In the agonizing aftermath of the truth about her father, Snow was a shattered shell. Andreas, despite his own immense pain for her, became her unwavering anchor. He held her, listened to her cries, and patiently reassured her that it was not her fault, that it was a tragic accident, an unforeseen scientific anomaly. He grieved with her, for her, and for the man who had loved her enough to bear such a terrible secret.
But the revelations weren't over. Grumpy, in his thoroughness, had also meticulously examined Snow's father's will. The original version, the one Ravenna had thought she understood, contained a critical, concealed clause.
"Sir," Grumpy reported to Andreas, his voice unusually strained, "there's a codicil. A final, highly sensitive addition. It states that once Snow is married, she will inherit all property of White Industries, including its companies, patents, and the vast land holdings her father had secretly acquired. This part was shielded from the main will, held in an offshore trust, only to be activated upon her marriage."
Andreas's eyes widened. This was a bombshell. It confirmed Snow's ultimate financial independence, but it also painted Ravenna's actions in a new light – an attempt to control Snow's life until she could take control of her own destiny through marriage.
"But there's more," Grumpy continued, his gaze flicking to the updated family tree. "The will also explicitly states that while Snow's stepmother, Ravenna, cannot be removed from White Cosmetics, all properties currently under Ravenna's direct ownership or control from the White Cosmetics acquisition are to remain in her name. However, upon Ravenna's eventual demise or incapacitation, these specific properties are to be inherited solely by her son, Jeffrey."
"Jeffrey?" Andreas repeated, the name echoing in the room. He knew of Ravenna's son, a shadowy figure, always abroad, rarely mentioned.
"Yes, sir," Grumpy confirmed. "Jeffrey, Ravenna's son. He's currently studying for his Masters in London. The will stipulates that once he completes his degree and returns home, Snow, her stepmother, and Jeffrey are to work together in White Cosmetics, forming a new triumvirate leadership for that specific entity, under the original terms of the takeover."
The implications were staggering. Not only was Snow destined for incredible wealth and control upon her marriage, but she was also legally bound to work with the very stepmother who had devastated her life, and now, with her unknown stepbrother. It was a twisted form of family reconciliation, a forced inheritance and collaboration designed by her father's complicated love and perhaps, a desperate hope for peace.
Andreas felt a surge of protectiveness for Snow. After everything she'd just learned, this new layer of obligation, this enforced family dynamic, was yet another burden. The legal battles ahead were no longer just about justice for Snow or corporate control; they were about untangling a legacy woven with love, betrayal, and a father's desperate, flawed attempt to secure his daughter's future even beyond his grave. And now, a new player, Jeffrey, was about to enter the already tumultuous stage.