Chapter 4 - My Father's Final SecretSarah took me to a secure office two days later.
Lily remained at the hospital under medical supervision.
The moment I entered, I saw a large black safe.
Sarah entered a code.
Inside was a box.
My name was written on it.
I opened it.
There were photographs.
Bank statements.
Emails.
And a letter.
My father's handwriting.
My dearest Elena,
If you're reading this, I probably didn't get the chance to explain everything.
I have watched Julian carefully.
I don't trust him.
I stopped reading.
Tears fell onto the paper.
He has asked questions about your inheritance.
He has asked questions about the house.
He has asked questions about my business.
But he has never once asked me how you are.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
Sarah waited quietly.
Then I continued.
I don't want you to live your life afraid of people.
But if Julian ever tries to take what I left you, remember this.
The house was never the real inheritance.
I looked up.
"What does that mean?"
Sarah opened another compartment.
Inside were documents.
Company ownership certificates.
Trust agreements.
Stock records.
My father had transferred controlling interests into a family trust.
I wasn't simply the beneficiary.
I was the controlling trustee.
My father's business was worth far more than Julian had imagined.
And the house?
It was only the beginning.
Sarah looked at me.
"Your father knew someone might come after the estate."
"He knew Julian would."
"I think he suspected."
I stared at the documents.
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"Because he wanted you to choose your husband freely."
I closed my eyes.
That hurt more than anything.
My father had trusted me.
And I had trusted Julian.
May you like
One of us had been wrong.
The other had been right.
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