Chapter 1046:
What now? Would she be prosecuted? Would she end up in prison? Would she even be placed in the same cell as her mother?
When the police officer asked again if her statements were true and whether she was willing to testify, Paola trembled as she tried to answer. “I… at that moment… I didn’t even know—I…”
She was seconds away from retracting her statement when the ward door suddenly opened, and a tired-looking man entered. He introduced himself to the officers and Paola, then sat down with their approval.
Wearing a stiff, professional expression with just a hint of discomfort, he laid a folder summarizing Gregg’s assets on the table.
“Miss Garrett, I’m Judd Duncan, Mr. Baxter’s financial adviser for many years. My condolences for your loss. Given his family circumstances and the inheritance laws here, since he left no will, you, his only legally recognized spouse, are the rightful heir to everything he left behind.”
Paola blinked at him, stunned. “Me? All of it? His whole estate?” She touched her own cheek as if confirming he was talking to the right person.
Judd adjusted his glasses and continued in a steady tone. “Aside from the A7 and A8 properties, Mr. Baxter owned several domestic and overseas estates, stocks, investment products, and a considerable amount of liquid cash and collectibles. The preliminary valuation comes to…”
He stated a sum so large the room seemed to freeze around it. Even the officer leaned in for a peek at the numbers. Paola’s eyes grew wider and wider. Confusion gave way to shock, and shock collapsed into pure disbelief.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
The figure rattled her. It didn’t fit with the sterile hospital air, her parents’ approaching prison sentences, or the terrified uncertainty she had been drowning in moments before. “I… I inherit that?” she whispered hoarsely. “Why me? How does all of that end up with me?”
“Because,” Judd explained, “his children severed ties with him long ago due to family disputes. They signed away both their support obligations and their inheritance rights. With those documents in place and no will, you are next in line by law.” He added more cautiously, “But considering the size of the estate, once they find out the true value, they may contest it or pursue separate legal actions. You’ll likely need to appoint another lawyer to work with me on managing Mr. Baxter’s assets.”
𝗕e 𝗍𝗁𝖾 first t𝗈 rе𝖺𝘥 𝗈ո gа𝘭nо𝘃el𝗌.соm
Paola sat frozen on the hospital bed, stunned into stillness. As the shock finally began to settle and her mind started catching up, she managed to ask, “Gregg really did cut ties with his children, didn’t he?”
Judd gave a slow, deliberate nod.
Paola pressed her question again, her voice edged with fear. “And if I die in this accident too… who would inherit then?”
Judd hesitated, clearly unsure where she was going with it, but answered anyway. “It would pass to your parents. And as I mentioned earlier, Mr. Baxter’s children could still return to claim the inheritance.”
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