More Harry Potter Controversy, But This Time Not Involving J.K. Rowling

Scholastic Books have released their best whodunit yet: the plot involving a deceased publishing titan and a leftover fortune assigned to his alleged mistress, unbeknownst to his surviving family.

Based on true events, the story regarding late CEO of the Scholastic publishing house, Richard Robinson, Jr., presented an unforeseen twist after the departed's will revealed that his belongings would not be inherited by his two children and their mother, ex-wife of Robinson, but rather to a former employee from Scholastic Corp.

The 84-year-old Robinson died of an alleged heart attack back in June.

Iole Lucchese is a chair on the board of directors at Scholastic, and the suspect at the forefront of the news after Scholastic employees spoke out on her behind-the-scenes romance with Robinson.

According to the New York Post report, Robinson had addressed Lucchese as “my partner and closest friend." The report also stated that the father of two spent substantial time with his children leading up to his death — making this an even trickier story to solve.

Responsible for thousands of YA novels and books for America's youth, the CEO's final act is possibly his most childish work yet — leaving his kin empty-handed in his massive endowed fortune.

Robinson's brother, William, provided a statement regarding the scandal, with priority assigned to retaining Scholastic's prestigious name among parents, children and educators.

“Our family value was we’d rather not have the financial benefit that we might get from a sale if it means the company won’t be in the future what it was. Everybody knows Scholastic and has a good feeling about it and it does good things for teachers. It’s more than just a business for us.”

The late tycoon of children's books is responsible for releasing the famed Harry Potter series. Author J.K. Rowling previously addressed Robinson as a “wise, kind and humane man, who leaves behind him an extraordinary legacy in the world of children’s literature.”

Scholastic Corp is also responsible for a multi-book deal with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick's first book slated for release, I Color Myself Different, is centered around an eye-opening moment from his childhood that developed into his polarizing view on race relations in America — which is far from the remedial coloring book some of us were expecting.

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Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick - living in Southern California.

All about Jeopardy, sports, Thai food, Jiu-Jitsu, faith. I've watched every movie, ever. (@alejandroaveela, via X)