Lila stared at the lawyer seated across from her in the living room, his briefcase resting neatly by his side. His polished demeanor contrasted sharply with the storm raging in her mind.
"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
The lawyer adjusted his glasses and spoke evenly, as though delivering life-altering news was routine. "Mr. Charles Blackwell has named you as the sole heir to his estate, including his corporate holdings, properties, and liquid assets."
Lila's breath hitched. "His entire estate? Why? We've only just met."
The lawyer cleared his throat. "Mr. Blackwell expressed in his will that he believed you were the only one who could carry on his legacy. He trusted that you'd handle his empire with integrity."
Jacob, seated beside her, stiffened. "What's the catch?" he asked, his protective instincts flaring.
The lawyer hesitated, then opened his briefcase and retrieved a document. "There's a stipulation. To inherit, Miss Lila must relocate to New York City to oversee the Blackwell Corporation directly. Refusal to comply will result in the assets being liquidated and transferred to charitable trusts.
The room fell silent.
"So, if I don't uproot my life and move to the city, everything gets dissolved?" Lila asked, her voice tinged with anger.
The lawyer nodded. "That is correct. It's Mr. Blackwell's final wish."
Jacob frowned. "Sounds like manipulation, even from beyond the grave."
"I need time to think," Lila said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The lawyer nodded. "You have 30 days to make your decision. I'll leave my contact information should you have any questions."
That evening, Lila found herself walking through the fields, the crisp air cooling her overheated thoughts. Damon found her there, as he often did, his quiet presence grounding her.
"You've been quiet since the lawyer left," he said, falling into step beside her.
"What am I supposed to say?" she asked. "My so-called father just dropped a bomb on me. It's not like I've dreamed of running a billion-dollar company."
"You don't have to do it," Damon said softly. "You can walk away. You've built a life here, with people who care about you."
"But if I don't, his entire legacy disappears," she said, frustration lacing her tone. "And maybe it should. Maybe it's not my responsibility to fix what he left behind."
Damon stopped walking and turned to her, his eyes steady. "It's your choice, Lila. Not his. Not anyone else's. What do you want?"
The next morning, Aiden arrived unannounced. His presence immediately put Damon on edge, but Lila was too exhausted to mediate.
"I heard about the will," Aiden said, his expression unreadable. "I just… wanted to check on you."
"I'm fine," Lila replied curtly, crossing her arms.
"I know you, Lila. You're not fine," he said, stepping closer. "Look, I know I don't have the right to weigh in, but if you're thinking about taking the offer, you'll need someone who understands that world. Let me help you."
Damon stepped forward, his tone sharp. "She doesn't need your help, Aiden."
"And you think you do?" Aiden shot back, his voice rising.
"Stop it, both of you!" Lila shouted, cutting through the tension. "This is my decision. If either of you can't respect that, then leave."
Both men fell silent, guilt flashing across their faces.