“This is insane.”
“It gets worse.”
Of course it did.
Richard opened the final folder.
“Your grandfather wanted to know what you would do if you believed you had nothing.”
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
“He didn’t want to leave his empire to someone who would become dependent on it.”
“He wanted to test me?”
“Yes.”
“And if I fail?”
“You inherit nothing.”
I stared down at the document.
For the first time since meeting Richard, anger rose inside me.
“You find me living in my car after my father threw me out, and you tell me my grandfather deliberately waited until now to see what I’d do?”
Richard didn’t flinch.
“He didn’t know your father would throw you out.”
“But he knew I was struggling.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t he help me?”
“Because the will was designed to protect you.”
“From what?”
Richard looked directly into my eyes.
“Your family.”
The words tightened something in my chest.
“What are you talking about?”
Richard placed one final document in front of me.
This one wasn’t from the estate.
It was a bank statement.
My bank statement.
My old savings account.
The account that had contained the three thousand dollars my father took.
I stared at the numbers.
Then something caught my attention.
There were transactions I didn’t recognize.
“What’s this?”
Richard pointed toward the withdrawals.
“Your father didn’t spend your money on your brother’s applications.”
My jaw tightened.
