stiff- lipped, impeccably dressed individuals, sat around a mahogany table, the polished surface reflecting the strained expressions on their faces. The air, thick wi

ting between the lawyer and his aunt, Eleanor, whos

ional." He paused, allowing the words to hang in the air, pregnant with unspoken implications. Rick felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He had always known h

the entirety of his estate, including the family business and all its assets, will be bequeathed to his grandson, Richard, only under one c

ck stared at the document, his mind r

d from disapproval to something akin to smug satisfaction. He understood then. This was less about his grandfather's wishes and more about the family's control. They had always

age had haunted him for years, the woman who was suddenly, vividly present in his thoughts. He thought of their shared past, the years stolen by circumstance, the uns

ulating certainty, "This is excellent, Richard. It gives us the opportunity to finally ensure the family's continuity." His words, dripping with a cold ambition that le