Then came the final will.
Everything had been placed into a protected trust. I would retain lifetime residency in the house. Andrew would receive financial support—but only under strict conditions. And if he remained married to Lauren, all payments would be suspended unless a court confirmed she had no access to the funds.
Lauren blinked, confusion turning into something closer to panic.
“And one more condition,” Michael added. “If anyone contests this will without valid cause, they receive one dollar.”
For the first time, Lauren looked afraid.
Andrew turned to her slowly, his expression hollow, unfamiliar.
“Did you do it?” he asked.
Tears filled her eyes instantly. “I was trying to protect us.”
“You called my mother’s funeral a holiday,” he said quietly. “Was that part of protecting us too?”
She reached for him.
He pulled away.
The chair behind her scraped loudly against the floor as she stumbled back.
“Fine,” she snapped, her voice sharp with anger. “Stay here with your grief and your money.”
And she walked out.
Andrew didn’t follow.
He remained seated, staring at the letter in his hands, as if everything he believed had just been erased.
But it still wasn’t over.