The Last Will

It was then it dawned on Brayden for a second time that his elder brother was really gone from this world.

Apart from his downcast parents, there were also two lovely girls in black outfits wailing and demanding for their father.

"Granny, I want my Daddy back, please tell him that from now on Marl and Mona will be good girls huh?" Marley sobbed, clutching the right leg of a middle-aged woman who was also wearing a black dress.

While Marley cried at this side, her twin sister was doing the same with their grandfather. Seeing the always-bubbling girls in this state almost brought Brayden to tears.

To avoid his tears from falling Brayden hardened his heart and looked away from the two wailing girls.

"I am back," Brayden announced as if everyone there hadn't seen him as soon as he stepped foot into the living room.

"For the last four years, your elder brother had done everything and promised you heaven and Earth just so you would return home but you were always adamant about never coming back. I can't believe that what he failed to achieve when he was alive was easily attained after he died. Doesn't this sound funny to you?" Madam Lawrence snarled, glaring at Brayden.

"Just like you, I am in shock and also heartbroken about what happened to Ethan. To be honest I am still having a hard time believing that he is dead. We are all hurting, so will you not take it out on me?" Brayden scowled.

"Besides, you are his mother and the one who was here with him. If you cared so much about him I am certain you would have noticed that he was ill earlier and not only to find out the truth after he died," Brayden berated. He strolled to one of the sofas and sat down.

"Didn't he always visit you in Chicago? If you cared about him just a little, wouldn't you have noticed that he was seriously sick?" Madam Lawrence retorted, refusing to admit that Brayden's statement was somehow correct.

If they had been a little more attentive towards their first son they would have sensed that there was something wrong with him.

"That's…"

"Will you both stop fighting? Ethan just died for crying out loud," Mr Lawrence intervened before the argument got more intense.

Frowning, Brayden looked away from his mother's direction.

"Instead of arguing we should be discussing how you will go about taking over the management of Marvel's Entertainment Agency…"

"My beloved brother died yesterday for crying out loud. His body is still in the morgue as we speak, are you seriously concerned about the company now?" Brayden snapped, jerking to his feet.

"Of course, we are saddened by his demise. We wished he lived with us a bit longer but we can't shut down the company because Ethan died…"

"Are you sure his death breaks your heart because I am convinced that you wouldn't have been so insensitive to mention the management of the company right now if you were sad like me... He was your first son and heir for crying out loud," Brayden scolded.

He stomped to the stairs before his parents could say anything else.

Although the death of Ethan left Brayden devastated, he had no choice but to ensure that everything about Ethan's burial ceremony was in order.

When the burial ceremony finally came, Brayden hid his grief as he attended to all the honourable guests that came to pay Ethan his last visit.

Despite the fact that he was just thirty-five years old when he died, people of reputable figures, even those who were old enough to be his grandfather were there to send their last farewell.

After greeting all the guests Brayden stood at a corner and watched the hall which was filled with people of different calibre.

Among the guests were Marvel's Entertainment Agency top stars all adorned in black outfits to show their respect.

Brayden might not have been around all these years to witness all that took place in his absence but from the little he heard from the guests, he knew that Ethan wasn't only a good elder brother but an excellent employer and human being who was loved by all.

Seeing the sobbing twins who were under the supervision of the maids made Brayden's heart break all over again.

Ever since Marley and Monalisa learned that their father died, they have been crying nonstop to express their grief. At times the family doctor had to be called over to put them under medication before they went to sleep.

"I remember you always told me that your greatest wish was to see your children grow up, attend college and get married. If that was really your wish, why did you neglect your health until it was too late for anything to be done? I mean it's not that you couldn't afford the best treatment in the world," Brayden murmured. He turned around and secretly wiped the tears that had dripped onto his cheeks.

"What will become of your precious girls now? Do you think Madam Lawrence will do a good job raising them despite the fact that she failed in her responsibilities during our times?" Brayden mumbled, his gaze fixed on the sobbing girls.

Due to Ethan Lawrence's special identity as the President of Marvel's Entertainment Agency, there were a lot of things to take care of.

Even after the conclusion of Ethan's burial, Brayden couldn't slack for a second. He abandoned the lifestyle he was used to and buried himself with work.

In the early hour of the morning, Brayden was seen approaching the mansion's main entrance with his luggage.

He was only a few steps away from the enormous brown door when an average-height man in a blue suit entered the room.

"Where are you going?" Mr Richard, the family lawyer demanded, gesturing at the luggage with Brayden.

"My return flight to Chicago is in less than an hour. I have to leave now to avoid missing my flight," Brayden replied impatiently. He tried to walk past Mr Richard but only for him to move and stand in Brayden's path.

"And what about the girls?" He demanded.

"What girls are you talking about?" Brayden enquired, raising his eyebrows in confusion.

"Seeing how you were about to leave, I guess your parents didn't inform you that I am gonna read Ethan's last will today..."

"Ok, but you are going to have to do that without me," Brayden replied carelessly and tried to leave.

"That is not possible," Mr Richard declared and strolled into the sitting.

"Mr Ethan Lawrence's last will cannot be read without you around, so grab a seat over there. We will be done in a jiffy," Mr Richard continued.

He urged Brayden to sit on one of the sofas in the living room.

A few minutes later, those who should be present were seated on the sofa around the centre table.

Mr and Madam Lawrence occupied a sofa too.

Among the adults sat two adorable girls in their pink Barbie outfits. Because their looks were identical, anyone who saw them would know they were twins.

Just like Mr Richard promised, he kept Ethan's last will reading brief, especially since there was little written on the documents.

During the entire time, Mr Richard read the last will, Brayden's attention was on his cell phone which kept buzzing every ten seconds.

He only paused what he was doing when Mr Richard called his name and informed him that it was his turn.

Although the lawyer's statement was clear and simple, Brayden looked confused for a minute.

"Mr Richard, I don't quite understand what you meant, so how about you expatriate," Brayden demanded softly. He stood up and strolled away from the centre table.

"It means that the deceased Ethan wills everything he possesses to you and this includes his money, houses, other properties and the girls," Mr Richard explained, gesturing at the two little princesses currently staring at him as if he was speaking an alien language.

"Are you saying, I am in charge of taking care of the twins now?" Brayden exclaimed, his eyeballs almost popping out of its sockets.

"Tell me, I guessed that wrong, right?" Brayden asked, shaking his head in denial even though his brother's last will was boldly written on the papers Mr Richard passed over to him.

"You are absolutely correct," Mr Richard affirmed. "Starting from this moment forward, you are Monalisa and Marley's guardian," He declared.