Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

usiness interests around the world—are controlled by the Shang Loong Ma Trust. Your
mother was a beneficiary of the Trust, but never a co-owner.”
“So who owns Shang Enterprises?” Alix asked.
“Once again, the Trust owns Shang Enterprises, and I am the chief custodian of the
Trust. Your grandfather’s will stipulated that the Trust would be passed down through the
male line. Only the Shang men could inherit. He was extremely old-fashioned, as you
know.”
“So how did my mummy get all her income?” Alix asked.
“She had no income, but the Trust paid for all her expenses. My father’s wording in his
will was very specific. He stipulated that ‘Su Yi’s every need, desire, and whim is to be
taken care of in her lifetime by the Trust.’ So we did.”
“The Trust paid for everything?” Felicity was incredulous.
Alfred sighed. “Everything. As you well know, your mother did not have any concept of
money. She was born to live like a princess, and she continued to live this way for nine
decades. Supporting all of you, maintaining her lifestyle at Tyersall Park, in Cameron
Highlands, everywhere she traveled. How much do you think it costs to keep a staff of
seventy for so many years? To throw grand parties every Friday night? Believe me, your
mother blew through a vast amount.”
“What will the Trust pay for now?” Victoria asked.
Alfred leaned back in his chair. “Well…nothing. The Trust has met all its fiduciary
duties to your mother.”
Victoria looked at her uncle, almost afraid to ask the next question. “So are you telling
us that we are inheriting nothing from the Shang Trust?”
Alfred shook his head solemnly. The room went silent for a moment as everyone
soaked in this bombshell.
Felicity was silent, the enormity of her uncle’s words slowly sinking in. All this time she
thought her mother the great heiress had been co-owner of an empire worth hundreds of
billions, and now it turns out she had never even been part of the equation. This meant in
turn that she would inherit nothing from Shang Enterprises. She was not a great heiress
to anything. She had only been left 12.5 percent of the house, just like the rest of her
sisters. But this wasn’t right. She was the eldest child. How could Mummy do this to her?
Collecting herself, Felicity steeled herself and looked Alfred in the eye with a question.
“How much does Mummy have in her bank accounts?”
“Not much, really. Some of her accounts are absolutely ancient. Hoare’s only has about
three million pounds—she inherited that account from my mother, and that was Mum’s
shopping account when she ordered things from Harrods. Landolt & Cie in Switzerland
holds her gold bullion, and that was really just in case the world went to absolute hell. I’d
say she has about forty-five, fifty million total.”
Freddie chimed in, “But that money will automatically go toward paying for all the
legacies she left—to Ah Ching, Ah Ling, and so forth.”
Victoria frowned at Freddie accusingly. “I don’t believe this! I don’t believe that all this