TBG - Chapter 14: The Inheritance Battle

Victor Thatcher sat in his private study, staring out the expansive window that overlooked his vast estate. The news had hit him like a ton of bricks—Theodore was getting married. This wasn’t just any wedding. The timing was significant. In six months, once Theodore turned 30, the inheritance would be his—25 billion, alongside the properties and investments that had accumulated wealth for generations. Everything that Victor had worked so hard to position himself for, now at risk.

Theodore was sharp, powerful, and intelligent—much more than many gave him credit for. Victor couldn’t deny that his nephew was a formidable opponent, and the idea that Theodore would soon have full control of the Thatcher fortune made Victor uneasy. Theodore had proven himself time and again, not just in business, but in strategy. If there was one thing Theodore was good at, it was calculating every move before making it. He had the mind of a tactician, and he was poised to take the Thatcher empire to greater heights.

Victor knew better than to underestimate him. But it didn’t change the fact that he had to find a way to make sure Theodore never reached that 30th birthday with all the power in his hands. The battle for the Thatcher fortune was about to get real, and Victor wasn’t about to let it slip through his fingers.

The door opened, and his son, Drake Austin Thatcher, entered the room. Victor could tell by his son’s expression that something was weighing heavily on him. Drake, always quick to pick up on nuances, knew the stakes in this family. He could already sense the tension in the air and the impending conflict between him and Theodore.

“Father,” Drake began, his voice tight, “I heard about Theodore’s wedding.”

Victor didn’t respond immediately, instead taking a deep breath. His son was still young, but he had inherited Victor’s calculating mind. However, unlike Theodore, Drake was a loose cannon—a raw, unrefined force. His potential was undeniable, but he lacked the kind of control Theodore had mastered over the years.

Victor finally turned to face his son, a glint of calculation in his eyes. “Yes, I heard. And do you understand what this means?”

Drake looked at his father, his gaze clouded with frustration. “He’s getting married, and in six months, he takes control of everything. The inheritance, the properties... everything. It’s all his, just like that.”

Victor nodded, his voice low and heavy. “That’s right. Theodore will inherit everything when he turns 30. The 25 billion. The properties. The investments. It’s not just about money, Drake. It’s about power. And Theodore is not someone you can take lightly. He’s been trained for this his entire life. He’s intelligent, resourceful, and far more powerful than most people realize.”

Drake clenched his jaw, his frustration growing. He wasn’t someone who liked to feel powerless, and the thought of Theodore being in control of everything ignited something in him. “But we can’t just let him have it all. He may be smart, but he’s not the only one who deserves it.”

Victor’s expression hardened, his lips curling into a small smile. “I never said we were going to let him have it. Theodore is a brilliant strategist, no doubt. He’s played the game well, and we’ve respected that. But we’ve been waiting for the right moment. And now, with his impending marriage, it’s the perfect time to act.”

Drake’s eyes darkened with resolve. “What’s the plan, then? How do we take it from him?”

Victor stood up from his desk, his eyes glinting with a dangerous mixture of ambition and calculation. “The plan is simple, but delicate. We’ll have to wait for the right opportunity, but the goal is to ensure that Theodore never gets the inheritance fully. We can’t afford to rush in, Drake. Theodore is smart. He sees everything coming. We’ll have to move strategically—make sure he thinks we’re not a threat.”

Drake ran a hand through his hair, still furious. “We’ve been waiting long enough. I’m not going to sit by and watch him take everything that belongs to us. He might be smarter, but that doesn’t make him invincible.”

Victor’s expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. “I don’t want you to act on impulse, Drake. Theodore might be a formidable adversary, but you have something he doesn’t: unpredictability. We can use that to our advantage.”

Drake narrowed his eyes. “You’re saying we’re going to outsmart him, then?”

Victor nodded slowly. “Exactly. Theodore may be smart, but even the sharpest mind has blind spots. We’ll exploit those, and we’ll strike when he least expects it.”

For a moment, father and son shared a quiet understanding. They both knew how important this was. The Thatcher fortune was more than just money—it was the legacy, the power, the status. And Theodore was the one standing between them and everything they desired.

“We’ll have to be patient,” Victor continued, his voice cold with determination. “But once Theodore inherits everything, we’ll be waiting. He may be the rightful heir, but that doesn’t mean he’ll keep what’s ours. Not if we can help it.”

Drake’s eyes hardened, his resolve growing stronger. “Fine. We’ll wait. But I won’t let him win.”

As the conversation continued, both father and son knew the stakes. Theodore’s inheritance wasn’t just about money—it was about control, legacy, and power. The Thatcher empire was at a crossroads, and neither Victor nor Drake would let Theodore take it without a fight.

The battle lines had been drawn, and the game was on.

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Drake Austin Thatcher sat in the corner of the room, his mind far from the ongoing conversation between his father and the business associates. He couldn’t stop thinking about Theodore. Theodore’s wedding. Theodore’s inheritance. Theodore’s effortless rise to power. It was all too much to bear.

Drake, despite being one of the most sought-after Hollywood actors, felt small in comparison. Sure, he was famous—adored by millions, the subject of gossip, headlines, and countless interviews. But none of that seemed to hold the same weight as Theodore’s quiet, deliberate success. Theodore wasn’t just a public figure; he was a force in the business world, commanding respect from those who mattered, making decisions that shaped the future of the Thatcher family. It wasn't just about cameras and red carpets for him—it was about control, influence, and power. And Theodore was born with that ability, as though the world simply handed it to him.

Drake had worked hard to get where he was, making his name in Hollywood through charisma, talent, and luck. But as he stared at his father, talking about the upcoming wedding and the inheritance, Drake’s jealousy intensified. Theodore didn’t have to work for fame. He didn’t have to impress the media or constantly prove himself. Theodore simply was—and that was enough for him to have it all, including the 25 billion and the Thatcher legacy that would fall into his hands when he turned 30.

And Drake hated it.

Drake couldn’t match Theodore’s intelligence. He was more than aware of that. Theodore’s mind was sharp, strategic, and calculating. He was always several steps ahead of everyone. Theodore was poised to inherit not only money, but power—the ability to control industries, to influence markets, and to shape the world in ways that Drake could never do.

Drake's fingers tightened around his glass, his jaw clenching. He had always been the one to shine under the spotlight, surrounded by adoring fans, flashing cameras, and lavish parties. But at the end of the day, none of that mattered. It was all surface level. What mattered, what truly commanded respect, was what Theodore had—substance. And that made Drake feel like an imposter.

In Hollywood, Drake was a star. But in the real world—the world that really mattered—he was nothing more than a pretty face. Theodore had everything in his grasp, and Drake couldn’t stand it. He would be the one to take the inheritance now. He couldn’t allow Theodore to win this time, not when he had worked so hard for everything he had achieved.

Victor’s words about patience and waiting didn’t resonate with Drake. Patience had never been his strength. He was driven by action, by results. And this time, it wasn’t just about the inheritance—it was about proving that he was more than just a face on a screen. It was about showing that he, too, had power.

Theodore might be the smart one, the one who had earned his place at the top, but Drake had something Theodore didn’t: unpredictability. He had the raw ambition to make a move when no one saw it coming. He didn’t need to be smart like Theodore. He just needed to be bold.

As his father continued speaking of the family’s plans, Drake’s thoughts hardened. He wasn’t going to let this moment pass. This time, Theodore would not have the inheritance. This time, Drake was going to take what should have been his from the start. The 25 billion, the properties, the power—it was all within reach, and he wasn’t going to let Theodore claim it without a fight.

Drake had always been the underdog, but that was about to change. He was done watching Theodore win. Now, it was his turn.