The Billionaire's Annoying Ward

People might think Melissa was heartless. When her father died, she didn’t even shed a single tear. Well, what did they expect? It’s not as if she’s close to her old man.

Since her mother died, her father was never home. She could count with her fingers the number of times they had met in the last few years. He wasn’t affectionate, and aside from the excessive financial support, there’s nothing else she received from him. She did try to get close, but he’s the one who wasn’t willing. He said it was enough that he’s providing for her material needs. She shouldn’t expect more. So she didn’t.

Right now, all she’s feeling was annoyance. Melissa was irritated because her source of funds had gone. And no, she’s not receiving anything as her inheritance. Legally, it should be hers. That was, if he hadn’t written that freaking Last Will and Testament naming his best friend as the recipient and holder of it until she turned thirty years old.

Like . . . really? Thirty? She’s only twenty-three! There’s what? Seven more years before she could spend it? It’s unbelievable.

The man was also named as her legal guardian until she satisfied the condition to receive her inheritance. It made her speechless. Her? Someone of legal age was being given a legal guardian? Was that a joke?

The lawyer explained that she could think of him as a trustee. The man, Klyde Henderson, would be managing the funds and disbursing her just enough to live a simple life. He’s not allowed to use it for his own.

As if he needed it, Melissa snorted. He’s wealthier than her father. Why would her dad even think of giving everything to him? Even the house was sold! Now, she had nowhere to go!

She always receives her monthly allowance on time. Savings wasn’t in her vocabulary. So, right now, she really had nothing. Her old man just had to die near the month-end, catching her unawares.

She did attend his funeral, though. But frankly, it was unnecessary. There’s nothing she’s supposed to do. She was just there to be gossiped about. The absentee daughter! Huh, if they only knew how much of an absentee father William was . . . But he’s already dead, and you don’t bad-mouth the dead. So, it was her who was deemed cold and heartless.

Now, the biggest problem in her mind was getting money from the mountain of gold. Getting an appointment with Klyde was much harder than getting one from William. Just what exactly was wrong with those people? Why couldn't they be normal? Were they that busy? She couldn't wait any longer. She only had a couple of hundred dollars in her wallet! That couldn't last her a day.

You have to think, though. Melissa was used to an extravagant life established by her father. She had no qualms spending his money because she knew it was hers by right. The man had the obligation to support her, and half of it was supposedly from her mother anyway. She couldn’t remember now how her lovely and wonderful mother ended up marrying such a cold man, devoid of all emotions.

She’s so close to causing a scene at Henderson’s company lobby. If she had to wait for another hour, she swore she’s going to trash all their decorative jars. She eyed a dozen of them, looking very expensive in their containers.

Thankfully, she was told to go up to the CEO’s floor. But upon arriving there, she was asked to wait as the man was still attending a meeting. Melissa huffed and asked the secretary for snacks. She spent nearly an hour reading magazines and eating unfamiliar food. Oddly, she’s not actually picky. It’s just that the people around her had certain expectations, and she lived up to them: what she buys, what she eats, where she shops, what car she drives . . . those things. But when there’s no pressure, no voice speaking in her ear, she did whatever. Right now, there’s no one to ask her why she’s eating ordinary meat buns, so she munched on them quite satisfactorily. She’s hungry, that’s why.

When the man walked into the office, she quickly stood up. She’d be damned if he told her to meet him some other time. She needed her money today.

She raised an eyebrow when he looked at her with a frown.