Episode 2:The Heiress Nobody Wanted
1429 Words
Eight billion dollars.
Even after the call ended, the number refused to feel real.
I sat alone in my car outside the restaurant, staring blankly through the windshield.
A few minutes ago, my husband had divorced me.
A few minutes ago, I had discovered my best friend was pregnant with his child.
A few minutes ago, my entire life had fallen apart.
And now a stranger was telling me I was one of the wealthiest women in the country.
None of it made sense.
My phone vibrated.
A text message.
Attorney Carter: A vehicle has been arranged to bring you to the Hart Estate. The driver will arrive in ten minutes.
I read the message twice.
Then three times.
The Hart Estate.
The words sounded unreal.
I almost laughed.
If someone had told me this morning that I'd end the day divorced and heir to a billion-dollar empire, I would have thought they were insane.
The sound of the restaurant door opening pulled me from my thoughts.
My body instantly tensed.
Ethan.
Sophia.
The two people I wanted to see least.
They stepped outside together.
Sophia's hand slipped naturally into his.
Like she had every right.
Like she hadn't spent the last year sneaking around behind my back.
The sight hurt.
But not as much as it should have.
Maybe because something inside me had finally broken.
Or maybe because I was simply too exhausted to feel anything else.
Ethan looked around the parking lot.
For a brief second, our eyes met through the windshield.
I expected guilt.
Regret.
Something.
Instead, he looked annoyed.
As if I were creating unnecessary complications by still existing.
I looked away first.
Not because I was weak.
Because I was done.
Done begging.
Done hoping.
Done waiting for a man who never chose me.
A sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled into the parking lot.
It stopped directly beside my car.
A uniformed driver stepped out.
He approached my window.
"Miss Hart?"
I blinked.
"Yes."
The driver bowed slightly.
"Attorney Carter sent me."
I glanced toward Ethan.
His eyes narrowed.
Sophia looked confused.
Good.
Let them wonder.
Without another word, I grabbed my purse and stepped out of the car.
The driver's expression remained perfectly respectful.
He opened the rear door of the Rolls-Royce.
I climbed inside.
As the vehicle pulled away, I caught one final glimpse of Ethan standing in the parking lot.
Watching.
Confused.
For the first time in years, I didn't care.
An hour later, the city lights disappeared behind us.
The car entered a private road lined with towering trees.
My stomach tightened.
The estate appeared gradually.
First the gates.
Then the gardens.
Then the mansion itself.
I stared in disbelief.
The building looked more like a palace than a home.
Soft golden lights illuminated the enormous structure.
Fountains sparkled beneath the moonlight.
Luxury cars lined the circular driveway.
I had never seen anything like it.
The vehicle stopped.
Before I could open the door, several staff members appeared.
One opened my door.
Another carried my bag.
A third offered me a warm smile.
"Welcome home, Miss Hart."
Home.
The word felt strange.
I followed them inside.
Marble floors stretched across the entrance hall.
Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead.
Paintings covered the walls.
Everything looked elegant.
Expensive.
Perfect.
I felt completely out of place.
A woman in her sixties approached me.
She wore a black suit and carried herself with quiet confidence.
"Miss Hart."
I nodded nervously.
"Hello."
Her expression softened.
"My name is Margaret. I served your grandfather for over thirty years."
I wasn't sure what to say.
"I'm sorry for your loss."
Something flickered in her eyes.
Sadness.
Affection.
"Thank you."
She hesitated.
"He spoke about you often."
I froze.
"What?"
"He followed your life from a distance."
My chest tightened.
I remembered birthdays without cards.
School graduations without family.
Years of silence.
"If he cared, why didn't he contact me?"
Margaret lowered her gaze.
"I believe Attorney Carter will explain everything."
That wasn't an answer.
But before I could press further, another voice interrupted.
"Miss Hart."
A tall man stepped into the room.
Mid-forties.
Sharp suit.
Professional demeanor.
Attorney Carter.
We shook hands.
"Thank you for coming."
I followed him into a private office.
The room overlooked the gardens.
Several documents sat neatly arranged on a desk.
My anxiety returned immediately.
Attorney Carter gestured toward a chair.
"Please sit."
I did.
He opened a file.
"Your grandfather regretted many things."
I remained silent.
"He regretted losing contact with your mother."
The words caught my attention.
"What happened?"
Attorney Carter sighed.
"There was a family conflict many years ago. Pride kept them apart. Unfortunately, neither side reconciled before your mother's passing."
I looked down.
My mother had died believing her father didn't care.
That thought hurt more than I expected.
"He wanted to reach out to you many times."
"Then why didn't he?"
"Because he believed you would reject him."
I laughed bitterly.
"Instead he waited until he died?"
The lawyer didn't argue.
Because he knew I wasn't wrong.
After a moment, he pushed several papers toward me.
"These are the details of your inheritance."
I stared at them.
My hands felt numb.
Attorney Carter continued.
"You are now the majority shareholder of Hart International."
I swallowed.
"Okay."
"You also inherit multiple real estate holdings, investment portfolios, private businesses, and liquid assets."
The numbers blurred together.
Millions.
Hundreds of millions.
Billions.
My entire life I had worried about grocery budgets.
Rent.
Bills.
Now I couldn't even comprehend the amount of money sitting in front of me.
"This can't be real."
"It is."
I leaned back in my chair.
Overwhelmed.
Completely overwhelmed.
Attorney Carter watched quietly.
"As of today, your estimated net worth exceeds eight billion dollars."
The room felt strangely silent.
Finally, I looked up.
"Why me?"
The lawyer smiled faintly.
"Because despite everything, you were the person he believed deserved it."
For the first time since arriving, tears filled my eyes.
Not because of the money.
Because somebody had chosen me.
Somebody had believed in me.
Something Ethan never did.
Something I spent years begging for.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
A news notification flashed across the screen.
KINGSTON GROUP ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION PROJECT.
Ethan's company.
My stomach tightened.
Attorney Carter noticed my expression.
"Is something wrong?"
I showed him the article.
His eyebrows rose slightly.
"Interesting."
"What?"
He turned his monitor toward me.
A chart appeared on the screen.
Several companies were listed.
One name immediately stood out.
Kingston Group.
Ethan's company.
Connected directly to Hart International.
I frowned.
"What does this mean?"
Attorney Carter folded his hands.
"Hart International owns thirty-one percent of Kingston Group."
I stared at him.
"What?"
"As majority shareholder of Hart International, you now possess significant influence over decisions involving Kingston Group."
My pulse quickened.
Ethan had no idea.
He thought I was leaving his life with nothing.
He thought he had won.
The irony was almost unbelievable.
"Does he know?"
Attorney Carter smiled.
"Not yet."
For the first time all night, genuine amusement flickered through me.
Not revenge.
Not bitterness.
Just amusement.
The universe certainly had a sense of humor.
My phone vibrated again.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
I opened it.
A photograph filled the screen.
Ethan and Sophia.
Leaving the restaurant together.
Her head resting on his shoulder.
The image had clearly been taken minutes ago.
A second message followed.
Thought you deserved to know what happened after you left.
No name.
No explanation.
Just the photo.
A few hours ago, seeing it would have destroyed me.
Now?
I felt surprisingly calm.
Because for the first time in years, my future wasn't tied to Ethan Kingston.
And that terrified me.
Because it also meant I had no idea who I was without him.
Attorney Carter cleared his throat.
"There is one more thing."
I looked up.
"What?"
"Tomorrow evening, Hart International is hosting its annual executive gala."
I frowned.
"So?"
"So every major business leader in the country will attend."
A strange feeling settled in my stomach.
"What does that have to do with me?"
The lawyer smiled.
"Traditionally, the majority shareholder opens the event."
I blinked.
Slowly.
"You want me to attend?"
"Not attend."
His smile widened.
"You'll be introduced."
My heart nearly stopped.
A room full of powerful executives.
Investors.
CEOs.
Media.
And somewhere among them...
Ethan Kingston.
The man who had thrown me away.
The man who believed I was worthless.
The man who had absolutely no idea what was coming.
And for the first time since signing those divorce papers, I couldn't wait for tomorrow.
- Writer
