Wealth (free and completed)

Chapter 16 - Inheritance

Janus

It had been six months. I couldn’t believe that it was that long – that I had been here for that time and I had not felt sick with dealing with my father’s spoiled wards. They weren’t too bad, at least. I told myself that. We didn’t have to see each other every day, for one. There was also the secret romance I had started with Valerie. We had thrown caution to the wind, no longer caring about what we were to each other. I spent hours looking at her dead father’s photo, finding similarities between him and Val. It was unfortunate that she looked so much like her mother.

The investigation had gone cold. Whether or not anyone was pursuing it at all, it didn’t seem like anything was going to be done about it. I felt guilty about going through the motions and caring more for Tristan James than about who killed the biological father I’d only started hearing about a few months ago.

Gabriella had been quiet for a long time. Then, she started sending me messages lately. Some were half-apologetic, while others were openly flirtatious. After reading the newspaper, I realized what she was up to and why she was interested again.

There was news about how we would be getting our money sometime soon. I didn’t expect it to be so public. But then again, with a suspected murder remaining uninvestigated, people would surely look at all of us with closer lenses now that we were about to get our money.

I always thought wills were read in front of the family members, adding drama to the affair. It would feel like a murder mystery movie scene, which was somehow the case here. So, when I realized that all I would be getting was a notification by mail, it all felt so anticlimactic.

With trembling hands, I opened that said mail. I didn’t know what to expect, but I had a feeling that everyone would be taken care of. I might not be too happy about how my biological dad handled his role as my father, but he liked helping people. Other people. People that he didn’t have to feel guilty about being with.

The notice was straightforward, cold even. I would be getting Briar Hill plus half his money. Billions of dollars. Money I had never dreamed I would get in this lifetime. It attracted the wrong people like Gabriella, and it would definitely raise the ire of my father’s wards. The rest of them have to divide half of the money.

I was also responsible for Valerie. The will didn’t have to say anything. I knew that I would be taking care of her, no matter what.

***

It was a Thursday night. I didn’t expect to see much of the others. They were often elsewhere or in their rooms. However, they made it a point to wait for me in the living room. I was the last one to get home that night. Andrew and I had to work on a new product that would be launched next week.

Valerie had tried to let Andrew down gently, making more excuses why she couldn’t come to the office. If he found it suspicious, he never said anything. But I knew that he was still interested. He spent a lot of time at the office and never dated anyone else, as far as I could tell. He also asked about her often and would get this dreamy look on his face.

I felt terrible. After all, it was my idea that they try something together. Most of my interactions with Valerie were through texts and FaceTime, but it was getting deeper. I was getting lost.

With Gabriella, it was all about the s*x and showing up at parties together. She would be right there in the middle of it all while I drank my beer in a corner. I tried to be a good boyfriend, but it wasn’t enough for her. She wanted more.

Now, she was at it again.

“Well, well. I’m guessing you got your notification, Janus,” Joseph said, his voice smooth and his face relaxed. It was almost as if he didn’t care whether I got everything or nothing at all. I knew better.

“Yes, I did.”

“So, how much did you get? Dad had one hundred billion dollars and a few loose change.”

“Joseph!” Valerie protested. As usual, she preferred sitting in her wheelchair than on the couch, ready to escape if she needed to.

“Well, we do have to know. If not for the fact that Janus looks like Dad’s spitting image, he could have been anyone. He came here too late. We, who have been here all along, deserve to know.”

Emilie murmured her agreement, her arms folded across her chest as she sat next to Joseph. I noted a gap between the two of them this time around. Rafael was quiet, but I could see him shaking his head. He had a smirk on his face as if he expected the unfolding drama, but he didn’t care.

“I got what I want and need. I can now pay my bills and debts, so that’s alright! I can work. We have to work, anyway,” Rafael reminded everyone. “We can’t be leeches all our lives, waiting on what the old man left behind.”

“He’s right,” Val said.

“So, what did you all get then? Didn’t we all get around 12.5 billion dollars each? Am I right? The four of us divided the half, and Janus got the other half. He wasn’t even here whenever Dad got sick.”

“Do you think that was my choice, Joseph? What do you all think I thought when I realized that he let me live in poverty while he was adopting children left and right?”

“He’s got a point, brother,” murmured Emilie. “Dad had a Savior complex that needed to be toned down a bit. Remember how he was supposed to adopt two more children? I think he was just ashamed that he didn’t adopt Val.”

“I still don’t understand the deal with that,” Rafael said heatedly. “He considered adopting other children, but he made Val feel small by treating her differently.”

“I – I didn’t feel small, Rafael,” assured Val.

“Still! How could he not give her his name? What was he planning with her?”

“Maybe he was planning to marry her all along?” giggled Emilie.

“That’s not a good joke, Emilie, and you know it!” shouted Rafael. “I don’t like how you are suggesting that Dad was what – a lecherous pedophile who would have such plans from when Valerie was – what? – fourteen!”

“You’re no fun,” she pouted.

I didn’t know if Emilie was always high on something, but something was terribly off about her.

“Speaking of Valerie, who is put in charge of her?” demanded Joseph. “She was supposed to be under my care.”

“What are you all talking about? I don’t need to be assigned to anyone. I can handle myself. I also got a share. So, if you’re thinking that I’m going to cry about not having someone to care for me, you’re wrong.”

“I have your hospital records and other stuff. So, I’m guessing I have to give you everything, Val?” This time, Joseph’s voice was gentler, but Val wouldn’t look at him. She had been acting a little more strangely with him the past few weeks.

“I’ve been put in charge of Valerie,” I said. They would find out, anyway.

Everyone’s eyes turned to me, their faces in varying degrees of shock.

“Don’t get me wrong, Janus. I like you. But you don’t know Valerie that well,” Rafael said, looking bewildered. “Why would Dad have you responsible for her?”

I would like to protest. I knew Val very well nowadays. Of course, I knew what Rafael meant. Valerie didn’t look pleased with having me put in charge of me. I could understand. She wasn’t a child or an invalid. She couldn’t walk, but she could take care of herself.

“I understand. I also believe that Valerie is more than capable of taking care of herself.”

“That’s where Dad is wrong. Do you know that Valerie was raped when she was a teenager? We were all at college then. Dad was at a convention. Somebody broke into the damn mansion. Imagine that? Briar Hill. I’m guessing it’s yours now. I’m glad that more security measures had been added, but it was too late!”

Valerie gasped audibly, shocked that Joseph would just announce it like that. It was as if he was announcing that someone slipped on the floor or lost a dime.

“I don’t have any problem taking care of Valerie. I’m just saying she’s capable of taking care of herself and choosing what to do with her money. She could get care without having to answer to me.”

I was reeling. I wanted to shout and cry, seeing how distraught Valerie looked then. It was callous of Joseph to announce it just like that, but it was also dense of me not to know that something had been bothering her. At that moment, I didn’t care if they could read my body language, see that I cared about her way too much. I went towards Valerie and gave her my handkerchief. Then, I stroke her fairy-like her from forehead down to the nape of her neck.

“It’s okay. You need to let that out,” I told her. Then, I addressed the whole room. “Have you ever sent her some help? Therapy?”

I was met with silence. It looked like therapy was a bad word in Briar Hill. I didn’t think anyone of them had ever tried it. It didn’t look like any one of them was ever eager to find out more about themselves and how to get over any traumas they had.

Why didn’t Valerie tell me? She looked so happy all the time. I thought that the only issue she ever had was dealing with her spoiled siblings. I didn’t know something was boiling under the surface. I wouldn’t have forced her on Andrew. I wished I was gentler with her the first time around. My cheeks flamed when I thought of how I had taken her in the car. It wasn’t a good look. I could have made it more special.

“I see you’re taking your role seriously now, eh, Janus?” Emilie observed. “Be careful not to get too caught up in that role. You may have a talk with Andrew about that.”

“He’s not my boyfriend, Emilie,” Valerie snapped. “Andrew is not my boyfriend.

Seeing Emilie’s narrowed, predatory eyes, I added, “They’re still courting. Nothing is sure yet, but he’s hopeful.”

I could feel Valerie flinch. I had no choice but to make the siblings think that Andrew still had a chance. I felt like I had shown too much of my feelings already.

“Well, if you’re sure, Janus,” Joseph said, resigned.

“Briar Hill is all ours. What will I do with this big mansion all by myself? And you’re still CEO of Sangster Leathers with your salary on top of your inheritance,” I reminded him. I wasn’t lying. I didn’t expect to be left alone here in this dreary mansion. I’d rather buy myself a condo unit.

“What about when you have a wife and children one day, Janus?” Emilie asked. “Would you still want us here?”

“Why not? It’s a large house. We all need to be here. An unlived and uncared-for house would rot faster.”

“The Fall of the House of Usher,” Rafael muttered, making me feel a chill. Weren’t the siblings in that story suspected lovers? Something was undoubtedly causing decay.

“One big, happy family,” grinned Emilie. “Please don’t forget that, Janus. Don’t evict your poor siblings.”

None of us would end up poor. Who got 12 billion dollars and still felt like they missed out? It was a matter of principle, maybe. They still thought of me as a stranger.

***

It was midnight, and I slipped into Valerie’s room. I had become good at it. I hoped so, anyway. I made sure the door was locked before I lay next to her. She was sleeping, but she clutched a book on her chest. I took the paperback from her and placed it on her bedside table.

Then, I caressed her cheek gently, urging her to wakefulness.

“Hey, I’m here. Don’t worry. I’m just going to stay with you while you sleep.”

She stirred and smiled, hopefully half in a beautiful dream. Hopefully, there was nobody to be afraid of at that moment.

“Janus,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it.”

Valerie’s thoughts were still on the revelation. It made my chest ache for her. The confused mix of emotions –anger, fear, sadness – all came over me.

“You have nothing to apologize for. I’m here now. I will take care of you for the rest of our lives.”

“Don’t keep such promises, Janus,” she cried. “We are still floating in limbo right now, but soon everything – everything will come crashing down. To have some peace, we need to know who killed dad. We need to know who we are to each other.”

“Right now, I’m offering myself as your protector. I care about you. So much,” I said, slipping in the covers with her.

“I’ve so many more secrets from you. I don’t think you’ll be able to take all of them in stride.”

“Can you tell me? Can you try?”

“I’m not ready.”

“Then, you don’t have to tell me. Sleep well. I will be here up to right before dawn. Then, I will get back to my room.”

“Kiss me, then. Make me feel something, Janus.”

“You feel everything, Val. I know you do.”

“Do you want a break from me? After all, you have been tasked to take care of me.”

“It’s not a task, but I wish I had taken things slowly with you. Make you see that not all men are the same. Not everyone will prey on you, and I can be here for you, not for s*x but just for you. Even in the privacy of your room.”

“It has never been just about s*x, wasn’t it, Janus?”

“Never. If it were, we wouldn’t put ourselves into this difficult situation. You have Andrew and other possible suitors who can take you out in the open. I -,” I faltered.

“Yes. I know. Some women at Tristan James would have loved to take you home,” she said sadly. “…and you would be better off with them.”

“That’s not true. I want only you.”

I kissed her then, my mouth eagerly meeting hers. During that searching kiss, I realized that my greatest inheritance was her. She was mine to protect. She was mine to love. It was so easy to just give in to the emotions, but I also made a promise. I would show her that men could be this close to women without s*x involved. I made sure my hands didn’t touch her breasts, hips, and that aching heat between her thighs. Instead, I focused on the kiss. Then, I caressed her hair, massaged her forehead, and did other things to make her comfortable – until she fell asleep.

The alarm blared.

“What?”

The clock registered at 6 in the morning. I had fallen asleep in her bed and would have to find some way to leave her room without being seen.