Chapter 14: The Inheritance Nobody Expected
The next morning, Nathan sat in the same chair where Edward used to read the newspaper.
He hadn't spoken much since Rachel revealed the truth.
I placed a cup of coffee in front of him.
He stared at it.
"Do you think Dad ever regretted adopting me?""
I sat opposite him.
"Never.""
"But he knew I wasn't biologically his.""
"Edward didn't need biology to be your father.""
Nathan looked at me.
"Then why did he hide everything?""
I reached across the table.
"Because he wanted you to have a childhood without people calculating what you were worth.""
Nathan looked down.
For the first time, I saw the little boy who had once run through this kitchen with chocolate on his face, shouting that he wanted to grow up to be just like his father.
I squeezed his hand.
"You are Edward's son. Nothing changes that.""
Before he could answer, Michael entered carrying a new legal folder.
"We have confirmation from the independent laboratory.""
Nathan looked up.
"And?""
"Rachel's family records are accurate. Your biological connection to the Whitmore estate has been confirmed.""
Michael opened the folder.
"The original trust was established by Eleanor's grandfather. It was designed to protect the vineyard and pass ownership to his biological descendants.""
Rachel nodded.
"My grandmother was supposed to inherit the property. But after the hospital records were altered, the inheritance was redirected.""
Nathan frowned.
"How much is it worth?""
Michael placed a valuation report on the table.
"The vineyard, the adjoining land, the wine storage rights, and the associated investment portfolio have a combined estimated value of approximately $8.7 million.""
I stared at him.
Eight million seven hundred thousand dollars.
Edward had known.
He had known that the money could change Nathan's life.
And he had spent years protecting it.
Michael continued.
"The thirteen original wine bottles are still in secure storage. The certificates establish the chain of ownership. Without those certificates, the trust cannot be transferred.""
Rachel placed a second document beside his folder.
"There's something else.""
It was a letter from Eleanor.
She had written it shortly before her death.
To the child I was told I had lost,
I don't know whether you will ever read this. I spent twenty-nine years believing my son had died. I later discovered that he had been given to another family. I hope that family loved him as much as I would have.
If he is alive, please tell him I never stopped looking.
Nathan read the letter twice.
Then he covered his face.
I moved beside him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
He cried quietly.
Not for the money.
Not for the vineyard.
For a woman who had spent her entire life believing her child was gone.
At noon, the police called.
Harlow had been formally questioned regarding the forged documents, unauthorized transfers, and destruction of the wine collection.
She had requested to speak with Nathan.
He initially refused.
But after several minutes, he agreed.
We met her in a private interview room.
She looked completely different.
Her designer dress had been replaced with plain clothes. Her hair was tied back, and there were dark circles beneath her eyes.
When Nathan entered, she immediately stood.
"Nathan.""
He remained near the door.
"Don't.""
She started crying.
"Please let me explain.""
"You knew?""
Harlow lowered her head.
"Yes.""
"You knew we were biologically related before you married me?""
She nodded.
Nathan looked at her in disbelief.
"How could you?""
"Patricia told me. She said the family had arranged everything years ago. She said Edward knew, too.""
"Then why marry me?""
Harlow wiped her cheeks.
"Because I loved you.""
Nathan laughed bitterly.
"You loved the inheritance.""
"That's not true.""
"Then why did you steal from my mother?""
Harlow looked down.
"I thought I could repay it.""
"With what? The vineyard? My father's wine? The money you transferred into your own account?""
She began sobbing.
"I was trying to secure our future.""
Nathan leaned forward.
"You destroyed the last thing my father left my mother. You forged her signature. You helped Daniel take money that was supposed to protect me.""
Harlow reached for his hand.
He pulled away.
"Don't touch me.""
Then she whispered something that made me freeze.
"Daniel told me Edward was already dying. He said the medication changes wouldn't make a difference.""
Nathan went completely still.
"What medication changes?""
Harlow looked toward the investigator.
"I didn't poison Edward.""
I stepped forward.
"Did you change his medication?""
She started crying harder.
"I followed Daniel's instructions.""
The investigator immediately wrote something down.
"Mrs. Bellmont, are you saying Daniel instructed you to alter Edward's medication?""
Harlow nodded.
"He said it would make Edward sleep more comfortably. He said the doctor had approved it.""
Nathan stared at her.
"Did you know it could kill him?""
She covered her face.
"I didn't think...""
The investigator interrupted.
"Did you understand what you were giving him?""
Harlow began shaking.
Then she looked at me.
"Corinthia, please. You have to believe me. Daniel told me Edward would never find out.""
I felt tears burning behind my eyes.
"You were in my kitchen every Sunday. You watched me care for my husband. You watched him struggle to breathe.""
She whispered, "I'm sorry.""
I shook my head.
"Sorry doesn't bring him back.""
The investigator stood.
"We'll need a complete written statement.""
As we left the room, Nathan stopped beside me.
"Mom?""
"Yes?""
He looked at the floor.
"I don't want the money.""
I squeezed his arm.
"Your father didn't leave it to you because he wanted you to become wealthy. He left it because he wanted you to have something nobody could steal from you.""
Nathan nodded.
But when we returned home, Michael was waiting with a message from the trust company.
The original Bordeaux had been located.
The storage facility had also recovered a sealed package Edward had deposited beside it.
And according to the trust administrator, the package contained instructions that would change the ownership of the entire vineyard.
I opened the message.
May you like
There was one final sentence.
The inheritance cannot be released until Corinthia Bellmont personally opens the original bottle.
