Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law

Chapter 31 - Slapped

"Congratulations, Miss Melanie. LuxeArt is now officially yours. I am sure Lady Collins can finally rest in peace, knowing that the business has returned to its rightful owner."

Melanie smiled as she signed the papers, though a faint melancholy lingered beneath her composed expression. The last three years she had spent relentlessly steering the ABC Empire, protecting its interests, and ensuring its growth. In her naivety, she had believed LuxeArt was being taken care of, trusting Spencer's mother to uphold the legacy left behind by her own grandmother and Lady Collins. She should have known better. A woman who had mistreated her so easily—so cruelly—would hardly spare a second thought for her grandmother's business.

And now, LuxeArt was nothing more than a hollow shell of what it once had been, all the funds having been bled out of it. A business took years to build, but it could crumble in mere moments under careless hands. If Adam hadn't stepped in, hadn't brought the extent of Madam Collins' negligence to her attention... She tightened her grip on the pen, jaw clenching as a wave of frustration surged through her. But now was not the time to dwell on what was lost.

Taking a steady breath, she lifted her gaze—and her breath caught when her eyes met Adam's. His expression was unreadable, but she could see the glint of satisfaction in his eyes. She smiled inwardly. Of course he was satisfied. The tide was about to change just now and it was all his doing. He might have had his own motives, his own reasons for helping her, but that didn't change the fact that he had been her savior in this mess. Without him, LuxeArt would have been beyond saving.

While she was still caught in that moment, Attorney Truman cleared his throat and efficiently tucked away the signed documents. With practiced ease, he retrieved another set of papers and placed them on the desk. "Next, we have the matter of signing over the inheritance to Miss Melanie's... husband."

Melanie barely had time to process the shift before Truman continued, his tone formal and measured. "Spencer, you may step forward, review the documents, and proceed with the signing."

Spencer barely spared a glance at the documents, already reaching for the pen. This was it—his moment of triumph. The ABC Empire would be his, and there wasn't a damn thing anyone could do to stop it.

But just as the tip of the pen touched the paper, Melanie's voice cut through the air.

"Wait."

The single word brought an abrupt halt to the proceedings. Attorney Truman paused, his pen hovering mid-air, while Spencer's head snapped toward her. His expression darkened instantly as he thought that Melanie was really trying to create problems for him.

"If you think you can create trouble for me now, Melanie," Spencer sneered, "you'd better rethink. Know your place. Even if you want to punish me for this, you do not have the power. So, be a good girl and keep your mouth shut..."

Melanie only smiled at the condescending attitude. Very slowly, she reached into her purse and pulled out a small booklet. She held it up for a moment letting everyone in the room see it, before sliding it across the polished wooden table.

"I thought you might need this document to process everything," she said with an innocent smile.

Attorney Truman reached for the booklet, hurriedly. It was of course important for this—The Marriage Certificate.

Spencer exhaled sharply, the breath he hadn't realized he was holding escaping in relief. Of course. He had expected this. The proof of their marriage was necessary for the inheritance to be signed over. Melanie was only making sure the process went smoothly, nothing more.

Truman nodded approvingly as well. "Thank you, Miss Melanie. I would indeed need this to proceed." He cast a look at Spencer Collins. The man was a fool for letting go of Miss Melanie. The woman was being kind to him even though Spencer had all but admitted that he had only used her.

He picked up the certificate, intending only to glance at it before moving forward. But the moment his eyes landed on the names, he froze.

A tense beat passed.

Then another.

Slowly, his head lifted, his gaze snapping to Melanie with something between shock and disbelief.

"Miss Melanie..." His voice was careful, measured, yet edged. How could this be.

The girl just shot him a look and smiled innocently.

Before he could say more, Spencer had already signed both sets of documents and pushed the papers towards the older man to sign. He didn't like how Attorney was suddenly dawdling.

But, Uncle Truman, merely glanced at the papers, then—without a word—closed the file.

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Spencer's eyes narrowed. His patience was already wearing thin, and this unnecessary delay grated on his nerves. He glared at the older man, his voice sharp with barely restrained anger."Uncle Truman, what is the meaning of this?"

Attorney Truman exhaled a long, weary sigh. He had seen all sorts of things in life but some things always surprised him. Until now, he had been pitying Miss Melanie. But he had not expected... It was actually paradoxical. He would not have looked at the marriage certificate if not for Miss Melanie presenting it. And if Spencer had not done what he did, he had a feeling that Melanie would not have brought up the certificate she had. However what was done was done and could not be undone.

"Mr. Spencer, you cannot inherit."

Spencer scowled. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Sir Collins, who had been silently observing the throughout, finally spoke. "Truman, explain yourself. What is the meaning of this? What do you mean that Spencer cannot inherit?"

Even Madam Collins, who had been sitting quietly until now, shot to her feet in outrage.

"Yes!" she barked. "My son has been married to this woman for three years, just as the will demanded! Why are you hesitating? You're his attorney—you are bound to act professionally and follow through with the process!"

Her eyes flashed with venom as she took a step forward.

"Don't think I have missed the pity filled glances you have been directing her way." she spat, pointing at Melanie, "and if you think for a second that I will let you get away with such unprofessional behavior then you better be careful. If you do not fulfill your duty, I will see to it that you are held accountable! If you want to show pity to her, do it with your own money! She is anyways homeless now so she might accept it."

Melanie stiffened at the insult. But it was Truman, who was old enough to consider Melanie his daughter who was even more angered!

His professionalism and his honour had always been unshakable, but this—this blatant accusation—was an insult he would not tolerate.

His jaw tightened as he stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. Then, with measured precision, he reached for the marriage certificate and flung it onto the table.

"What marriage?" he thundered. "This certificate is not stamped! Which means—" he slammed a hand onto the table for emphasis, "—there is NO MARRIAGE!"