Page 7 of Inheritance

“They made a move. Now we make ours.” I said.

My Fathers eyes stayed locked on mine, assessing, measuring, waiting.

“Let’s hear your idea then,” Damien said, his voice was low, edged with impatience.

I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I turned to the window, letting the tension in the room build as the focus landed squarely on me.

“We’re getting into that auction next week, and we’ll clean our money through it, as usual. Our family is barred from the event. Ivan Sinclair made sure of that.”

I turned to my father. His lip twitched with suppressed irritation, but I pressed on.

“We are barred from the event, but Sophia isn’t.”

Damien’s expression shifted. His frustration gave way to intrigue, his lips curling into a sinister grin. “You think she’ll do it?”

“She will,” I said with quiet certainty. “And if anyone is plotting against us, she will overhear it.”

Damien stood, his grin widening. “Alright. Let’s bring her in.”

I took a step toward him. “No. I’ll talk to her. I need to be the one to explain it. You go clean out an art store and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Sure,” Damien said, his tone laced with amusement.

Before I could think, my father’s cold voice pierced the silence.

“You risk the woman you love, yet dare scold me for doing the same with Caroline.”

I returned his glare.

For a second, I said nothing. Then, quietly, I answered.

“There’s a difference between risk and sacrifice.”

We stared at each other in heavy silence.

“No son, there isn't.”

Sophia

The garden was quiet, except for the steady trickle of water from the fountain and the occasional rustle of wind through the trees. I walked the path slowly, arms folded across my chest, gravel shifting under my shoes. The air was cool, but sunlight cut through in spots, warming my skin in flashes. It smelled like roses, lavender, and fresh earth, Even though summer was already over, and everything around me was starting to wither.

I settled onto a bench beneath a canopy of climbing roses, the stone still holding the sun’s warmth beneath me. I pulled out my phone, found some meditation music, and slipped in my earbuds. Ambient tones dulled the world around me. I closed my eyes, but I couldn’t relax. Not really. Not when everything around me felt like a test. I didn’t want to belong here, only to belong to him. I didn’t know what I was doing here. I just wanted Gabriel.

This world didn’t need to shove to see if I’d break. It just waited.

I shifted on the bench, pulling my knees up, wrapping my arms around them as if that could anchor me. If Gabriel welcomed me here, then why did it feel like I was one wrong step away from being pushed out?

I squeezed my eyes shut tighter, willing the doubts away. But they only grew louder, pressing against the edges of my mind, telling me what I already knew.

I was in over my head. And sooner or later, I would see pity and realization in Gabriel’s eyes as he looked at me.

The bench rocked slightly, and I opened my eyes, startled. A woman was sitting next to me, so close I could see the deep patterns in her bright blue eyes.

"Sorry," she said, holding up her hands with a sheepish smile. "Didn’t mean to sneak up on you."

I pulled out my earbuds. "It’s okay. I’m?—"

"Sophia?" she interrupted, tilting her head, her gaze warm but curious.