage, 50% of the Stewart Group's shares will automatically be transferred to you. And now, I am an adult and I've married, but since I've only been married for a month and you're already rushing to remarry, this contract no longer stands. If you'd waited a year, the entire Stewart family would have been under your control," Percival stated firmly.

Edie stood stunned, and Henry moved closer. She grabbed Percival's phone, zoomed in on the contract, and reread it. Her heart sank as she saw the details, her hands trembling uncontrollably. "How could this happen?" she muttered. "Why didn't you tell me?" Edie shrieked, glaring at Percival, convinced he had done this on purpose. It was so close… so close… I almost had control of 50% of the Stewart family shares, but now I've married, she thought bitterly. "No, I can't accept this. I need a divorce. I'm going to divorce him right now!" Edie whispered frantically.

She turned to Henry, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward city hall. Henry stood still, a heavy feeling weighing on him as he watched Percival and Odalys.

"Is this a trap you set?" Henry asked coldly. He had a vague sense that some invisible hand had pushed him and Edie together, squeezing them into a corner before delivering a devastating blow. "Did you have a hand in me meeting her? Did you plan for our affair to be exposed? Were we always meant to be pushed into a dead end, as part of your plan? After we got the marriage license, you waited for this moment, didn't you? To show us the contract and make us regret everything, didn't you?"