Being one of the three well-known families, in Casier; it was quite befitting, that Harlan's burial would draw statesmen and town's families representatives.
All eyes were on a girl who entered the noisy room.
In the room everyone was powerful or rich. The girl attending the funeral was conspicuous by her pretty face, as she was wearing a cheap faded t shirt.
She came to the Kincaid family first, asking the question that everyone was thinking. "Who is she? Why does she get to sit beside the Kincaid?
"I heard her name is Miss Elara, a Kincaid family second daughter who had left and before Harlan died he sent for her."
Is that true? I heard before Harlan died, he told his family to release his will. I guess she only came back for this!!
..
The girl was unaware that she'd already become a point of discussion between some of the guests. She looked like she didn't have a care in the world as she gazed straight ahead.
More specifically, at the picture of Harlan hanging in the middle of the room. No one knew what she'd been thinking.
The youngest and favorite Kincaid daughter, Tamsin, couldn't help but complain to her mother, who was sat next to her, at the sight of Elara Kincaid like this.
"Seriously, mom. What's with this country girl? Grandpa died. If she's not sad she should pretend to be. We wasn't sure if any more photos were going to be taken by the press after this one. Other people thought the same too you know? We told her to change and she refused at the same time as not getting up. People were wondering what kind of things we did to torture that poor girl!"
Following her youngest daughter's grumblings, Maris Kincaid knitted her brows as well. Her youngest daughter; she had a point.
Her country-daughter, Elara, was not a daughter she had ever loved. Elara actually infuriated Maris the day when she came back.
But this wasn't the time for Maris to deal with Elara. She would wait until after the burial to send Elara back to the estate—so that Elara wouldn't do anything to shame the Kincaid here. Not that Maris, her whole life long, had ever been able truly to embarrass the Kincaid's man.
Maris knew her husband was there when she glanced up. "Take care," she murmured gently to Tamsin as she saw her baby daughter watching intently. "Here is your papa." Never mind Elara yet. Some things—the important ones—had precedence.
Tamsin had been about to voice the grumbles on the tip of her tonguem unable to fault Elara in public.
Elara, who had been staring straight ahead, smiled to herself but made no comment at the time.
The Kincaids never found out that Elara had ultra-sensitive hearing because they never really spent time with their daughter. But, every word Tamsin and Maris said came crystal-clear to Elara, despite their hushed tone.
Her mother didn't really like her!
Elara's eyes glittered with a sadness as she stared at the holo image of Harlan. Was it the pain that made her cry?
Jareth Kincaid approached the stage gingerly. but not before he stated the that family will make Harlan's will public, before giving a very long statement about how much he loved the guy.
The audience wasn't that surprised, since many already knew about it.
It was widely known that Harlan had a daughter and a son. Given the vast Kincaid family wealth, there was really only one candidate to inherit it all. But no one could fathom why Harlan would go to such lengths in order to announce his intentions publicly. Had he done so simply for appearances' sake?
When Harlan was alive, his trusted attorney in life opened the will and read it.
"Upon reflection, I do give my granddaughter Elara Kincaid, all of my shares of the Kincaid Corporation, real estate holdings, and a $500 million deposit at the Vanguard Vault".
The people in the auditorium let out a gasp of disbelief at what the lawyer said.
Not one person in the audience, not even the Kincaid could believe it.
Kincaid Elara?
Did Harlan send her away to grow up in the country when she was little and she turned out to be second daughter of Kincaid, the jinx?
How is that possible?
She was inheriting the Kincaid fortune. They all wore the same horrified expression, mouths hanging open.
Apart from Elara, that is all anyone talked about. She didn't look any different through, like nothing had happened.
She was still staring at the painting of Harlan at the end of the hall.
"She," she murmured with a whisper not meant to be heard, mouth opening.
"What'd you do there, old man?"
The Kincaid were furious when they heard the will. Jareth hadn't believed it for a minute, but the attorney, Orin Fenwick, had made the announcement himself. And as proof positive, Orin had shown them a recording Harlan made just after he'd discovered exactly what he wanted to leave his family in his last will and testament.
Also, in his will he had left a provision that any Kincaid who did so would be immediately disowned by the family and barred by the clan.
It was a fact of life that each employee of Kincaid worked for Kincaid Corporation. If they were cast out by the Kincaid they lost everything.
Finally the people in the room understood why Harlan had instructed his will to be made public. He'd meant to catch Jareth off guard.
Nobody doubted Harlan would make such a move, not even while dying.
But why had they chosen Elara to inherit the Kincaid money? Had she been the jinx on Kincaid?
For the first time, Orin realized he couldn't read a person's thoughts as he looked into her calm face.
But none of this mattered. Orin wouldn't let his professionalism slip because his boss told him to do something.
He handed Elara a pen and slid the will in front of her.
Please sign your name on the will, Miss Kincaid, if you are comfortable with it. After that, you may inherit the Kincaid family's wealth.
Elara didn't reach out to grab the pen from Orin; instead she left his hand holding it up to her in midair.
She frowned at Orin and pointed to a spot on the will. "What does that mean?"
Orin gave his client the correct answer.