Chapter 7: The Will and the Cruise
1203 Words
The air in the Harrington estate’s drawing room was suffocating. Scarlett sat stiffly in one of the antique chairs that lined the room, her heart pounding with nerves and curiosity. Daniel lounged in his chair, exuding his usual calm confidence, while her mother, Margaret, was perched on the edge of the largest armchair, her lips pursed tightly. Little Lila sat on Scarlett’s lap, her tiny fingers playing with the gold pendant Scarlett wore—a gift from her late father.
Across from them, the family lawyer, Mr. Chambers was seated at an ornate oak desk, carefully arranging a stack of yellowed documents. His expression was impassive, though Scarlett thought she saw the faintest glimmer of tension in his eyes.
“Shall we begin?” he asked, glancing at the gathered family.
“Get on with it,” Margaret snapped. Her tone was clipped, but Scarlett noticed the way her mother’s fingers clenched the armrest of her chair.
Mr. Chambers cleared his throat, adjusted his spectacles, and began reading.
“To my beloved family,” Mr. Chambers started, his voice even but tinged with emotion, “I, Henry Harrington, with this divide my estate in the following way…”
The family sat silently, listening intently as the lawyer listed the various properties and assets.
The Harrington estate, with all its furnishings, was left to Daniel.
The farmland on the outskirts of town was to be sold, with the proceeds divided evenly between Scarlett and Daniel.
A string of investments in local businesses was left entirely to Margaret, as were several of Henry’s personal bank accounts.
Margaret’s lips curled in satisfaction at this, though Scarlett saw no warmth in her reaction. Daniel simply nodded, appearing unsurprised.
“And now,” Mr. Chambers continued, “to my dear daughter, Scarlett…”
Scarlett’s breath caught in her throat.
“I leave the Aria, my private cruise ship, and all associated assets. The ship shall be under her sole ownership.”
Scarlett blinked, stunned. A cruise ship? Of all the things her father could have left her, this was the most unexpected. She opened her mouth to speak, but Mr. Chambers raised a hand to forestall her.
“There’s more,” he said.
Scarlett’s head swam as the lawyer explained that the Aria was no ordinary cruise ship. It had been Henry’s passion project in his later years, designed to host luxurious, intimate gatherings. The ship was equipped with everything one could imagine—lavish suites, a ballroom, dining halls, and even a library.
“As part of his final wishes,” Mr. Chambers said, glancing briefly at Scarlett, “an invitation has already been sent to a carefully curated guest list. The Aria will set sail on a three-day voyage beginning in two days. It will culminate in a grand Christmas Eve celebration, during which further letters from Mr. Harrington will be read.”
Scarlett’s stomach churned. A cruise? With strangers and possibly enemies from her father’s mysterious guest list? What was he thinking?
Her mother, however, was livid.
“This is absurd!” Margaret spat, her voice rising. “A cruise ship? What use does Scarlett have for that? And inviting strangers—”
“They aren’t strangers, Margaret,” Mr. Chambers interrupted, his tone firm. “Mr. Harrington personally selected each guest. He believed this gathering would help Scarlett uncover certain… truths.”
Scarlett’s brow furrowed at the cryptic comment, but Margaret slammed a hand on the armrest of her chair before she could ask.
“Truths? This is ridiculous! Henry must have been out of his mind—”
“Mother!” Daniel cut in sharply, his calm demeanor breaking for the first time. “Father’s will is final. You don’t have to like it, but you will respect it.”
Margaret’s face flushed with anger, but she held her tongue.
As the reading ended, Margaret rose abruptly from her chair.
“This is all nonsense,” she muttered, storming toward the door. “A cruise ship. Honestly, Scarlett, I don’t know how you’ll manage it.”
“Maybe if you offered support instead of criticism, it wouldn’t seem so impossible,” Scarlett shot back, surprising even herself with the sharpness of her tone.
Margaret stopped in her tracks, her shoulders stiffening. She turned slowly, her eyes narrowing.
“You’ve always been ungrateful,” she said coldly. “Your father spoiled you, and now you think you can stand on your own. Let’s see how far you get without my help.”
Scarlett bristled, but Daniel stepped in before the argument could escalate further.
“Enough,” he said firmly. “We’ve heard the will. Let’s respect Father’s wishes.”
Margaret glared at him but said nothing, disappearing down the hall with a dramatic swish of her silk scarf.
After Margaret’s departure, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Daniel approached Scarlett, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I know this is a lot,” he said gently, “but Father must have had a reason for all of this. Just… trust him, okay?”
Scarlett nodded, though her mind was far from calm. She had so many questions and doubts. Her father had always been a man of secrets, and now it seemed those secrets were being passed on to her.
She glanced down at Lila, who was now dozing peacefully in her lap. Whatever this cruise entailed, she had to protect her daughter at all costs.
As Scarlett tucked Lila into bed in one of the estate’s guest rooms, she found herself replaying the day’s events in her mind. The cruise, the guest list, her mother’s outburst—none of it made sense.
Deciding she needed air, Scarlett stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the estate’s sprawling gardens. The crisp night air was refreshing, but it did little to quiet her thoughts.
She was so lost in her musings that she didn’t hear the footsteps behind her until a familiar voice broke the silence.
“Big day, huh?”
Scarlett turned to see Ethan leaning casually against the door frame, his dark eyes watching her intently.
“Big is an understatement,” she replied, forcing a weak smile. “I’m hosting a cruise in two days. Didn’t see that coming.”
Ethan chuckled softly but didn’t respond. Instead, he stepped closer, his expression serious.
“Scarlett… if you need help with anything, you know you can count on me, right?”
His sincerity caught her off guard. For a moment, she considered telling him everything—her fears, her doubts, the strange feeling that something bigger was at play. But she stopped herself.
“Thanks, Ethan,” she said instead. “I’ll let you know.”
"Scarlett, are you sure you are okay?" Ethan asked one last time.
"I am okay Ethan. How do you come and go so easily?"
"That's nothing topic for another day."
As he walked away, Scarlett stared out into the night, her resolve hardening. Whatever secrets the cruise held, she would uncover them. And whatever dangers awaited, she would face them head-on.
This wasn’t just about her anymore. It was about Lila, about her family, and about finding the answers her father had left behind.
- Writer
