Escaping the shadow 10
Posted on March 21, 2025 ยท 1 mins read
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Chapter 10

Upon seeing the transfer document, Johannaโ€™s expression softened, her voice laced with a hint of appeasement. โ€œFreya, after all, Leland is your brother. His taking over the company is for the sake of ensuring the Dawson familyโ€™s legacy continues. Itโ€™ll be your backer, allowing you to marry Mr. Sutton without worries. Isnโ€™t this killing two birds with one stone?โ€

Then, Johanna pulled Leland toward Freya and said, โ€œArenโ€™t you going to apologize to your sister? Who allowed you to barge into her room early in the morning?โ€

Reluctantly, Leland retorted, โ€œEventually, our familyโ€™s empire will be mine! If she dares call off the engagement, ruining my prospects, I must confront her!โ€

Freya observed silently from the sidelines. She hadnโ€™t expected Leland to be eyeing the family fortune from such an early age, already seeing himself as the future head of the Dawson family. It seemed Johannaโ€™s careful grooming was bearing fruit.

โ€œLeland is talking nonsense. Freya, donโ€™t take it to heart. Just give me the agreement. Iโ€™ll keep it safe.โ€ Johanna was fixated on the document. The document stated that Leland could take over the company after finishing high school. They had waited too long to let anything happen to this agreement.

Freya looked at Johanna, a faint smile crossing her face. โ€œJohanna, youโ€™re so eager for this?โ€

โ€œYesโ€ฆโ€ Johanna barely got the word out when she heard a ripping sound. The agreement in Freyaโ€™s hands was torn in half. Johanna turned pale in an instant, while Leland angrily shouted, โ€œFreya! What are you thinking? Who said you could tear that up?โ€ Leland rushed to grab it, but Freya tore the document into shreds and sprinkled them in front of the stunned pair.

โ€œThe Dawson Group will never fall into Lelandโ€™s hands. Youโ€™d better not get your hopes up, the two of you,โ€ Freya declared coldly. Johanna was furious. โ€œWhat are you saying, Freya? If not Leland, who else would you hand the company to? The Dawson family only has him as a male heir! Youโ€ฆโ€

Freya interrupted, โ€œStrictly speaking, Leland isnโ€™t Dadโ€™s biological son. Iโ€™ve decided to take over the company myself. Besides, according to Dadโ€™s will, except for the five million left to you and your son, the only thing from the Dawson family youโ€™re getting are two bedrooms.โ€

โ€œWhat! How could Dad only leave us five million? Freya, you must have tampered with the will!โ€ Lelandโ€™s disbelief was evident.

The Dawson Groupโ€™s assets were worth billions of dollars! Though not as immense as the Sutton Group, it was still significant in Echo City.

Leland couldnโ€™t believe it. โ€œHow could Dad just leave us five million?โ€

โ€œIf you donโ€™t believe me, Iโ€™ll have the lawyer bring out the will, and we can all take a look,โ€ Freya said as if remembering. โ€œOh, right. The will explicitly states the Dawson Group is my inheritance. You two donโ€™t bother plotting anymore. If you do, donโ€™t blame me for being merciless.โ€

Watching the shocked faces of Leland and Johanna, Freya couldnโ€™t help but sneer. In her past life, she had thought revealing the will would hurt Johanna and Leland, so she never did, allowing them to squander freely and believing Johanna truly cared for her and looked out for her best interest. She hadnโ€™t realized Johanna was only eager to marry her off, paving the way for her son!

If it werenโ€™t for her previous life, where Leland squandered the Dawson familyโ€™s fortune within three years, forcing them to threaten her for the Sutton Groupโ€™s assets, she wouldnโ€™t have seen their true colors.

Looking back, Kieran could have ruthlessly abandoned her at their wedding because, as the Dawson heiress, she had lost her value. โ€œFreya, what you just saidโ€ฆ Is it all true?โ€ Johanna was desperate to verify the truth. If Gavin Dawson was really that heartless, what were they supposed to do? Were they expected to just live on those five million?

Freya settled into a nearby chair, stating, โ€œJohanna, it seems you still donโ€™t believe me. Well then, Iโ€™ll have the lawyer bring over the will. I think that will make things clearer.โ€

โ€œMom! Donโ€™t believe her! Sheโ€™s lying! Dad couldnโ€™t possibly have done this to us!โ€ Leland glared at Freya, insisting, โ€œSheโ€™s just trying to grab the Dawson familyโ€™s fortune because her marriage to Kieran fell through! Mom, I am the Dawson familyโ€™s son! The company should rightfully be mine!โ€

Chapter 11


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