Chapter 10 - The Final Inheritance
Sandra looked at her two children—the people she had spent her entire youth protecting, working double shifts at a greasy diner so they would never know poverty, only to be discarded when they thought she had nothing left to give.
"You're right about one thing, Ashley," Sandra said, her voice as steady as stone. "You are my children. But a mother's obligation to support her family ends where cruelty begins."
She turned her gaze to Jonathan Sterling. "Execute the final clause, counselor."
Sterling nodded, pulling a final document from the center of his portfolio and sliding it toward Derek.
"According to the certified terms of the Sandra Williams Family Trust," Sterling read aloud, "all liquid assets, real estate holdings, and corporate equities derived from the lottery win have been assigned in full to three entities: a regional medical research fund for cardiac health, a statewide scholarship program named in honor of the late Thomas Williams, and a primary living trust assigned exclusively to her grandson, Jake Williams."
Derek stared at the paper, his hands trembling violently as he read the legal clauses. "No... no, you can't do that! We're your legal heirs! You have to leave your estate to your children!"
"In the state of Ohio, an individual has absolute autonomy over their personal assets," Sterling replied coolly. "You and your sister have been legally and permanently disinherited, effective forty-eight hours ago."
Ashley let out a piercing cry, sinking to her knees beside the table. "Mom, please! You can't cut us out! We're your flesh and blood! What are we supposed to do?!"
Sandra stood up slowly from her chair, looking down at her children with a profound, unburdened peace.
May you like
"You're going to handle it yourselves," Sandra said softly, echoing the exact words they had texted her just weeks before. "I'm sure you'll be okay."
She turned, taking Jake's arm, and together they walked toward the private penthouse doors, leaving Derek and Ashley broken amidst the crystal and gold of an empire they had lost before they even knew it existed.
