Chapter 234
Jonathan’s POV
Rollings House
I was in my study when Veronica came inside looking worried.
“What’s the matter Nicky p>
“Some of the old house representatives have come p>
“They’re demanding you meet them p>
“Demanding?” I said, confused.
“Why would I not meet them p>
“Come on, let’s go p>
As I walked inside the living room, everyone got up to greet me.
“Please take your seats,” I said as I tried to see who came.
“Mr Rollings,” one of them said.
“Before…we didn’t bother about the ancestral assets as they disappeared with the River family p>
“We did get compensation from the council p>
“But now that we know you’re the River heir, and have authority to open the vault p>
He trailed off.
“Mr Rollings,” he continued.
“You yourself know how you felt when the Blue Heart wasn’t with you p>
“And how at ease you are now, knowing it’s with you p>
I clenched my fists as I realized they’re trying to play the guilt trip with me.
I exhaled as I realized this was no longer a simple legal dispute.
“Since we’re here and the vault is at home,” one of them suggested.
“Why not open it now and let us check our assets p>
“This is the list with images of the assets in the vault p>
“You may check for yourself first p>
“These are my family’s assets and they were entrusted to your family back then p>
“We understand the events that happened, but now that you are here p>
“It’s only liable for us to ask you to open the vault p>
I knew they’d waited for years.
Some of them even stopped but now with me before them,
It’s only natural for them to want the access.
“How can you verify these are your assets p>
“Of course,” he said.
“Our family crest is on the gemstone box, and on the gold coins p>
“Okay,” I said in a frank voice.
“I will let you know once I open the vault p>
“Open the vault?” he said in a little angry tone.
“What do you mean by that p>
“If I go about opening the vault for every single family p>
“I won’t be leaving the vault p>
“Fine, then call all of the families and open in front p>
“The vault belongs to the River family,” I cut his words midway.
“As the legal heir, I have the rights to open or not p>
“And under no threat will I oblige p>
“And what do you mean by that p>
“Do we have to beg to see our own assets p>
“I will not open at your request p>
“And the key isn’t with me at this moment p>
“So even if I want to, I can’t p>
“Our assets include the family crest,” another one said.
I understood there was more than just monetary value in the vault, there were also things that linked the family to their ancestors.
And now I was feeling overwhelmed over the responsibility I had on my shoulders.
No wonder the families were so eager for the vault to open.
“Why won’t you open the vault p>
“If you are the legit heir, then why p>
The accusations were growing as they sat before me.
Anger was boiling on my side, but Veronica’s hand on my hand was keeping me calm.
“For your information,” I spoke in a frank voice.
“Opening and letting you all see your assets isn’t the only responsibility I have as the River heir p>
“Do you have the Blue Heart or not?” a member said.
“I feel you don’t, yet you don’t want to acknowledge it p>
“I won’t answer what I don’t have to p>
“First of all, you came here without telling the council or the River representative p>
“I’m speaking to you p>
“Is my gratitude towards you all as colleagues in the same business p>
“We just want to know if you have the key or not p>
“I do, and I will open at will or when it’s required p>
“Not on someone’s say p>
“Are you even the legal heir p>
Veronica placed my profile file on the table before them.
“DNA, birth, school…every legit proved certificate is here to prove I’m a Rollings and the son of the only daughter of the River family p>
“Any questions p>
“I will open only once all claimants are verified by me p>
“We can take the courts hand to make you p>
“You all know the day my family was massacred p>
“My mother’s finger was cut for the Blue Heart ring p>
“This is the list of the attempts my River family faced because of the Blue Heart p>
“Seventy percent were on my mother p>
“I won’t let what happened to the River family happen to mine p>
Their expression changed from hostile to composed.
“Everyone,” Veronica said, who was sitting quietly all this time.
“Jonathan is not the man who runs from his responsibilities p>
“But he will not put his family in danger for no matter how much wealth sits before him p>
I looked up at her as I realized she wasn’t afraid to tell what I was.
Silence fell in the room.
“I request everyone to leave a legit list of your assets here with me p>
“This is to prove you are the legal heirs of the assets in the vault p>
I could see them exchanging uncomfortable looks.
“I see no reason for you all to feel so p>
“After all you’re only proving who you are…the same way as I did p>
“Don’t our surnames stand for anything p>
“Then should I assume every Rollings out there is my family p>
“The River Treaty is built on records based on official crest records p>
“I won’t access the vault unless every jewelry house identity is verified p>
They all nodded.
They were all ready to leave, when one of them stopped.
“Your mother…she knew from the beginning…didn’t she p>
“What do you mean by that p>
“Your mother knew that one day when you take over as the River heir, you might also face the same people or the same danger they did p>
“That’s why she must have given you instructions to be more careful p>
My silence was my answer.