THE CROWNLESS HEIR

PART 2: THE SPLIT OF BW CORP

“Until when will I stay here?” An old woman with her shoulder length hair which is getting white. She looks around, a room with all white and medicine smell.

It is already six months since she has to come here, especially since her husband—Alexis Blackwood was diagnosed with end-stage gastric cancer. Something that Ivana never expected before because her husband was never complaining of pain. That man—even though in his old age—is still active working and exercising, so healthy.

However, not now. That man looks so weak on the VVIP bedroom in Imperial Hospital with his hair which is already empty because of chemotherapy. Even that houses look covering all of his body which is just a shell of bones wrapped in skin. Very different from Alexis she knows.

“Honey ….”

“Yes?” Ivana who before wanted to cry, suddenly wipes her tears, then approaching her husband. “Do you want to drink? Or eating? Do you want bread?” Ivana asks aatentive.

Alexis shakes his head weakly, his eyes look at his wife and smiles. “Which day today?”

“Tuesday. What is wrong?” Ivana asks confused.

Alexis smiles again. “Today is a good day for them to get together.”

“What you mean?” Ivana asks, she does not know what did her husband say.

“I hope you will always be strong and healthy. Do not cry when I go forever, Ivana.”

Sure, Ivana really wants to cry right now, pouring all of her feels. Howver, again, Ivana tries to hold her crying hardly. She does not want to make her husband sad because it will make his sickness getting worse.

“No! Do not say it, Honey! You have to recover and be healthy. You have to go home and fishing again with me in the lack like we always did it on every our holiday.” Ivana screams.

Alexis does not answer her anymore, but his still smiles and looks at his wife.

Slowly, that smile is gone, along with the dim light in his eyes.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Electrocardiogram rings sol oud, showing one horizontal line, inviting many doctors and nurses to come there.

Ivana burst into tears, what she was worried about happened.

***

“Everyone, as we know that Alexis Blackwood—CEO and the owner of BW Corp passed away because of end-stage gastric cancer which he got it since six months ago. And now,  high-ranking officials and conglomerates, BW Corp’s business colleagues are present to pay their respects.” A woman with formal clothes seems busy reading news in the middle of a crowd of journalists and other reporters covering the event.

The death of BW Corp’s conglomerate really shocked the whole country. Luxury cars look parking there, fulfil Wexford Eternal Residence—a funeral home where only the conglomerate class with unlimited wealth can hold a final tribute ceremony there.

“That is them!”

One of million journalists who are gathering there screaming while pointing a white luxury limousine just comes, making the other running closer. They do not care how their bodies have to be squeezed by so many people. As long as their cameras can catch the photos of Blackwood Family clearly. It will be better if they can interview them.

An old woman with all-black coat and her sunglasses comes out, followed by dozens of bodyguard who are ready in her right and left, blocking everyone who tries to touch their employer.

“Mrs. Ivana Blackwood, did you already know that it would happen to your husband?”

“What is your opinion about the death of your husband?”

“Did you already prepared all long before?”

“Who will get BW Corp?”

Ivana stopped her steps, looking at each of the rows of journalists and reporters with an annoyed look.

“How dare you all asked about it. My opinion about the death of my husband? Preparing for my husband’s death long before? Do you think that I am so crazy like that so I am ready to celebrate my husband’s death? And who did ask about who will get BW Corp? Really, why journalists and reporters in this era really have so little journalistic code of ethics?”

All people there—who before looked so crowded, suddenly silence. Some of them blame to each other.

“I will make sure that the presumptuous journalists and reporters are fired and will not get their jobs anymore.” Ivana says full of intimidation, then she walks in, followed by her bodyguards who also look at them full of threatening.

Ivana walks so heavy. Really, if she could, of course she would choose to stay at home and rest all day. All night she cried and it makes her head ache so much. Ivana does not want to wake up with the fact that she already lost her husband forever.

“Mom ….” Robert and Julio—two sons of them welcome her with their sad face. They come, hug the body of their mother which almost fall down.

Ivana cried so hard in her two sons’ hug.

When Alexis was sick, Ivana still could look so strong, hid all of her scared and sadness with smile. She also still strengthened her children and her daughters-in-law, convinced them that Alexis would be okay and would recover soon. However, this time, Ivana can’t handle it. She takes everything—all of her scare and sad.

“I can’t do it, really.” Ivana says in the middle of her crying.

“Mommy, we understand.” Robert whispers.

“Mom, let’s sit first!” Mikaela—her first daughter-in-law and also the wife of Robert tries to guide her.

Ivana shakes her head so weak. “I have to see your Dad.”

They look to each other for a few moments, before finally agreeing to their mother’s request.

Accompanied by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Ivana walks towards the place where Alexis’ body lay.

This room looked magnificent and bright, with rich carving adorning every corner. However, not with their hearts, especially Ivana. There, Ivana wails again, hugging her husband’s body which already stiff as she screams and begs him to come back.

***

An atmosphere of grief still envelops the Blackwood Family. However, as the saying goes that life must go on. The same applies to BW Corp. Alexis—the CEO and the owner of BW Corp passed away, but his asset still a subject of debate.

Because does not want to make many bad speculations in public, Blackwood Family finally makes the reading of the will which was made by Alexis Blackwood a few months before he passed away. Now, in this luxury room, Ivana, Robert, Mikaela, Julio, and Clara—the wife of Julio, they can’t wait of the moment of the reading of that will.

“I am pretty sure that you will win it, Honey.” Mikaela whispers to Robert, while sometimes she looks a side to Julio and Clara across.

“I already knew, Honey. So far, I always accompanied Daddy wherever he met the clients and investors. Even I made the BW Fashion at the peak of sales. So, Daddy definitely would choose me.” Robert says with full of confidence.  

“I can’t wait for it.”

“When I get it, I will buy Querencia Island for you, Honey.”

“Really?” Mikaela’s face looks so happy.

Roberts nots surely.

“Yes! Finally I can show to that arrogant socialite women that I am the winner of Querencia Island. I will be The Queen of Querencia.” Mikaela says happily. She is so overjoyed that she nearly shouted in front of a crowd of people.

Meanwhile, over there, Julio and Clara appear to be whispering, talking to something which is more or less than what Robert and Mikaela say, about the inheritance. They believe that they will win it.

“I really can’t wait to see the ashamed face of that Cunning Woman when she knows that her husband is not the winner of the inheritance.” Clara says.

The initially lively atmosphere suddenly fell silent as Austin Jett, the Blackwood Family’s trusted notary, takes the podium. The man in the black suit looks extremely tense. Of course, he is the most important person at the event, reading the will he knew. The content was sure to make everyone in this room furious. Well, whatever it was, Austin was more than ready.

Austin takes a deep breath.

“Good evening, All of the member of Blackwood Family.” Austin tries his sentence with tense.

“Good evening.”

“Tonight—as we knew before that I am—Austin Jett as a notary will read the will which was maked by Mr. Alexis Blackwood.”

All people there look so enthusiastic to hear it, nobody dares to make sounds, even just for coughing. They are afraid to lost just a word of the notary.

“Querencia Island, Querencia Island.” Mikaela is muttering happily, she can’t wait for the moment that she wanted for.

“I am—Alexis Blackwood, to forestall any dispute over inheritance rights following my death, I have drawn up this will.”

“First, I will split BW Corp into four parts, such as BW Scholar and 20 percent of the BW Corp’s shareholding will be my wife’s—Ivana Blackwood.”

Ivana smiles faintly. Since Alexis was alive, Ivana already took care of BW Scholar and has produced high-achieving BW Scholar graduates who subsequently pursued their education at prestigious institutions around the world.

“BW Fashion and 20 percent of the BW Corp’s shareholdings will be my first son’s—Robert Blackwood.”

“FINALLY THEY ARE MINE!” Robert screams.

“You are so great, My Husband!” Mikaela answers.

Everyone there looks at that couple of husband and wife, making them awkward and sit down again.

“So tr*shy!” Julio and Clara make snide remarks from afar.

“BW Industrie and 20 percent of the BW Corp’s shareholdings will be my second son’s—Julio Blackwood.”

“I am proud of you, My Husband!” Clara screams this time, sometimes she looks aside to Mikaela and Robert, as showing them that Julio also get his right.

“It is not more than us.” Mikaela sneers viciously.

“Never mind, Honey, it is okay. The most important that you will get your Querencia Island.” Robert tries to make his wife happy. Even though he is a little daunted because Julio also gets his right same as his, but Robert tries to not destroy his night.

Mikaela nods and tries to be calm.

“BW Tech and 30 percent of BW Corp’s shareholdings, I will give them to my last son—Nicholai Blackwood. And in the end, the other 70 percent of shareholdings will be managed for charity. It is the will that I actually made. Alexis Blackwood.”

The last sentence which Austin said making everyone silent. There is no applause as Austin steps down from the podium. Everyone looks so confused, who is Nicholai Blackwood?

“Wait a moment! Who is Nicholai Blackwood?” Ivana asks, representing everyone present.

Austin takes a heavy breath. However, it will definitely happen, and Austin has to prepare for it.

“Should I come to the podium anymore?” Austin asks.

“Yes, of course, do it! Tell us who is Nicholai Blackwood. Because I never gave birth to another child except Robert and Julio.” Ivana says. Her curiosity about someone named Nicholai Blackwood is so high.

Austin steps to the podium anymore with the heart is beating faster. He is so ready with the risks he will get, especially regarding the career he had to put on the line.

“As what Mr. Alexis said, Nicholai Blackwood is the son of his unofficial relationship with a woman named Natalie Barbara. Now, Nicholai is still Nicholai Barbara. However, Mr. Alexis asked to change his name to be Nicholai Blackwood.”

“Hey, Austin, you know who are talking to, right?” Julio dares. He does not accept that the trusted notary of his family makes offhand remarks in front of a large crowd.

“Yes, I really know, Mr. Julio. I am just conveying everything, of course it is not just ordinary words. I also bring the evidence in the form of DNA test results for Mr. Alexis and Nicholai.” Austin takes out an envelope that said Imperial Laboratory, a laboratory belonging to Imperial Hospital—the famous hospital where Alexis was treated until his death.

Without permission, Robert goes up to the podium, grabs the envelope and quickly opens it.

His eye wide, his fingers clench tightly as he read the DNA test result which stated that Alexis Blackwood is 100 percent the biological father of Nicholai Barbara.

“IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!”