Chapter 5 - The People Who Wanted His MoneyThe lawsuit became ugly.
Michael hired an aggressive attorney.
He claimed Noah had manipulated their father.
He claimed I had encouraged my son to cultivate a relationship with Mr. Vance.
He even suggested that the lawn mowing had been a calculated attempt to obtain money.
The accusation made me furious.
But Noah remained quiet.
Until the day the lawyer questioned him.
They sat across from him in a conference room.
“Why did you start mowing Mr. Vance's lawn?”
“He looked like he needed help.”
“Did he pay you?”
“No.”
“Did he give you gifts?”
“No.”
“Did he promise you anything?”
“No.”
“Did your mother tell you to do it?”
“No.”
“Did you know he was wealthy?”
“No.”
The lawyer leaned forward.
“Then why did you continue?”
Noah looked directly at him.
“Because he needed someone.”
The lawyer paused.
“That's all?”
“Yes.”
“Four years?”
“Yes.”
“Every Saturday?”
“Yes.”
The lawyer smiled sarcastically.
“That seems unusual.”
Noah shrugged.
“Maybe.”
Then he said something that silenced everyone.
“Your client only started visiting his father after he found out there was money.”
Michael's attorney stiffened.
Noah continued.
“Mr. Vance told me.”
The room went silent.
“What did he tell you?”
“That his son came every time he needed something.”
“Objection,” the attorney said.
Jonathan raised a hand.
“He's answering the question.”
The lawyer sat back.
Noah's voice remained calm.
“I never wanted anything from Mr. Vance.”
“I just wanted his grass to be short.”
Even the court reporter smiled.
That evening, Emily called me.
“I want to settle.”
“What?”
“The lawsuit.”
I was surprised.
“Why?”
“Because I found something.”
“What?”
“Dad's journal.”
She sent me photographs.
One page contained a list.
Saturday.
Noah came.
Fixed the fence.
Wouldn't take money.
Asked if I had eaten.
Another.
Noah came.
Brought soup.
Stayed twenty minutes.
Another.
Noah came.
I told him not to waste his Saturday.
He said, 'It's not wasted if I'm helping.'
I couldn't stop crying.
Emily wrote one final message.
May you like
Dad wasn't leaving Noah money because Noah earned it.
He was leaving it because Noah reminded him what being human felt like.
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