The church still smelled like old wood and flowers. We were back at my mother’s house in Albany, where people were eating casserole and talking in hushed, polite voices. I was exhausted, still wearing my dark funeral clothes and carrying the weight of a long flight.
Then, my father’s lawyer, Robert Chen, arrived with the will.
Everyone sat around the dining table. It felt like the grieving had stopped so the business could begin. Robert adjusted his glasses and started reading.
« To Megan, I leave the Miami apartment and a share in Whitmore Construction. »
Megan started smiling before he even finished the sentence. It was a flashy gift—ocean views and a big skyline. The kind of thing everyone noticed.
Then, Robert turned the page.
« To Hannah, I leave the family cabin and the land around it in the Adirondacks. »
The mood in the room shifted instantly. It wasn’t loud, but I felt it. People glanced at each other. Megan leaned back with a polished smile.
