The countdown begins ...Now

Sophia was seated next to Benjamin sipping a mug of coffee. Her hair was pulled back from her face and her face looked pale white but other than that , she was calm.

Pearl sat on the couch facing the pair. She looked away, her long false nails slowly tapping the arm of the couch.

"...I don't feel comfortable living here Ben. I want to leave" Sophia said putting the mug down.

"....No way Sophia. You're not leaving this house. This house is yours as much as it's hers. Once the lawyers hear that you're still alive, I'll make sure they issue a warning to Pearl" He glared at Pearl who suddenly looked at him in shock. "Should anything so little as even a scar appears on your body, you have the rights to report to us and actions will be taken against her immediately"

"You can't be serious" Pearl was surprised, boiling in anger.

"...And the Will? What will happen to it..." Sophia asked.

Pearl almost bit her nail as she waited to hear what Benjamin had to say.

".....There was some changes made to the Will because we thought you were..... dead. But now you're here, it still changes nothing..."

"What? You mean. ....My rightful properties won't be transferred under my name?"

....."Not if you're able to bear an heir within 12 months"

Sophia creased her face. "Bear an heir. What are you talking about".

"I thought Pearl would have told you. I even came by to tell her that her 12-months count down begins today"

"She's trying to kill me. Why would she tell me anything useful"

"Mind your words Sophia" Pearl snapped at her.

"Or what? Will you kill me"

'Like you did to father' She adds to herself.

"...Hey. Hey. No fighting. Just let me explain this one more time "

It took him 20 minutes to go over the 12-months task of marrying a legitimate husband and bearing a child for him. A child who would be the heir of the Pueterico Empire.

"...Wait. In 12 months? That's a pretty short time" Sophia said nervously.

Pearl laughed at her. "...Really???Is the almighty and fearless Sophia Pueterico scared of something so easy"

"You think getting married to the man of your dreams and bearing a child for him, is easy"

".....Two weeks is all I need to get my man" Pearl replied proudly.

Sophia felt worried that minute.

She knew without doubt that Pearl might be lucky enough to do as she had just said. After all, She was much more beautiful than her. She was an expert in men and knew all the tricks and ways of getting herself one.

Would she really loose all her rightful properties to her sister???

When Benjamin had left, Pearl and Sophia were left, standing alone in the sitting room. If looks could kill, the two sisters would have died from each other's glare.

".....You look really confident Sophia. Do you really think any man would look past my full fledged curvy bod. to your skinny and unattractive body"

"It's not all about what's on the outside ....It's what's in the inside that counts and Pearl, you may be much more prettier than I am but your inside is so ugly, It stinks around you"

Pearl's face darkens But she replaces it with a smile almost immediately.

"I don't trust you won't try to kill me ...But just Incase you try to do so, I'll make sure I ask the cops to look into the case of our father's death" Then she smirked when Pearl scowled. "They'll surely find something they wouldn't believe was ever there"

Pearl Just swished her hair. "You're just scared because you know I'm going to beat you in this"

"You make it sound like it's a competition"

"Isn't it"

"Ok then. May the best Pueterico daughter win" Sophia smirked mockingly at her.

Pearl folds her arms and starts going upstairs. "For your information...." She stops. "The countdown begins now"

Sophia gulped.

....𝓝𝓸𝔀....????