How Mia had held my hand on her deathbed and made me promise to take care of this son of hers—forty-seven years old but still a baby at heart.
I told it so often I started believing it myself.
Lucas went from impatient at first, to silent, to quietly accepting.
He'd been conquered.
"Dad…"
The word was barely a whisper, like it had been dragged out from somewhere deep in his chest.
But I heard it.
I nearly rolled right off the bed. Tears burst out instantly.
"Hey! Hey! Good son!"
I grabbed his hand, tears streaming down my face. "Once your mom's first seven days are over, we'll live our lives properly, you and me."
Lucas turned his head away, ears tipped red.
"Austin Dickerson is here to read the will."
He changed the subject, but the hostility from before was gone.
Austin walked in wearing a black suit, briefcase in hand.
Behind him trailed a flock of Gilbert relatives—and that snake Madeline.
The way she looked at me was like she was sizing up a corpse.
My stomach dropped. Bad feeling.
Austin cleared his throat and pulled out a document.
"According to Ms. Mia Gilbert's will, all real estate and cash under her name, as well as 30% of Gilbert Group shares..."
Everyone held their breath.