Chapter 3: The Inheritance She Never Knew About
I stood frozen in the hallway.
My heart was beating so loudly I thought Jessica might hear it.
What inheritance?
What was she talking about?
My mother died when I was fourteen.
She left behind memories.
Photos.
A few pieces of jewelry.
But nothing that anyone had ever mentioned as an inheritance.
I slowly stepped away before Jessica could see me.
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
My mind kept replaying her words.
If David finds out what Jasmine inherited from her mother…
What had my father hidden from me?
The next morning, I waited until Jessica left the house.
Then I walked into the kitchen where my father was making coffee.
“Dad.””
He looked up.
“Morning, sweetheart.””
I sat across from him.
“I heard something last night.””
His expression changed.
“What?””
I took a breath.
“Jessica said something about my mother.””
My father became still.
“What did she say?””
“She said if you find out what I inherited from Mom, everything will fall apart.””
The color left his face.
For a moment, he didn’t speak.
That scared me more than anything.
“Dad?””
He placed his coffee down.
“Where did you hear that?””
“Does it matter?””
He looked away.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Because he didn’t answer quickly enough, I already knew.
There was something.
Something real.
“Dad…”
He sighed.
“Your mother left something for you.””
I swallowed.
“What?””
“Money.””
I stared at him.
“How much?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“A trust fund.””
I couldn’t move.
“A what?””
“When your mother passed away, her parents had already set one up for you. It was meant to help with college, housing, and your future.””
I felt a strange emptiness.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because your mother wanted you to know when you were ready.””
I shook my head.
“But Jessica knew?””
My father looked down.
“I made the mistake of trusting her with family information.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“So that’s why.””
“What?””
“The money.””
My father’s face tightened.
“I don’t know.””
“Yes, you do.””
I stood up.
“She knew I had money.””
“Jasmine—”
“She wasn’t trying to teach me responsibility.””
My voice cracked.
“She was trying to take something from me.””
My father didn’t argue.
Because he knew.
Later that day, I confronted Jessica.
She was sitting in the living room scrolling through her phone.
When she saw me, she sighed.
“What now?””
I stood in front of her.
“You knew about my trust fund.””
Her face changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.””
“Don’t lie.””
She locked her phone.
“Your father told you.””
“No. You told me.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“I didn’t say anything.””
“You didn’t have to.””
Jessica stood.
“You’re making this into something it’s not.””
“Really?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you need $2,000 from me?””
She crossed her arms.
“Because you should learn to share.””
“Share?””
“Yes.””
“With Ethan?””
“He’s your brother.””
I laughed.
“No. He’s your son.””
The silence between us was sharp.
Jessica stepped closer.
“You have no idea how difficult it is raising a family.””
“I know exactly what it’s like.””
She frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means I spent years trying to become part of yours.””
Her expression flickered.
“And now I know you were only interested in what I could give you.””
“That’s not true.””
“Then tell me why you wanted my money.””
Jessica opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
That was the answer.
That evening, my father called me into his office.
He looked serious.
“There’s something else you need to know.””
I sat down.
“What?””
He opened a drawer and pulled out a folder.
My name was written across the front.
My hands went cold.
“Your mother left specific instructions.””
I opened the folder.
Inside were documents.
Legal papers.
And a letter.
A letter written by my mother.
My hands shook as I unfolded it.
My father watched quietly.
“What does it say?””
I looked at the first line.
And my breath caught.
Because my mother’s handwriting was right there.
The first sentence said:
“My darling Jasmine, if you are reading this, it means someone is trying to take advantage of the kindness I always hoped you would protect…”
I looked up at my father.
“What is this?””
He looked toward the door.
Then back at me.
“Something your mother wanted you to have before anyone else could reach it.””
I looked down at the letter again.
And then I saw the final sentence.
May you like
The sentence that made my entire body go cold.
“If Jessica ever asks you for money, do not give her a single dollar until you know the truth about what happened before I died…”
