Chapter 182
Jonathan’s POV
Grand Del Hotel – Conference Hall – a few moments later
Silence had fallen in the hall after I announced I was the last surviving River descendant.
The representatives exchanged uncertain looks, as Alex remained composed,
Too composed.
But I could read from his eyes his confidence had shattered.
Veronica was standing beside me, and didn’t say a word immediately.
She just placed her hand on mine.
To others she may seem taken back.
To me,
She was reminding me regardless of what happens here, she’s with me.
“If you claim to be the last River,” one representative finally spoke.
“How can you prove it p>
John got up with a set of documents.
“As you all can see in this photograph p>
“His name is clearly written at the bottom p>
“Jonathan Rollings p>
“He is the same boy with the young woman and the young woman is the same daughter in the River family p>
“Birth records of Mr. Rollings with his parents names are here p>
“These are records to establish the legal bloodline with both River and Rollings family p>
The records clearly showed I had the blood of both River and Rollings family.
“These records clearly connect Mr. Rollings to the River and Rollings family p>
“Both his age and identity are clear p>
The representatives began to study the documents carefully.
Then John placed a document on the table and had it displayed on the screen as well.
“This is a DNA report of Mr. Rollings mother with her parents, senior Mr and Mrs. River p>
“And this is the DNA report of Mr. Rollings with Senior Mr and Mrs River and his mother Lady River p>
“And with his father and his grandparents p>
“I won’t deny,” I said.
“I really didn’t know I had any connection to the River family p>
“For that matter, until I graduated and found out about the Blue Heart, I really didn’t even know such a family ever existed p>
“My mother used to tell me a lot about my both grandparents p>
“But she rarely took the River name p>
“After her death, I found out she was living under another name after she survived the attack p>
I looked over my shoulder as I saw Veronica was watching me with anticipated eyes.
She knew this wasn’t just a random business revelation,
But something more important.
She knew it was about my identity.
“I grew up believing my mother was a normal woman raising her child after her husband died p>
“As for the maid p>
I paused.
“I thought she saved my mother and since then they became sisters p>
“The day my mother died p>
I paused again.
“She told me about the River family, and the Blue Heart p>
The maid, my aunt, also passed away before I entered college p>
“On my eighteenth birthday, I received a letter that my aunt had prepared for me before dying p>
“She had written that if my mother had continued living as a Rollings, or a River, she wouldn’t have survived, and I also would have been killed p>
“They both died protecting me p>
Silence fell in the room.
Then Daniel placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Relax p>
I sat down as he took over.
He placed records of purchasing the Blue Heart gemstone.
“After graduating,” Daniel said.
“I didn’t have much money p>
“So, I went to the local market to buy some material so I could begin my designing career p>
“That’s where I found the Blue Heart gemstone p>
“After purchasing it, I felt it would be best set in a necklace p>
“Later on, I showcased it at the Staf Auction, where Jonathan purchased it p>
“The Blue Heart was legally bought by me and legally bought by Jonathan p>
“Based on this alone, regardless of the River family or Rollings p>
“Jonathan Rollings is the legal owner of the Blue Heart p>
“But I heard the Blue Heart was with Sanders Harmon,” a representative said.
“The Blue Heart was never with the Harmons p>
“The Blue Heart never belonged to the Harmons p>
“It was, is and shall always be a River heirloom p>
“That my husband purchased and gave to me as our seven year anniversary gift p>
“But as it is a heirloom p>
“It remains Jonathan’s possession p>
“Asking me about handing it over, is no use p>
“Regardless of this,” Alex’s representative said.
“The treaty is going to be invoked and p>
“I just said it belongs to the River family and not the Harmon’s p>
She looked towards me with a smile.
“You should ask the River p>
“We want to challenge Mr. Rollings claims on bloodline p>
“And he’s a Rollings, not a River,” Alex’s representative debated.
“I don’t understand how you became a lawyer?” Vance said, letting out a small laugh.
“My client Jonathan is a Rollings because his father is a Rollings p>
“Him being a River is not in surname p>
“But in DNA as his mother’s father was a River p>
“Making Mr. Rollings Senior River’s only living grandchild p>
“Yes,” Vance said.
“As the only living River alive p>
“He naturally inherits the River family inheritance as well p>
I noticed Veronica was becoming visibly irritated.
She knew what they were trying to do.
“I was raised as anyone of you p>
“With my father’s surname p>
“But that does not erase the fact, Senior River was my grandfather, his only daughter was my mother p>
“I don’t need to abandon being a Rollings, to claim being a descendent of the River’s p>
“I’m a Rollings, with my children being the next generation of the Rollings p>
“And I am the last River descendent p>
Veronica was watching me with proud eyes.
“I stand beside my husband,” Veronica said.
“I have been a Rollings for the past eighteen years p>
“I recently found out I am Jane Harmon and Fredrick’s biological daughter p>
“So a Harmon as well p>
“It’s the same p>
“I go by as Mrs. Rollings, but I am a Harmon p>
“My children are descendents of the Harmon’s p>
“After me, they along with Adrian will be inheriting Harmon Designs p>
“Adrian? Staf?” a representative said, surprised.
“Jonathan adopted him p>
“Even though he is Daniel Staf’s son p>
“We still want him to inherit Harmon Designs along with Janet and Joshua Rollings p>
Veronica squeezed my hand softly.
“River or Rollings p>
“He’s my husband p>
One representative tore the list they had made of their valuables.
“We stand beside Mr. Rollings on the treaty p>
“We acknowledge Mr. Rollings as a River.” another one said.
“We will wait to decide once the investigation is clear,” another one said.
Even as Alex’s lawyers complained,
The bait the crest had cast, began to crumble.
Finally, the head of the conference stood up.
“Based on what happened here today p>
“Until the investigation is clear p>
“Alex Vale will not claim authority over the River treaty p>
“The vault created, is suspended p>
“No jewelry house will handover their valuables p>
“The Blue Heart remains with Jonathan Rollings p>
I exhaled slowly.
Everyone was about to get up, he spoke again.
“But if Mr. Rollings is really the last living River p>
He paused.
“He will hold the same authority the River family held p>
Then he looked at me.
Alex’s expression hardened.
“Then you will be inheriting more than just the River name p>
I understood as I myself didn’t know much about my maternal family.