Chapter 10 - THE WILL
Richard wanted reaction.
Ethan refused to give him the one he expected.
He read the draft.
Then called Grace.
“Is this valid?”
“If properly executed later, potentially.”
“Can he do it?”
“It’s his estate.”
That mattered.
Ethan had no right to inherit.
June had no right to equal treatment in a will.
Richard could leave everything to Blake.
Ethan told him that directly.
“You can give him all of it.”
Richard sounded suspicious.
“That easy?”
“The money is yours.”
“Then apologize.”
“No.”
Richard’s voice hardened.
“You’ll let June lose millions over a birthday prank?”
Ethan laughed once.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“You think June loses something you own.”
Silence.
“She doesn’t own your estate.”
Richard said:
“She would have.”
“Only if you chose.”
“You’re throwing away her future.”
“No. You’re pricing my obedience.”
Richard hung up.
Then Margaret arrived at Ethan’s house without warning.
Sarah did not let her in until Ethan came downstairs.
Margaret was carrying an old wooden box.
Not secret documents.
Photographs.
Aaron.
Melissa.
Baby Blake.
She set it down.
“Your father has changed the will six times.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
“Every time someone disappoints him.”
One draft favored Ethan.
Another Helen.
Another charities.
Another Blake.
The will was not a stable family plan.
It was emotional leverage.
Margaret admitted Richard often showed drafts without executing them.
“Has he signed the eighty-percent version?”
“No.”
Ethan exhaled.
Not relief.
Understanding.
The inheritance threat was theater.
Possible theater.
But still coercion.
Then Margaret said:
“I need you to know why I protected Blake.”
Ethan looked at her.
“I know. Aaron.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Aaron is why your father did.”
Ethan frowned.
“What about you?”
May you like
Margaret’s eyes filled.
“Because Melissa asked me to protect Blake from Richard.”
