Chapter 13: THE WILL

I sat in my office, staring at the clock as it ticked closer to 7 PM. My stomach twisted in knots, knowing I had to face Daniel tonight. What was his endgame? Why was he so invested in my downfall? As I prepared mentally for our meeting, a knock on my office door snapped me out of my thoughts. Claire peeked her head in, holding a manila envelope in her hands.

"Emily, I think you’ll want to see this," she said cautiously, stepping inside.

"Now’s not the best time, Claire. I’ve got a meeting with Daniel in less than an hour."

"I know," she said, her voice low. "But this... this is important. It’s about your mother."

At the mention of my mother, my heart tightened. My mother had passed years ago, and even though she’d always been a distant figure, her loss still left a lingering ache. "What about her?"

Claire handed me the envelope. "I got this from her lawyer. It’s her will. There’s something in there you need to know."

I stared at the envelope, my hands shaking slightly as I tore it op