Chapter 241
Jonathan’s POV
Council Hall
I stood before the River representative.
The legal representatives of the houses were present as well.
Veronica, and the kids were with me.
Daniel was also here today as he was the CEO of Staf Studios.
Vance came as my legal lawyer.
Though Alex was in the room, today not even once did I glance towards him.
Today was about accepting another identity that even my family would be carrying from now on.
I could feel the pressure in my bones as the weight of the decision was weighing on me.
“From here on everyone will remain silent unless asked for,” the River representative said.
He placed the admin oath before him on the table.
Then he began to read the responsibilities that come with the position such as protecting the treaty, making sure the assets are safe, recognizing the current legal heirs of the assets, and preserving the legal rights of the River family including the Rollings family.
I patiently listened to what he was saying.
I realized this was far more than just a ceremonial title that I was to receive today.
Finally, he stopped.
“Mr Rollings, do you accept these responsibilities p>
I looked towards the council members.
For years, I never had any connection with the River name let alone the family.
Now here I stood ready to accept what my mother was protecting me from.
I glanced towards Veronica.
Her warm smile gave me a sense of relief.
I exhaled.
“I accept p>
I felt fear, but a sense of purpose was also growing inside of me.
He placed the oath before me on the table.
I took the pen that lay before me.
My hand paused briefly over the sign area for a brief moment as I read my name on it.
For the first time I felt signing so heavy, considering I have signed a decent amount of documents in my life.
But today signing on the oath as the River admin felt heavier than I ever did.
I knew I was accepting the identity of the River treaty admin.
It just felt that from today on my life would permanently change.
With my signature, I wasn’t only acknowledging my bloodline.
But accepting the admin post of the River treaty as well.
Finally, I signed and placed the pen down.
Then the River representative also signed below mine.
Then he imprints the River seal on the signature of mine and his.
The imprint was silent but carried a silent loud voice.
The oath was formally signed.
Then the River representative opened the River lineage ledger.
“You may,” the representative said, as I began to flip the pages.
Each page held records of the River family names, the admins, and the historical records.
I realized I had more than fifty generations behind me, and I was the fifty first generation.
Then the representative took his pen and entered my name after my mother’s as she was the last living River family member to enter the ledger.
It was the first time I saw my name enter after some family member names.
And that felt odd as after my mother’s death I had lived as an orphan.
It wasn’t until I met Veronica, that I had a family.
For the first time I also felt connected to the family my mother spent years hiding me from.
Then the representative looked towards Veronica.
“Mrs Rollings, you may come p>
Veronica stepped forward and signed her name as my wife.
I glanced as I saw there was another place where she was recognized as my wife, apart from our marriage certificate.
I was feeling lighter as I realized she would carry the legacy with me from now on.
Then the representative looked towards the kids.
“You may add your children names after your wife’s p>
I took the pen and halted.
For some reason my hand was shaking.
I exhaled as Veronica placed her hand on mine.
Finally, I entered their names as well.
“Janet dear, please sign p>
As Janet signed, the representative looked warmly towards Joshua.
“Joshua, you can write your name in the place of signature p>
“Why?” Joshua asked, casually.
“Why can’t I sign like Janet p>
“If you can sigh, you can.” The representative replied with a smile.
Joshua also signed proudly beside his name.
I watched silently as he signed his name with his small hands.
Until this moment, I believed this inheritance thing was only happening to me.
Now I realized it was happening to my kids as well.
I was happy and worried at the same time.
Then the representative prepared the formal succession oath.
“Mr Rollings children Janet Rollings and Joshua Rollings are the legal next generation and in line after their father Jonathan Rollings in the River inheritance p>
I looked towards my children.
Janet may be almost an adult, but I never wanted her to face any more stress than she already did in those seven years.
And Joshua…he was way too young to understand what signing his name meant.
I felt more protective towards my children than I ever did. I never wanted my name to be a burden for them, but now I knew things would be different.
” I swear I will protect you both and never let any harm come your way.” I said in my mind.
I glanced at the ledger one more time.
My mother’s name followed with mine, then Veronica’s then my children’s.
For others it may be a normal lineage ledger, for me it was a heavy responsibility that came upon my family.
I realized being the heir to the River inheritance was not merely inheriting wealth or assets or some authority over a treaty.
It was a responsibility that passed from generation to generation.
I was ready to stand between any danger that came my or my family’s name.
From today onwards, I will protect the vault.
I would protect the Blue Heart and never let my family face what my mother had to.
I knew accepting the role as the River admin would be inseparable from my role as a father, but I would fulfil both.
The River representative stood up.
“As of today the River Treaty again has a River admin, and the treaty is active as of today p>
My mother spent her life keeping me away from the River name.
Today, I was announced the official legal heir along with my family.
Today mine, my wife’s and my children’s lives would change.
I will make sure it’s only for the better.