Brianna’s idea had clearly sparked something in them too. They were all practically licking their chops, eyes practically glistening as they imagined all the wealth now up for grabs.
Gregory, clueless as always when it came to running a business, would be an easy puppet to control if Johnson Group ever fell into his hands.
“Yes! This is exactly what we need!” One of the relatives shouted, giving Gregory a hearty slap on the back.
“I’ll get the notary on the line!” Another jumped in, already on the phone, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
They were all moving like they’d just been handed a winning lottery ticket.
Amid all their excitement, my mother-in-law looked at me with a worried frown.
“Sweetheart, are you absolutely sure about transferring everything? Maybe you should take a second to think it through,” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
I gave her a reassuring smile, shaking my head. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve got this under control.”
She’d always known how capable I was, and after seeing my calm confidence, she stopped trying to talk me out of it.
With the relatives’ help, everything under Gregory’s and my name—except for $50,000 each for living expenses—was transferred into Chloe’s name.
At the notary office, Gregory and Brianna looked at Chloe like she was already the head of Johnson Group, like they could already see her pulling the strings. Their grins were wide, proud, and full of unspoken plans.
I couldn’t help but grin too. There was something so satisfying about watching them dream of a future where my daughter—now a billionaire—was calling the shots, all while they were completely blind to the reality of the situation.
But making Gregory part with his assets wasn’t enough. Now, it was time to take everything from Brianna too.
“Brianna, you always say you love Chloe, right?” I asked casually, my gaze sweeping over her face, which she’d painstakingly made look natural.
“I’ve raised Chloe for you for over twenty years, spent millions doing it,” I continued, my voice calm but cutting. “I’m not asking for anything in return. Just give the money to Chloe. After all, I love her most.”
Chloe, sensing the perfect opportunity, jumped in, playing her part to perfection. “Aunt Brianna, you’ve been with my dad for more than twenty years. You must’ve saved up a few million by now, right? Since we’re already here at the notary office, why not show some real sincerity? Otherwise, I might start thinking you’re just trying to get me recognized for the Johnson family fortune and not for me.”
Brianna froze, caught in a tough spot.
If she handed over the money, it would hurt. But if she didn’t, Chloe would doubt her motives for wanting recognition.
You can’t catch a wolf without losing a sheep. Brianna’s jaw tightened, and after a long pause, she pulled out a card from her purse and handed it to Chloe.
“Here, Chloe. Of course, I love you. This is five million. It’s the money I’ve saved over the years.”
Chloe snatched the card without hesitation, then called the notary to get the transfer certified.
Brianna stood there, a forced smile plastered on her face, though it looked more like she was biting her tongue to keep from screaming.
