I never imagined my life would take such a dramatic turn. That afternoon, I took a break from work, telling myself it was just a formality: a routine session to read the will, where everything had been decided long before I even entered the law firm. I thought I would listen to a long legal speech, sign some papers, and maybe, just maybe, receive a small inheritance. Nothing that would change my life. Nothing surprising.
My parents were there when I arrived, of course. My mother was sitting in a stiff leather armchair, her arms folded, the perpetually disappointed expression on her face that she always wore when she was with me. My father stood next to her, straight, his hands on the table: a silent man who was even less kind. Jessica, my sister, was there too. She seemed completely calm, as if she knew what was going to happen. I should have recognized her immediately.
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The lawyer, a man in his sixties with thin glasses, cleared his throat and began to read the details of the properties, stocks, and bank accounts. I watched half-asleep until I heard my sister’s name repeated. Everything—every dollar, every property, every investment—was for her.
I bowed slightly. “Excuse me?”
The lawyer stopped and looked at my father. My father nodded. The lawyer continued, “This is all… reserved for Jessica.”
I turned to my parents, “Are you sure there’s nothing wrong with this?”
My mother didn’t move for a moment. “No way, Samuel.”
I laughed open-mouthed, waiting for someone to clarify that this was a joke. Nothing. Jessica just smiled. It wasn’t an apologetic smile, no guilt, she just said, “Of course it is.”
My throat went dry, and I tried to swallow. “Are you really giving Jessica everything?”
“She doesn’t need it,” my father said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Does she really need ten million dollars?” I asked, indignant.
My mother pressed her lips together, irritated. “Jessica has two children, Samuel.”
“But I have a wife and two children!” I replied.
“You have a good job,” my father said deadpan.
I looked at him. “And Jessica doesn’t?”
There was tension in the air. Finally, Jessica tried to break the mood with a soft chuckle. “Oh, Sam, don’t be dramatic.”
I turned to him, my patience running out. “This isn’t dramatic,” I said, pointing to the documents. “He can take everything. Don’t I have a right to the house? Don’t I have a right to the money?”
My father clenched his jaw. “You’re a grown man, Sam. You need to be able to stand on your own two feet.”
Important note: Life doesn’t always give you justice. In my case, my parents underestimated my life and didn’t see what I was really worth.
In the process, they handed me an envelope, and it all came as a newfound understanding. When the truth finally came to light, I realized that my fate was not in my parents’ hands. I took action, and I was determined to take the next steps for my own future.
It was a new beginning: as I crossed the threshold, I understood that life is not about pleasing someone else, but about what we do for ourselves.
A week later, I was on my way home with a changed perspective. My family couldn’t give me what was truly mine, so I was ready to fight for it.
Ultimately, having learned life lessons, it is up to me to shape my future. The truth lies not only in the will, but also in how I shape my own path.
My new life has already begun, and no one can stop me. My grandfather’s legacy has become a catalyst for change. Not just legally, but emotionally as well.
Everyone has their own story, and mine is not just about supporting the divine, but about becoming a person who is respected.
Therefore, my future is here, and I will no longer let others decide what I achieve and how I live.
As I understood then: my past cannot define my future.
I am ready to face the new challenges that await me. My life is truly in my own hands now.