Chapter 9: The Inheritance She Wanted
The word inheritance followed me everywhere.
It followed me home.
It followed me into sleep.
It followed me into every memory I had of my mother.
Because suddenly every moment I thought I understood had another meaning.
My mother wasn’t just leaving me memories.
She was leaving me something someone else wanted.
I sat on the floor of my living room surrounded by papers.
Ethan sat across from me.
Neither of us had spoken for several minutes.
Finally, he broke the silence.
“Did you know?””
I looked up.
“Know what?””
“That your mother had an inheritance.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
He looked away.
“I didn’t either.””
I studied him.
“Would your mother know?””
His expression changed.
“Yes.””
That answer hurt.
Because it meant Vivian knew something about me before I knew it myself.
I picked up the letter again.
“Access to what?””
Anna had left us with one warning.
Find out before Vivian does.
But Vivian already knew.
That was the terrifying part.
The next morning, Ethan and I went to the law office listed on the documents my mother left behind.
The building was old.
Nothing like the Mercer towers.
No marble.
No gold.
Just a quiet office with a wooden sign outside.
Inside, an elderly attorney greeted us.
“Claire Bennett?””
“Yes.””
He smiled sadly.
“I was wondering when you would come.””
My stomach tightened.
“You knew my mother?””
“Yes.””
He reached for a file.
“She asked me to keep this until you were ready.””
“Ready for what?””
He looked at Ethan.
Then at me.
“To know the truth about your family.””
The file was thick.
Too thick.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
Inside were ownership documents.
Property records.
Company shares.
My eyes widened.
“Is this…”
The attorney nodded.
“Yes.””
“You’re telling me my father owned part of Mercer Industries?””
“Not exactly.””
He turned the document around.
“Your father owned the land where Mercer’s most valuable property was built.””
I stared.
The Mercer Grand Hotel.
The place where my wedding had collapsed.
The place where Vivian had tried to humiliate me.
Built on my father’s land.
“That’s impossible.””
“No.””
The attorney shook his head.
“It was hidden.””
Ethan looked at the documents.
“Why?””
“Because after your father died, Vivian pressured your mother into signing over control.””
My heart stopped.
“She knew?””
The attorney nodded.
“Your mother discovered the agreement was fraudulent.””
I gripped the papers.
“She was fighting her?””
“Yes.””
“And Vivian knew?””
“Yes.””
A cold realization settled over me.
The wedding wasn’t the beginning of Vivian’s plan.
It was the end of a plan that had started years ago.
She didn’t hate me because I wasn’t a Mercer.
She feared me because I already had a connection to the Mercer empire.
One she couldn’t control.
My phone rang.
Ethan looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“Who is it?””
He turned the phone toward me.
Vivian.
I answered.
“What do you want?””
Her voice was calm.
“Come home.””
I almost laughed.
“Home?””
“The Mercer estate.””
“I’m not a Mercer.””
A pause.
Then:
“You will be.””
The confidence in her voice made my skin crawl.
“What does that mean?””
“I think you know.””
“No, Vivian. I know nothing because you spent years deciding what I deserved to know.””
Her voice became colder.
“Be careful, Claire.””
“Is that a threat?””
“No.””
A pause.
“It’s advice.””
I looked at Ethan.
Then back at the phone.
“You used me.””
“No.””
“I was a tool.””
“You were the solution.””
The words shocked me.
“What?””
Vivian continued.
“Your mother was stubborn. Your father was stubborn. You inherited that.””
I gripped the phone tighter.
“You knew exactly who I was.””
“Yes.””
“And Ethan?””
“I knew he would love you.””
My heart stopped.
“Did you plan that?””
“No.””
Her answer came quickly.
“I planned the opportunity. Love was his mistake.””
Ethan closed his eyes.
I saw the pain on his face.
Vivian continued.
“You have something that belongs to my family.””
I laughed.
“Your family?””
“Yes.””
“The land my father owned?””
Silence.
Finally.
“Yes.””
There it was.
The truth.
She wanted the inheritance.
She wanted control.
She wanted what she had failed to take years ago.
“You destroyed Charlotte’s life.””
Silence.
“You controlled Ethan.””
Silence.
“You destroyed my wedding.””
Silence.
Then she said:
“You are very emotional.””
I almost smiled.
Even now.
Even after everything.
She still believed emotions were weakness.
“No, Vivian.””
I stood.
“I’m finally seeing clearly.””
She sighed.
“Then you understand what happens next.””
“What?””
Her voice lowered.
“You can either give me what I want…”
A pause.
“Or I reveal what your mother did.””
My blood froze.
“What are you talking about?””
Vivian said nothing for a moment.
Then:
“Your mother wasn’t only my enemy.””
“She was my accomplice.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Ethan stood.
“What did she say?””
I looked at him.
And for the first time since this nightmare began, I wasn’t afraid of Vivian.
I was afraid of the possibility that she was telling the truth.
Because if my mother had been hiding something…
Then I had never known my own family either.
And the final document in the box remained unopened.
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