Chapter 10: The Inheritance Nobody Knew About
I read the first page three times.
Not because I didn't understand the words.
Because I couldn't believe they were real.
"Controlling ownership: 100%.""
My grandfather's name was printed beneath it.
The same grandfather who used to take me fishing every Sunday morning.
The same man who told me before he died, "Emma, never let anyone convince you that your kindness is weakness.""
I always thought he was talking about life.
I never imagined he was talking about my marriage.
Victoria stepped inside and placed another folder on the table.
Jake stood frozen near the door.
"Who are you?"" he asked.
Victoria looked at him.
"My question is, who are you?""
Jake's expression hardened.
"Excuse me?""
Victoria ignored him and looked at me.
"Your grandfather knew people would try to control what belonged to you.""
I slowly closed the folder.
"What belonged to me?""
She nodded.
"The Carter Group.""
The name meant something.
But not enough.
I had heard it before.
A company mentioned in old family conversations.
A company I thought had disappeared after my grandfather retired.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Victoria sat down.
"Your grandfather didn't disappear from business. He stepped away publicly while keeping ownership privately.""
Daniel, who had arrived moments earlier, looked stunned.
"How did I not know this?""
Victoria glanced at him.
"Because your grandfather specifically created layers of protection.""
She turned to me.
"Only you were meant to know.""
I looked at Jake.
He looked confused.
Really confused.
And that frightened me.
Because if Jake didn't know, then who had?
Victoria opened another document.
"Your grandfather believed the biggest threat wouldn't come from strangers.""
She paused.
"It would come from people close enough to earn your trust.""
The room went silent.
My eyes moved to Jake.
He looked away.
A painful realization hit me.
Jake had betrayed me.
But maybe someone had been manipulating him too.
Victoria continued.
"Three years ago, someone began searching for information about your inheritance.""
"Who?""
She looked at the file.
"Melissa.""
My stomach tightened.
Jake immediately shook his head.
"No.""
Victoria looked at him.
"You want to defend your sister?""
He didn't answer.
Because he couldn't.
I remembered Melissa at the pool.
Her smile.
Her laughter.
The way she watched me suffer.
She wasn't just enjoying a joke.
She was watching someone she thought she had already defeated.
I turned to Jake.
"Did you know?""
His face changed.
"Know what?""
"That Melissa was looking into my family?""
He swallowed.
"No.""
I studied him.
For once, he looked honest.
Victoria leaned forward.
"Jake was useful to her.""
Jake looked angry.
"Don't say that.""
"But it's true.""
Victoria opened another file.
"Melissa convinced you to make financial moves because she knew you were desperate.""
Jake stared.
"What?""
"She knew about your failed investments.""
His face went pale.
"How?""
Victoria looked at me.
"Because she had access to information she shouldn't have.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Are you saying Melissa orchestrated everything?""
Victoria nodded.
"Not everything.""
She looked at Jake.
"But enough.""
Jake sat down.
His confidence was gone.
The man who always had an answer finally had nothing.
I felt something strange.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But clarity.
Jake wasn't innocent.
He made choices.
He lied.
He hurt me.
But Melissa had been pushing pieces across the board.
And I was the person they both underestimated.
My phone suddenly rang.
Daniel answered.
Then his expression changed.
"What happened?""
I looked at him.
"Who is it?""
He covered the phone.
"The bank.""
My heart tightened.
"Why?""
He listened for a few more seconds.
Then ended the call.
"Emma...""
"What?""
Daniel looked at the documents.
"Someone just attempted to freeze all Carter Group assets.""
I stood.
"Can they?""
Victoria shook her head.
"No.""
"Why?""
She smiled slightly.
"Because they forgot one thing.""
"What?""
She placed a pen in front of me.
"Your grandfather didn't leave you money.""
She looked directly into my eyes.
"He left you control.""
I picked up the pen.
For the first time in weeks, I wasn't reacting.
I was deciding.
Then Victoria's phone buzzed.
She checked the message.
Her face changed.
"What?""
She looked at me.
"Melissa knows we're here.""
Jake stood.
"How?""
Victoria handed me the phone.
The message contained only one sentence.
"I know exactly what Emma inherited.""
May you like
Then another message arrived.
"I also know how to take it away.""
