E C H O E | h.s. Fanfiction

*Chapter Seven*

The grand sitting room was filled with whispers, and every small movement echoed through the space, almost menacing in its subtlety. It was as if everyone held their breath, waiting for the moment when Harry's will would finally be read.

The notary entered, carrying the solemnity of a man who knew he was about to announce something heavy. Two lawyers followed, their arms full of documents. Silent and unwavering, they were more like shadows than people, bringing a weight to the air that made everything feel even denser.

I took my seat around the table, and the glances exchanged among everyone were laden with unbearable tension, as if we were testing to see who could endure to the end. Each of us sat rigid, holding onto secrets we were unwilling to share.

Lisandra sat near me, turning for a moment to look in my direction, as though she was reading every thought that passed through my mind. Her gaze was steady, almost insistent, as if she wanted to remind me that whatever was coming wouldn't be easy and that I'd need to keep my composure, no matter what.

I felt like an outsider, watching a scene unfold where everyone knew the plot except me. In that silence, I could feel my heart pounding louder than I wanted it to.

As the notary sat down at the table, he opened his bag, took out a folder and a sleek silver pen, and placed them slowly in front of him. Raising his gaze to Lisandra and Elowen with a solemn expression, he said, "I'd like to express my deepest condolences. Harry Styles was an exceptionally gifted individual."

Lisandra nodded slowly, her fingers nervously twisting a thin pearl necklace. "Thank you," she replied curtly, in a tone that tried to mask her tension.

Harry's lawyer, a middle-aged man with a polished look and a gaze as sharp as a blade, leaned forward and seized the moment. "We hope everyone here will honor his memory and his final wishes. I want to assure you, Mrs., that we'll do everything needed to see that what Harry Styles intended is respected."

Lisandra turned her gaze to the lawyer, almost pinning him with her look. "And for his widow, I believe we all have our special wishes, don't we?" she said, trying to keep a pleasant tone, though her expression gave away a hint of coldness.

The notary nodded and addressed me. "Ms. Layla Styles, we all extend our sincere sympathies to you as well. This process holds quite a bit of interest, and if there's anything certain, it's that Styles's wishes were meticulously clear. As we move forward, you'll see that every detail has been carefully chosen."

I couldn't hold back my curiosity and asked, with a hint of doubt, "How long ago did he put all this together?"

The notary turned to me calmly and replied, "From the very beginning of his music career, and he made a habit of updating it every year."

Before I could ask anything else, the lawyer cut in abruptly. "We should all exercise caution with what we discuss here today." He looked at each of us seriously, taking a stack of papers from his briefcase and laying them in front of us. "Everyone is required to sign this nondisclosure agreement before we proceed. No details from today's meeting may be shared, and there are strict legal consequences if breached."

I felt my hands tighten in response. "This isn't really necessary," I said, trying to keep a composed tone, though I felt irritation rising within me.

The lawyer looked at me directly. "It's more necessary than you realize, Mrs. Harry Styles made it clear. Whatever happens here is confidential."

Lisandra turned to me, showing a slight impatience. "Just sign it, Layla. There's no need to make this difficult."

I cast a final look at their faces, clenching my jaw silently, and signed. It felt as if I were stepping into a world Harry had meticulously constructed, one that I hadn't known was there.