Chapter 6: The Inheritance War
For several seconds, I couldn’t speak.
The coffee shop noise disappeared.
The conversations around me became distant.
All I could hear was Melissa’s voice.
“She left it to you and Daniel Carter.””
I gripped the phone.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“I understand why you’re confused.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice shook.
“My grandmother hated Daniel?””
“She didn’t hate him.””
“Then why remove him as executor?””
“Because she believed he was dangerous.””
The word hung in the air.
Dangerous.
I looked at Richard.
He looked like he already knew.
“Why would she leave anything to him?””
Melissa sighed.
“Because your grandmother believed people should be given the chance to do the right thing.””
I almost laughed.
“After everything?””
“Yes.””
I looked down.
“So this was a test?””
“Something like that.””
“What kind of test?””
Melissa lowered her voice.
“The inheritance could only be accessed if both beneficiaries agreed.””
My stomach tightened.
“Me and Daniel.””
“Yes.””
“So he needs my approval?””
“Yes.””
“And I need his?””
“Yes.””
I ended the call without saying goodbye.
Richard watched me.
“He knew.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“Daniel knew about the inheritance.””
“How?””
“Your grandmother told him.””
I felt sick.
“When?””
“Before she died.””
I thought about Daniel’s reaction.
The anger.
The check.
The wedding.
It suddenly felt different.
Not like a wounded father.
Like someone desperate.
I went home immediately.
Daniel was standing outside.
Waiting.
I almost drove past him.
But I stopped.
He walked toward the car.
“Emma.””
I rolled down the window.
“What do you want?””
His face looked tired.
Not angry.
Just tired.
“I need to talk.””
“You already talked.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“I need to explain.””
I stepped out.
“Fine.””
The two of us stood in the driveway where he had taught me to ride my bike twenty years ago.
The irony wasn’t lost on me.
“I know about the inheritance,” I said.
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“How?””
“Your grandmother’s lawyer called.””
Daniel looked away.
“So you know.””
“Yes.””
A bitter smile crossed his face.
“She finally told you.””
“Why didn’t you?””
“Because I knew what would happen.””
“What?””
“You’d see me as the villain.””
I stared at him.
“Daniel, you canceled my wedding.””
“I know.””
“You took away something you promised me.””
“I know.””
“Then why should I believe anything you say?””
He looked down.
“Because I’m not proud of what I did.””
That surprised me.
“You’re admitting it?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I’m tired.””
His voice cracked.
“I spent years being angry. At Richard. At your mother. At myself.””
I watched him carefully.
“What happened between you and Richard?””
He sat on the porch steps.
“Your father was my best friend.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Yes.””
“Then why?””
Daniel rubbed his hands together.
“Because I was jealous.””
The honesty shocked me.
“I built that company with him. I worked harder than anyone. But when things went wrong, everyone looked at Richard.””
“Because he owned it?””
“Yes.””
“So you ruined him?””
His silence answered.
Finally, he whispered:
“I made one terrible decision.””
My heart pounded.
“What decision?””
“I moved money.””
“From the company?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He looked at me.
“Because I thought I deserved more.””
The confession felt like the ground moving beneath me.
“You destroyed his life because you felt overlooked?””
“Yes.””
I stepped back.
“And then you married my mother.””
“Yes.””
“You raised me.””
“Yes.””
“Knowing all of this?””
His eyes filled.
“Yes.””
I wanted to hate him.
Maybe I should have.
But seeing him admit it made everything more complicated.
“Why tell me now?””
Daniel looked toward the house.
“Because your grandmother left a condition.””
“What condition?””
“If we don’t resolve this together, neither of us gets the inheritance.””
I laughed.
“So now you need me.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“I needed you before.””
The words hit me.
“I just didn’t know how to be honest.””
I looked at him.
“Is that supposed to make me forgive you?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
“Maybe just understand.””
Before I could answer, a car pulled into the driveway.
My mother stepped out.
She looked terrified.
“Emma.””
“What happened?””
She held an envelope.
“This came for you.””
I took it.
The sender’s name made my heart stop.
My grandmother’s attorney.
I opened it.
Inside was one page.
One sentence.
And it changed everything.
If Daniel Carter has finally admitted the truth, then Emma must know the final secret.
I looked at Daniel.
Then back at the letter.
May you like
The next line was written underneath.
The man who betrayed your father is not the only person who lied to you.
