Urging Him to Get a Divorce novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

With slick promises, Jacob had claimed he was building the company for their daughter’s future, with enough money to live however she wanted and marry whoever she loved.

Bethany had never dreamed of Aveline marrying someone rich and powerful. But when Jacob promised their daugh- ter a secure, comfortable life, she hadn’t hesitated to back him.

“And the properties?” Fiona pressed.

Aveline’s jaw tightened. “The villa Jacob shares with Courtney and Josephine is in both his and my mother’s names. Half of it belonged to her. There are also two other properties–one where Devin’s family lives, and another in Entora. But both belong to Jacob.”

“As long as Jacob’s alive, you have no right to any of it,” Fiona said bluntly.

“I know.” Aveline’s voice dropped. “What I want are my mother’s paintings. They are still in the Sutton’s villa.”

Bethany had been a celebrated painter. In her lifetime, her works went for at least a hundred thousand apiece. Since her death, their value had exploded tenfold. Just last year, two of her pieces had fetched 10 million dollars at auction.

Fiona’s eyes sharpened. “How many are left? They must be worth a fortune.”

“Besides the ones on display in the villa, there are still several in her studio, probably a dozen or more,” Aveline said. “But Jacob locked it. I can’t get in. Those were the pieces she never let go of–the ones she treasured most.”

Fiona gave her a hard look. “That’s worth tens of millions. You should’ve moved them to your grandparents‘ house the moment you had the chance.”

Aveline let out a bitter laugh.

She had never imagined Jacob would move his mistress and illegitimate daughter into the house so soon after Bethany’s death. She didn’t expect that Courtney would waste no time having the studio locked.

“If I try to reclaim the paintings now,” Aveline asked quietly, “wouldn’t half still go to Jacob?”

Fiona nodded. “Exactly. By law, Bethany’s inheritance is split evenly between you and him. And if Jacob and Court- ney have already hidden some of the works, there’s nothing you can do.”

Aveline’s face hardened, her fists curling tight.

Fiona leaned in, lowering her voice. “What if I go with you, and we take them back quietly?”

Aveline’s eyes flicked up to hers. “That’s what I’ve been thinking too, while I can still get into the house. I can find a time when Jacob, Courtney, and Josephine aren’t there.”

“But the butler is one of Courtney’s relatives.”

0.0 %

18:58

Even so, Aveline wanted to give it a try.

She couldn’t stomach the thought of Bethany’s work ending up in Courtney’s hands. The idea alone felt like a knife twisting in her chest.

With this thought in mind, Aveline felt that she had to hurry up. She took out her phone and called the Sutton’s villa.

At this hour, Jacob should be in the company, and Josephine should be at school. If Courtney was also not at home, then Aveline could go now and take the paintings out.

She had Jasmine and Fiona to help her, and Hilda couldn’t stop them.

As for Julian, Aveline felt that she’d better not let him get involved in this matter.

After Hilda picked up the call, Aveline first asked if Jacob was at home, then Josephine, and then Courtney.

The answer was that they were not at home.

Aveline was lucky, feeling that it must be her mother in heaven helping her.

After hanging up, she called Jasmine into her room and explained the situation. Excited, Jasmine agreed to help with- out any hesitation.

Then, Aveline, Jasmine, and Fiona headed out, telling Julian that they were just having something else to do.

Julian was puzzled, thinking that maybe it was the business between women, so he didn’t pay much attention to it.

Aveline and Fiona drove two cars. After they arrived at the Sutton’s villa, the three of them walked in directly.

When Hilda saw Aveline and two other women come, she instinctively felt that something was off, so she snapped and asked, “Aveline, what are you doing?”

But Aveline didn’t respond. Instead, Jasmine suddenly grabbed Hilda’s wrist and dragged her to the dining room.

“Come on, go make some tea. This is sort of Aveline’s home, right? Now she’s a bit thirsty.”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify