The Heir’s Inheritance

Episode3

SARAH'S POV:

“I promise you, I have an explanation for all this,” I say in a trembling voice as slivers of fear run down my spine.

My life is over! He will destroy my life before I even have the chance to explain.

“Highly debatable. What excuse could you give me that could justify you trying to steal from me?” Robert asks with a smooth raise of his brows.

“I — I promise you that you would understand me when I explain everything.” I mutter once more as tears fill my eyes.

“It's such a shame you know. Your mother worked with my family for over twenty years and I didn't expect such betrayal from you.” Robert says with a sad shake of his head that grates on my nerves.

If they were so perfect, then why didn't they help my mother out? They knew about her sickness long before I did, so why didn't they help her out? If they valued her so much, we wouldn't even be in this situation in the first place.

“I'm not saying anything until a lawyer is present.” I say in a dry tone as I stumble backwards when Robert moves closer to me.

The smile immediately dies on Robert's lips, and he gives me a dark look that has me trembling in my spot.

“You seem to have misunderstood this whole situation, Sarah. You think you have a choice but you don't. I could have you locked up for the rest of your life if I so please.” Robert orders in a harsh tone, daring me to go against his orders.

“Look, I had no choice!” I start to say, the tears escaping my eyes and rolling down my cheeks.

“I find that hard to believe. Everyone has a choice. You chose to put on that dress today, didn't you? You chose to come into my house and steal a ring that I spent a fortune on, didn't you?” Robert asks in a cold tone.

His voice is so calm, too calm, it makes my heart race faster. How could he be so calm when my world is falling apart? I can't think. Can't breathe. What now? What do I do?

“You wouldn't understand!” I say in a raised voice, my tone hoarse as I step closer to him.

“You've never had to suffer all your life. You've never had to decide whether to put food on the table or to keep the lights on.”

“You don't get to lecture me about choice, because sometimes the options in front of us are nothing but illusions. A figment of our imaginations meant to pick at our sanity until we lose everything. Becoming mad.” I say, breathing shakily at the end of my little speech.

Fear envelops me as I stare at Robert. I fear that maybe I've ruined all my chances of getting out of this alive. I should have kept my mouth shut!

My face goes red and I refuse to acknowledge the feeling of relief that assaults me as Robert starts chuckling. Maybe he isn't offended like I thought he would be.

“You seem to have misjudged me, Sarah.” Robert says as he eats up the distance between us with long powerful strides.

He leans down to my eye level, pushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear as he stares into my eyes. Every action of his seems to intensify the feelings of terror slithering up my spine until I feel myself practically shaking in my boots.

“Every single thing that I have, I earned. Nothing was handed to me. I've proven myself a thousand times over, and if you think your pathetic speech is going to make me set you free without punishments for your wrongs, then you must not know me.” Robert says, delivering his speech in a grim tone that causes me to fear for my life.

“What can I do? What would it take for you to let me go?” I ask in a shaky tone, my eyes filling with tears when Robert starts chuckling darkly.

My palms are slick with sweat. Every second that passes feels like a weight pressing against my chest. I wipe my hands against my dress, but it doesn’t stop them from trembling.

“It's not that simple, Sarah. Nothing ever is.” Robert says as he moves away from me, leaning against the desk.

“What do you want with me?! If you don't want to let me go, then what do you plan on doing with me?!” I ask in a shaky tone totally enveloped with fear.

If I wasn't so scared for my life at this moment, I would have demanded he give me answers immediately.

“Sit down, Sarah. Let's have a drink and then we can talk.” Robert says as he heads towards the minibar at the other end of his office.

“What would you be having?” Robert asks, intensifying my confusion.

“Nothing. I would rather you tell me what you plan on doing with me.” I say with a false sense of bravado enveloping me.

I know full well that Robert is being lenient with me and if he wanted to, he could ruin my already shattered life with a snap of his finger.

“There's no need to be rude, Sarah. You came into my house to steal from me, and now here I am, offering you a drink. You should be grateful for my actions.” Robert says in an admonishing tone as he settles down on his seat, taking a sip of his drink.

My face goes up in flames at his admonishing tone. I hate feeling this way. Like a little child caught with her hands in the soup pot.

“Now. This can either go the easy way or the hard way. You can tell me why you are here of your own volition or I will involve the police and ensure that you remain in their custody for a long, long time.” Robert says, his tone hardening and his face squeezing into a scowl.

“Please! Please! I'm begging you. I had no other choice. I was in a tight situation and this was the only solution!” I say as I shoot up from my seat, shaking at the fear of what Drew might do to me if I told Robert anything.

“What a shame. This ring is currently the most sought after diamond in the whole city, and if you are here to steal it, then you must also know its importance.” Robert declares as he stares me down.

“You have to understand that I will be putting my mother in danger if I were to tell you anything.” I say in a desperate and pleading tone.

“Too bad. Then I hope you said your goodbyes cause you won't be seeing her ever again.” Robert says in a threatening tone.

“My mother is sick! She's going to die and I don't have the money to save her.” I say after a few minutes.

I spare a look at Robert's face and just before he responds, a stressed looking Beth barges into the room.

“Even if you were to lose the diamond, it won't even make a dent in your resources. The media knows you as being philanthropic, can't you let this go?!” Beth says the moment she storms into the room.

Beth steps closer to me, her lips set in a tight line. But I see it—the fear in her eyes, the way her hand twitches as though she’s resisting the urge to grab me and run. Her voice is firm, but it wavers at the edges.

“I don't think I gave you the permission to leave.” Robert's voice comes out in a harsh tone.

“Enough with all these bullshit games! If you don't tell me the truth right now. I will make sure I lock you up in the worst correctional facility in the city.” Robert swears with a solemn look on his face.

“My mother has cancer.” I respond, breathing harshly as I try to read the flat expression on his face.

Beth squeezes my shoulder gently for support, knowing full well in this moment that there is really nothing I can do to save myself anymore.

I'm truly at the mercy of Robert Lincoln.

“My mother needs treatment for her cancer but I can't afford it. If I don't pay for it, I'm going to have to watch her die.” I say in a sad resigned tone.

“Why the ring? You could steal anything else from me, but why the ring? Who sent you?” Robert asks, without a break.

“No-one. I overheard some people at the bar talking about it, and I decided to take it for myself. I heard it costs a ton of money and will sell for an even higher price.” I say hastily, gulping harshly as I pray to the high heavens that he does not see through my lies.

Robert is quiet for a few seconds as he studies my face. He must be satisfied with whatever he sees on it as he nods his head.

“That wasn't so hard now, was it?” Robert says as he stands up from the desk, stalking towards me.

When I try to stand up, Robert keeps me in place with a large hand on my shoulder. He picks up my hand which is currently laying flat on my lap.

My brows furrow into confusion as I try to imagine what his plan is. My breath hitches in my throat when he slides the ring onto my middle finger.

The ring is cold — too cold — against my skin, like an anchor dragging me into something I’ll never escape. As he slides it onto my finger, I swear I feel the air in the room thicken, suffocating me.

“What the hell?!” Beth says from behind me, voicing out my exact feelings.

Robert doesn't say a word as he picks up a file from his desk and hands it over to me. “Open it.”

My hands shake as I pull open the file and read the contents. Oh my God! My mouth hangs open at what I see and I realise that I'm about to sell my soul to the devil.

This is it. There’s no way out. I can feel it – the moment when everything snaps inside me. My mother – my mother will die if I don’t do this.