Under the protection of my twin brother

Chapter 4

The day when Richard Radrigies ' will was to be announced came too quickly. Sarah and Tod spent several nights without sleep, thinking about what lay ahead and wondering what secrets their father's last will might reveal. Evelyn, on the other hand, seemed calm and collected, as if she knew more than the rest of the family.

The will was read out in the small office where Richard used to hold business meetings. The room was strictly furnished: a massive wooden table, several high-backed chairs, and bookshelves filled with volumes of legal and economic works. The sun's rays coming through the narrow windows cast long shadows on the floor, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and gloom at the same time.

Sarah and Tod sat side by side, holding hands, as if looking for strength and confidence in each other's touch. Evelyn sat down a little further away, her face showing polite curiosity, but the twins caught the faintest glint of impatience in her eyes. The notary, an elderly man with gray hair and a formal suit, slowly opened the folder of documents and began to read the text of the will.

The first words didn't bring any surprises: Richard thanked everyone for their years of living and working together, expressed his love for the children, and acknowledged Evelyn's contribution to creating a comfortable atmosphere in the house. But the further the reading progressed, the more intense the tension grew.

According to the will, the main part of the property — the house, land plots, a significant part of the business — passed to the twins. Evelyn received a modest allowance and the right to live in the house, but without the right to dispose of property. In addition, Richard specified a number of conditions that Sarah and Tod had to fulfill in order to fully enter into the inheritance. Among the conditions were: maintaining the integrity of the business, continuing some charitable programs, as well as the obligation to regularly report on the state of affairs to the company's board of directors.

When the notary had finished reading, there was a heavy silence in the room. Sarah and Tod looked at each other, unable to immediately grasp the scale of what had happened. On the one hand, they were glad that their father had left them all the most valuable things, but on the other hand, the terms of the will seemed complicated and required a lot of attention and responsibility.

Evelyn broke the silence first. Her voice was controlled, but there was a hint of disappointment in it.

"I certainly expected a more generous reward for my efforts," she said, looking away. — But I respect Richard's decision, and I'm willing to abide by the terms of the will."

Tod looked at his stepmother carefully. It seemed to him that she sounded less disappointed than thoroughly annoyed. He noted that Evelyn showed neither grief nor much respect for Richard's last will, but went straight to discussing the material aspects.

Sarah, on the other hand, was deeply moved by the way her father had taken care of their future. At the same time, she couldn't help feeling uneasy as she watched Evelyn's reaction. It seemed to her that her stepmother was hiding her true intentions, and this could pose a danger to her and Tod.

After the notary's departure, the twins were left alone in the office. They discussed what they'd heard for a long time, trying to figure out what lay ahead. Tod had expressed concern that Evelyn might try to challenge the will or find other ways to get a larger share of the estate. Sarah, on the other hand, was inclined to think that they needed to sort out their father's affairs as soon as possible, so that they could be prepared for any eventuality.

In the days that followed, the Radrigies ' house was filled with fuss and arguments. Evelyn increasingly expressed her dissatisfaction with the terms of the will, tried to influence the twins ' decisions, gave unsolicited advice and hinted that they were not ready for such responsibility. Sarah and Tod tried to stick together, support each other, and avoid being provoked.

However, a shadow of distrust and tension was increasingly clouding the atmosphere in the house. The twins began to notice that Evelyn was doing some business of her own, talking on the phone for a long time, meeting with unknown people. Tod tried several times to find out who his stepmother was communicating with, but she deftly evaded the answers.

Sarah's thoughts kept returning to her father's death. She felt that the will was just one piece of a larger puzzle, and she and Tod would have to solve many mysteries to protect their future and discover the truth about what really happened to Richard.

Evelyn's suspicions grew stronger by the day. The twins were increasingly aware that their stepmother could pose a serious threat, and they needed to be on their guard. Tod began to develop a plan to protect his sister and the family's legacy, while Sarah immersed herself in studying her father's documents and papers, hoping to find a clue to his death.

Thus began a new phase of their lives-the phase of fighting for the inheritance, searching for the truth and protecting each other. Richard's will was not only a chance for a brighter future, but also a source of new dangers and challenges. Sarah and Tod didn't yet know what challenges they would have to overcome, but they were willing to go all the way for their father's memory and their own happiness.

Evelyn, meanwhile, continued to watch the twins like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike. There was more determination in her eyes and more calculation in her actions. She understood that an inheritance wasn't just money and possessions, it was power and influence that she wasn't going to let go without a fight.

The atmosphere in the house was becoming increasingly tense. Each day brought new discoveries and new questions that the twins didn't yet have the answers to. They felt that they were on the verge of something big and dangerous, but they were ready for this challenge. After all, they were the Radrigyesa twins, inheritors of their father's will and courage, and they couldn't let some strange woman ruin their lives and take away what was rightfully theirs.

However, there were challenges ahead that would test the strength of their friendship, love, and willingness to sacrifice. Richard's death and the terms of his will were just the beginning of a long and dangerous journey for Sarah and Tod. And only time will tell if they can solve all the mysteries, protect each other and find true happiness.

Tod was becoming increasingly convinced that Evelyn was a serious threat to Sarah and the entire estate. He was disturbed by her strange actions, her ulterior motives, and her subtle but palpable attempts to take control of the situation. He knew that his stepmother would stop at nothing to get what she wanted, and this made him act decisively.

As the days passed, the tension in the house grew. Tod tried to be attentive to Evelyn's every word and look, trying to anticipate her next move. He noticed how she carefully probed the boundaries of what was allowed, how she tried to influence the twins ' decisions, how she looked for weaknesses in their positions. Tod knew that he and Sarah were going to have a difficult confrontation, and he needed to prepare for it carefully.

At the same time, he couldn't help but think about how to protect his sister. Sarah was a smart and determined girl, but Tod knew that in a world where the stakes were so high, she might need his help and protection. He was aware that Evelyn might try to use Sarah for her own purposes, or even harm her, and that filled him with unease.

Tod began to develop a defense plan. He knew that it was necessary to act carefully and prudently, without attracting unnecessary attention. First of all, he decided to study the will and all the accompanying documents in more detail, to make sure that he and Sarah understood the terms and conditions and their rights correctly. Tod carefully reread each line, highlighted the key points, and tried to anticipate how Evelyn might take advantage of the loopholes in the document. He also decided to consult a lawyer to get a professional assessment of the situation.

Then Tod began collecting information about Evelyn — her past, her connections, her possible motives. To do this, he used various sources: he asked neighbors and family acquaintances, searched for data in archives and databases, tried to find out who Evelyn was communicating with and what business she was doing. He tried to do this discreetly, so as not to arouse suspicion, but at the same time get as much information as possible. Tod wrote down all his observations and conclusions in a special notebook, so that later he could organize the information and see the full picture.

At the same time, Tod was thinking about how to strengthen his position in the business and in the house. He understood that inheritances were not only possessions, but also responsibilities, and he and Sarah needed to learn how to manage their affairs in order to counter Evelyn's possible attacks. Tod began to delve into the intricacies of the family business, studying financial statements, and meeting key employees and partners. He attended business meetings, asked questions, and tried to understand how the company worked and where vulnerabilities might be.

Meanwhile, Sarah wasn't idle either. She pored over her father's papers, trying to find something that might help them understand the cause of his death and what role Evelyn might have played in it. Sarah reread the letters, analyzed notes and documents, and searched for hidden messages and hints. Sometimes she thought she was on the verge of an important discovery, but then her doubts got the better of her again.

She also began studying her father's medical records, trying to figure out if his death was really caused by a heart attack, or if there were other circumstances that could have led to the tragedy. Sarah made an appointment with several doctors to get their opinion on the diagnosis and the possibility of other causes of death. Unbeknownst to Evelyn, she also commissioned an independent medical study, hoping that it would shed some light on what had happened.

The twins tried to maintain a semblance of normal life, so as not to attract too much attention from Evelyn and other possible detractors. They continued to carry out their daily duties, communicating with neighbors and acquaintances, but at the same time conducting their own investigation.

Tod and Sarah often discussed their findings and speculations. They shared their observations, analyzed the information received, and tried to build a general picture of what was happening. Sometimes there were disputes and disagreements between them, but they always tried to find a common language and come to a common opinion.

Gradually, the twins began to see how many details in the life of their family are not as simple as it seemed at first glance. They found more and more clues that suggested that Richard's death might not have been accidental, and that Evelyn might not be who she claimed to be.

However, Tod and Sarah knew that they had a long and difficult road ahead of them before they could uncover all the secrets and protect themselves and their inheritance. They were prepared for this path, because there was too much at stake.

Evelyn, meanwhile, continued to act like a model stepmother, but the twins no longer believed her. They felt that beneath the mask of kindness and care, there was a calculating mind and dangerous intentions. Tod and Sarah knew they had to be careful and prudent to counter Evelyn and her possible allies.

With each passing day, Tod became more and more aware of how important it was to him to protect Sarah. He understood that his sister was the closest person to him, and he had to do everything possible to ensure her safety. Tod was prepared for any challenge and danger, just to protect Sarah from the threats that their new world, full of mysteries and intrigues, harbors.

Sarah, for her part, also felt that her brother was her reliable support and protection. She knew that together they could overcome any difficulties and solve all the mysteries surrounding their father's death. The twins were united in their determination to find out the truth and protect what they held dear.

So Tod began to build his defense plan, moving forward step by step and trying to anticipate Evelyn's every move. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was ready for any challenge, because his sister's life and the future of their family were at stake.

Evelyn, meanwhile, watched the twins, trying to figure out how serious they were about their investigation. She felt that Tod and Sarah were a threat to her, and she began to develop her own plans to neutralize their influence and get what she needed. The stepmother was confident in her abilities and was ready to take any measures to achieve her goals.

The atmosphere in the house was becoming increasingly tense. Each day brought new discoveries and new questions for the twins to answer. Tod and Sarah knew that they were going to face some tough challenges, but they were ready for them, because they were together and ready to protect each other at all costs.

So began a long and dangerous game in which Tod and Sarah must show all their cunning, ingenuity and determination to survive and protect what they hold dear. They didn't yet know what surprises fate had in store for them, but they were prepared for any eventuality, because they were united by a strong bond and a common goal — to solve the mystery of their father's death and protect each other from any threats.