Chapter 4: The Inheritance
1340 Words
As the plane descended towards the shiny sprawl of New York City, Gabrien felt a mix of nerves and determination running through him. This was his first time back in the city, and the thought of seeing his family again brought a mix of worry and a tiny bit of hope.
A fancy black limo was waiting for him on the runway, standing out in the sea of cars. As he settled into the comfy leather seat, Gabrien couldn't shake the feeling of it all being a bit surreal. He, the son that wasn't officially part of one of the richest families in the city, was about to dive back into a world he'd been kept out of for a long time.
The ride through the busy streets of Manhattan was a whirlwind of tall buildings and bright lights. Gabrien's mind was filled with thoughts of meeting his dad, Sebastian, and the rest of the Van der Bilt family. He wondered how they'd treat him after all the years of being ignored and left behind.
When he arrived at the fancy penthouse, it was like walking into a palace. Shiny floors, sparkling chandeliers, and expensive art everywhere. It was a huge change from his life back on Sinclair Lane, and Gabrien felt a bit out of place in all the luxury.
Sebastian greeted him with a big hug, looking both relieved and sorry. "Welcome back, Gabrien," he said, sounding a bit emotional. "I'm sorry it took me so long to reach out. I hope you can forgive me."
Gabrien just nodded, not sure how to put his own feelings into words.
"I understand this might be a bit overwhelming for you. Everything happened so fast," Sebastian said, beginning to walk.
Gabrien followed his father through the maze of hallways to the heart of the penthouse, where his stepmother, Amber, and his half-siblings were waiting.
"Oh, great! You actually brought that bastard son of yours here!" Amber sneered, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.
Her frosty tone made it clear she still resented Gabrien for being a living reminder of her husband's affair.
Liam, her eldest son, glared at Gabrien with a mixture of jealousy and contempt. Tayla, the youngest, regarded him with curiosity laced with disdain, her privileged upbringing shining through her every gesture.
"Enough!" Sebastian snapped. "Can you at least show some respect at his funeral? I'm just fulfilling his last wish."
"Whatever! I'm out of here. See you at the funeral," Amber said dismissively, storming out of the room with Liam and Tayla trailing behind her.
"I don't think this is a good idea," Gabrien murmured. "I should probably leave."
Before he could go, Sebastian grabbed his arm to stop him. "Just stay. You can leave after the funeral. Please, do this for your grandfather. It was his dying wish."
"But no one wants me here, Dad. And besides, I never even met my grandfather. I doubt he even knows who I am—"
"He knows you, son. Better than I do. That's why he trusted you so much," Sebastian interrupted, his words filling Gabrien with confusion.
"What do you mean by that?" Gabrien asked, frowning.
"You’ll find out later."
---
The funeral was a somber event, with New York's high society gathered to bid farewell to the Van der Bilt family patriarch. Gabrien stood silently beside his father, feeling the weight of loss and regret despite never having known his grandfather.
After the service, the family assembled to hear the reading of the will. The lawyer began speaking in a measured tone, each word heavy with importance.
"Liam Van der Bilt, you will inherit the following possessions..." The lawyer paused, and Liam's smirk grew sharp, his confidence almost palpable.
"... a Lincoln Town Car stretch limousine, black, and a trust fund valued at one million dollars."
The room fell silent. The smirk vanished from Liam's face, replaced by a pale, stunned expression.
"What the hell am I supposed to do with that piece of junk? And one million? Are you kidding me? I can burn through ten million in a week! Was Grandpa losing it? This is bullshit!" Liam hissed.
"Liam, either you shut your mouth or I'll burn that limousine, and you’ll get nothing!" Sebastian barked, his tone cutting through the tension. Liam sank back into his seat, gritting his teeth.
"Please continue," Sebastian said, signaling the lawyer.
"Tayla Van der Bilt, you will inherit the following possessions..."
"This better be the mansion in Hawaii I’ve always wanted, or I swear I’ll spit on his grave," Tayla muttered under her breath.
"The Palace Hotel Penthouse unit, and a trust fund valued at five million dollars."
"What is going on here?" Amber blurted out, her voice rising in frustration.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MANSION?! This is ridiculous!" Tayla shouted, rising from her chair. She was about to storm out when Amber grabbed her arm.
"Sit down," Amber hissed.
Tayla reluctantly slumped back into her seat, rolling her eyes in frustration.
Sebastian maintained his composure while Gabrien’s hands began to shake. He felt a rising sense of uncertainty, questioning whether he truly deserved anything from his grandfather.
“Lastly, Gabrien Van der Bilt…”
“Why would he even get anything? He doesn’t deserve a dime from us,” Liam muttered under his breath, loud enough for everyone in the room, including Gabrien, to hear.
The lawyer continued, his voice steady. “Thirty percent of the Van der Bilt Empire, the VB Mansion in Hawaii, and a trust fund worth five billion dollars.”
A stunned silence fell over the room. Every face was frozen in disbelief.
“That’s impossible! Read that again! There must be some kind of mistake!” Amber blurted out, her voice trembling with anger.
“There is no mistake,” the lawyer replied firmly.
“Just accept it,” Sebastian interjected, his tone calm but authoritative. “This was my father’s will, and I expect every one of you to respect it. You all grew up surrounded by wealth. What more do you need? Gabrien deserves this.”
“Dad, am I hearing this right?” Gabrien asked, his voice laced with confusion. He could hardly process what was happening. In a matter of moments, his life had changed forever. He was a billionaire—but why? Was this his grandfather’s way of expressing trust? Trust for what? There was still something missing, something left unsaid.
“You sneaky little jerk,” Amber snapped, her words cutting through the air like a blade. “You think you can just walk in here and take what’s ours? You’re nothing but a leech, living off our family’s fortune!”
Sebastian tried to calm her down, but his efforts only fueled her anger. Meanwhile, Gabrien silently watched the family he barely knew descend into chaos.
“I’m out of here. Grandpa chose that bastard over us, Liam. This is complete bullshit,” Tayla declared, storming out of the room.
Liam followed suit, brushing past Gabrien and deliberately bumping his shoulder. “Watch your back, bastard,” he whispered venomously before leaving.
In the midst of the turmoil, Sebastian turned to Gabrien, his expression filled with a rare mix of regret and hope. “Stay with us, Gabrien,” he pleaded. “We can make things right. You’re my son, and I want to make up for all the years we’ve lost.”
But Gabrien shook his head, his heart heavy. “Thanks for the offer, Dad,” he said softly, “but this isn’t my home. Sinclair Lane may not be much, but that’s where I belong.”
With that, Gabrien turned and walked away, leaving the chaos of the penthouse behind.
“Yeah, walk away after getting rich in a snap of a finger!” Amber’s voice followed him as he exited. “What are you going to do with all that money? Gamble it away? That’s what your kind always does!”
Gabrien kept walking until her voice fades into the background.
- Writer
