Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet

Margaret shook her head, forcing a smile. "No need to thank me. I just didn't want everything falling into the hands of that woman who had the old Earl under her spell. If you really want to thank me, get back the jewelry and assets she took. You'll do that, won't you, William?"

William knew right away that she was testing him. He'd anticipated this issue and replied with a smile, "Of course, Margaret. Anything of the Earl's should rightfully go to you. That woman has nothing to do with the Devonshire family. Don't worry; she won't take anything that belongs to us."

"Thank you, thank you," Margaret finally smiled sincerely, feeling reassured and letting go of her last reservations about William.

In truth, Margaret had once suspected that this woman, who had suddenly appeared by the old Earl's side, might have been sent by William himself. Now that William was openly willing to confront someone she saw as nothing more than a gold digger, it indicated he had nothing to hide. After all, if there was some connection, it would be foolish to risk a dispute over a few hundred thousand pounds. If he were involved, the woman would have no problem blackmailing him or causing endless trouble for him.

Since William was willing to cut ties with her, it suggested he had no involvement in her schemes, or he had been clever enough to leave the woman with no leverage. Either way, Margaret realized she had no grounds for further confrontation, as the Devonshire family's estate now legally belonged to William. Trying to remove him from his position would likely result in the title being reclaimed by the Crown.

Realizing she stood to gain nothing and without any evidence to proceed, Margaret saw that continuing to dig would be foolish. Besides, with her relationship with the Earl having cooled over the years, she had no desire to antagonize someone as prominent as William.

Margaret's last bit of resentment and worry vanished when William continued.

"I once said publicly that upon inheriting the title, I would donate the wealth. Considering your circumstances, however, I'll establish a foundation with the Earl's assets. You'll be its primary beneficiary for life and can work there, too—gives you a purpose."

"Oh, God, really?" Margaret forgot about appearances for a moment, her excitement spilling over. "You're not joking, are you, William?"

William nodded, seeing this sum as trivial. Spending a little money to quiet Margaret was a price he was more than willing to pay.

"Of course. I think you know enough about my situation. After debts, the Earl's remaining fortune is around six million pounds, which doesn't mean much to me. In the five minutes we've been talking, I've probably made more than that."

"As for the jewelry, once I recover it, you can decide whether to add it to the foundation or keep it for yourself."

Margaret wanted to keep the jewelry but restrained herself as she looked at William—the young man who claimed to make more in five minutes than the Earl's entire fortune. As an aristocrat's widow, she was familiar with the concept of foundations; if she had children with the Earl, they would have already set up a trust. But since they hadn't, she understood the Earl's frustration that his fortune would eventually pass out of his direct line.

The tables had turned unexpectedly, with the impoverished young man now one of the world's wealthiest.

Naturally, Margaret wanted William's opinion on the foundation's assets. As the sole beneficiary, she would receive more if the foundation grew. "What do you think, William?" she asked, her tone softened.

"Definitely sell the jewelry and invest in appreciating assets like company shares. Average jewelry only doubles in value over a decade, but shares can increase tenfold. I trust you're aware of my track record in the stock market," William replied with a grin.

"Oh, absolutely. My God, I can't think of anyone more skilled at making money than you," Margaret said, sounding both impressed and slightly sycophantic.

"Thank you," William responded with a cooperative smile. "Tomorrow, you can visit Wester & Starr. My private lawyer, Anthony, will go over the foundation's details with you before you sign the papers. This is a thank you for speaking up for me recently."

"Margaret, this is what you deserve as the widow of the Devonshire family. I have a duty to ensure you're well provided for. But this arrangement will only hold as long as you keep the Devonshire name."

"Of course. I understand that if I remarry, it's no longer your concern. Still, thank you, William. God bless you, dear."

With her future secured, Margaret finally felt a sense of peace. She knew few people would have made such an arrangement, and that William was being exceptionally generous. Any other nobleman would have thrown her out with barely her personal belongings.

After hugging William, she whispered in his ear, "You're a good lad, William. But be careful around the people who worked with the Earl. They won't be friendly once you start auditing the accounts."

"Don't worry, Margaret. They won't get near me," William replied, patting her back. "Alright then, my lady, I must head to Buckingham Palace. Have a lovely day."

"I certainly will, dear. Goodbye."

Parting ways, William rejoined his mother and Anthony's team, repeating his promise to Margaret and instructing Anthony to donate an amount equal to the Earl's remaining fortune to the England Women's and Children's Foundation.

Anthony nodded quickly. "Of course, Boss. I'll personally meet with Lady Margaret tomorrow."

"Good," William replied, glancing at his mother, who seemed a bit dazed. Taking her hand, he smiled reassuringly. "Come on, Mom, we need to meet with His Majesty Philip. I'll handle everything else."

"Hm?" Lena's heart skipped at William's knowing tone, but seeing his warm smile, she steadied herself. "Alright."

Gripping her hand, William conveyed a subtle message, making Lena realize he was aware of everything she had done.

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll take care of it. All you need to know is that I'm well aware of how much you love me, and that everything you did was out of love. And I love you just as much."

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [[email protected]/Mutter]

[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]