After reading it thoroughly, I confirmed that Amelia possessed eight percent of the shares in Smith Corporation. Despite the small proportion, it was worth a kingâs ransom to a poor lady like me. I could stop working and live a good life with the dividends every year.
âBack then, the Smith family was facing a lawsuit and in need of cash. I asked your dad for investment, but he rejected me because he needed the money for another lucrative investment. I left in disappointment, but your mom came to my house very soon.â
Sharonâs eyes beamed when she immersed herself in the memory. âYour mom was smart; nevertheless, your dad didnât heed her advice. So, you can imagine they didnât get along well back then. She secretly invested two hundred million, for she believed that the Smithsâ project would deliver better returns than your dadâs plan. That was why she received eight percent of the shares in return without your dadâs knowledge.â
I had never heard someone talk about my mom for a long time. When Sharon mentioned her, I felt a little uncomfortable and only put on a faint smile in response. My heart would sink every time her name was mentioned.
âGrandma, why are you telling me this?â
Fixating her gaze upon me, she took out another document from the folder and handed it over to me. âYour momâs shares are supposed to be yours. Now, Iâll transfer them to you. Besides, Iâll gift two percent of my shares to you.â
My hand became stiff as soon as I took the share transfer agreement. Sharon intended to transfer ten percent of shares in Smith Corporation to me. I would no longer worry about making my ends meet once I signed on the paper.
Nonetheless, I felt that the document in my hands was a hot potato and had an almost irresistible impulse to throw it away. After going through ups and downs in all these years, I learned to be cautious and never accept a free meal.
âGrandma, I canât accept the shares. Please keep itâ¦â
âPlease donât decline it right away,â Sharon interrupted, âConsider the two percent of shares as my compensation to you, for Iâm aware that youâve suffered a lot ever since you married Lyle.â
Sharon heaved a sigh as though she was embarrassed to continue. After hesitating for a while, she added, âI lied to Lyle so that he would marry you willingly. Deep down, Iâve never intended to pass your momâs shares to him. Eve, do you believe me?â
I wasnât sure if I ought to believe Sharon. However, my heart softened when I felt the sincerity in her eyes and read the documents. Given that Sharon was old and lying on the bed in the hospital, I thought there was no reason for her to deceive me.
I nodded and replied seriously, âI believe you!â
Instantly, Sharonâs lips curled into a smile of relief. She patted my hand and said delightedly, âYouâre always my loved one. Anyway, I have my reasons not to tell anyone about it. When I realized that you were fond of Lyle, I grabbed the opportunity to pair off you guys. Alas, who would have thought that fate has other plans?â
âIâm sorry, Grandma,â I apologized while lowering my head. Sharon wanted the best for Lyle and me. Nevertheless, we werenât meant for each other.
âHave you made up your mind to get a divorce?â Sharon asked another question.
Initially, I wanted to tell Sharon that it wasnât that urgent. When I thought about Christopher and what Lyle and Crystal did to me, I hesitated no more.
At that moment, my only wish was to be with Christopher to live a happy life that belonged to me. Despite Sharonâs kindness, she couldnât make decisions on behalf of Lyle or force him to treat me well.
Meanwhile, I felt embarrassed to tell her about the past incidents.
âGrandma, there are many things that I canât control myself. So, I have to apologize to you.â After returning the agreements to Sharon, I added, âI canât accept these. Since the shares belong to my mom, she will return one day and retrieve them by herself.â