Free Web NovelChapter 77: Chapter 77: A Beautifully Packaged Grand Scam
A sudden realization dawned on the Donovan family. So, the "brother and sister" weren’t related by blood at all but were just using those titles. No wonder they’d never suspected a thing.
Then again, they had lived a sheltered life. Who would have thought that in this day and age, such a feudal remnant as a child bride could still exist? It was a truly eye-opening, worldview-shattering revelation!
The Croft family’s scheme had paid off. Willow Croft was only three years older than Julian Croft, and the two had grown up together as childhood sweethearts with a deep bond.
As they grew up, they naturally became a couple, and she had even borne Julian Croft’s first child quite early on.
The year after their child was born, neither of them had yet reached the legal age of marriage. They merely held a wedding banquet in their village to announce their union to friends and relatives but never obtained a marriage certificate.
After that, Julian Croft tested into a university and left the village, while Willow Croft remained behind with his parents to raise their child.
Lillian Donovan was completely numb. If the situation weren’t so dire, she felt like she might just pass out.
Lillian Donovan had actually met this "sister" of Julian’s before.
They had been married for five years when, one day, Julian Croft suddenly brought up his elderly parents. He said he wanted to move them to the city so he could be there to look after them if they ever fell ill.
Although Julian Croft had married into the Donovan family, neither Lillian Donovan nor her father were unreasonable people. They wouldn’t stand in the way of him wanting to bring his parents over to care for them.
Julian Croft also showed some discretion. He bought a new house for his parents not far from the Donovan Villa. During holidays, they wouldn’t visit the Donovans unless Lillian personally invited them.
When Julian’s parents were about to move, he had proactively brought up this so-called biological sister of his.
According to his story, his sister had dropped out of school early so that he could continue his education and had married very young.
But fate had been cruel; her husband died young in an accident. With no other senior family members to rely on, she had no choice but to take her son and move back in with her own parents.
Now that he was bringing his parents over, he explained, his sister and nephew would likely be coming with them.
Lillian Donovan hadn’t minded much. After all, his family was moving nearby, not in with her, so there was little chance for conflict. She wasn’t the type to needlessly pick fights with strangers who were of no real concern to her.
So, she merely lamented his sister’s tragic fate and let Julian handle all the arrangements.
Thinking back, ever since his family had moved nearby, Julian Croft had gone over to their place almost every weekend. His visits were never long, however, so Lillian Donovan hadn’t paid it much mind.
She would occasionally ask if she should go along with him to say hello to her parents-in-law and his sister.
The responses she received were always evasive, like, "There’s no need. I’ll be right back. If you come, they’ll feel obligated to entertain you. It’ll be awkward for you and for them," or, "Don’t worry. As long as we’re living well, they don’t care about those formalities."
Back then, she’d thought he was being considerate. Looking back now, she felt like a complete idiot for believing such utter nonsense!
’Afraid I would be awkward? More like he was afraid my presence would make *their* little family reunion awkward!’
The two younger children were also reeling from the shock. They had met that "older brother" of Willow Croft’s before.
A few years ago, during the Lunar New Year, Julian Croft had brought the boy to the Donovan Villa to celebrate.
Sean Donovan and Iris Donovan had been very curious about this "older brother," who was several years their senior, and had taken the initiative to strike up a conversation.
To their surprise, the boy showed no appreciation for their friendliness. Instead, he glared at them with icy eyes, frightening them so much that they immediately ran to Lillian Donovan to complain.
However, at the time, Lillian Donovan still felt a great deal of sympathy for the mother and son because of Julian’s story, so she explained to her children that the "little older brother" had his reasons for being so stern and quiet.
As a result, her two children, just like her, began to pity the lonely, helpless mother and son. They even felt guilty for their "misunderstanding" of the boy. Before he left, they packed up several of their favorite toys and gave them to him as a gift.
Now that they knew the truth, the siblings were speechless. ’Give us back our heartfelt sympathy and our toys!’
The story of what happened after Julian Croft went to university was more or less what Lillian Donovan and the others already knew.
With his handsome looks and impressive academic record, Julian Croft graduated without a hitch and successfully landed a job at the company owned by Lillian Donovan’s father.
At the time, Lillian had also just started at the company, working her way up from an entry-level position to gain experience. Julian Croft supposedly fell in love with her at first sight and pursued her relentlessly. Throughout this period, he acted as both a mentor and a dear friend, helping her overcome numerous professional challenges.
They supported each other as they climbed the corporate ladder. Two years went by like this until Lillian’s identity as the owner’s daughter was revealed. Julian Croft was, of course, "greatly astonished." Soon after, they naturally proceeded down the aisle, got married, had children, and remained a loving couple to this day—or so the beautiful story went.
From Lillian Donovan’s perspective, that was indeed how it happened. But in reality...
’Love at first sight? Don’t make me laugh. The guy was just a gold digger from the start!’
Lillian Donovan was speechless. ’So after all this time, he wasn’t even attracted to me? It was never about my looks at all?’
The rest of the Donovans nearly choked back a laugh.
’This man was planning to prey on a family with no male heir from the very beginning. Before he even joined the company, he’d already done his research: Third Grand-uncle’s wife had passed away long ago, and he, busy with his career, never remarried, leaving him with only one daughter—Aunt Lillian.’
’As luck would have it, on the very day of his company interview, he happened to see Aunt Lillian getting out of Third Grand-uncle’s car. Not long after, he overheard a phone call between her and Third Grand-uncle, confirming she was his biological daughter and the future heiress to this massive corporation. That’s when he instantly hatched his plan: get close to Aunt Lillian, seize the family fortune, and ensure the family line reverted to his own within three generations. And thus, the so-called "love at first sight" and "mutual support" was born.’ ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Lillian Donovan almost choked, feeling like she might die of sheer rage on the spot.
’So all these years, every beautiful memory she treasured, had been nothing more than an exquisitely wrapped, colossal lie from start to finish!’
The expressions on the other Donovans’ faces turned grim, especially Mr. Donovan’s.
Lillian Donovan’s father was his third uncle, and the two brothers had been extremely close.
Perhaps because his uncle had no sons, he had instructed Mr. Donovan and Lillian to treat each other as brother and sister since they were young. More often than not, whatever Lillian received, he would receive a matching portion.
Mr. Donovan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the violent rage boiling within him. The memory was still vivid: a few years ago, his third uncle lay dying in the hospital, yet he had still gripped his hand, pleading with him to look after Lillian once he was gone and to never let anyone bully her. And now, to think that someone, unable to contain their greed, had already sunk their claws into his family.
’To prey on a family with no heir, to revert the family line... The sheer audacity of this bastard. This is utterly outrageous!!!’
As it turned out, Julian Croft hadn’t just dared to dream it—he had done it, and with great success.
If it weren’t for Arabella Donovan’s revelations today, they would never have known that a vicious wolf, ready to pounce, was hiding just beneath that human façade.
’My younger cousins are already this old; that man has probably been secretly transferring Aunt Lillian’s assets for a long time now. And Third Grand-uncle’s death... Hmm, if I’m not mistaken, he probably had something to do with that, too.’
