My stomach dropped so suddenly that I thought I might collapse right there beside the grave. I tried to speak, but my throat locked, and no words came out.
Without releasing my hand, Connor nodded toward Scott’s attorney, Mr. Smith, who stood several steps away holding a briefcase with deliberate calm. Smith stepped forward, opened the case, and pulled out a sealed envelope with careful precision.
“The will,” Connor said loudly enough for others nearby to hear.
I saw Scott’s signature clearly on the document along with a notary seal that made everything feel official and final. Connor took the envelope from Smith like it had always belonged to him and never to me.
Then, without asking, he reached into my handbag and pulled out my keys, including the ones to the house, the garage, and Scott’s office. My voice finally broke through the shock as I said, “This has to be a mistake.”
Smith avoided my eyes as he replied, “Mrs. Reynolds, your son is listed as the sole heir according to this document.”
Several people lowered their gazes, unwilling to meet mine as the humiliation spread through the air. I felt shame, anger, and a hollow grief that made the ground feel unsteady beneath me.