Unexpected Inheritance
2: My en
2: My
g. My heart pounded against my ribcage, each beat echoing with anticipation. A storm of emotions swirled inside
my bag tighter. How would Jake react
e and climbed the stairs to his apartment. I knocked,
gain, harde
l no
me. I pulled out my phone and dialed his number-v
Had he moved wit
t, my mind a blur. I couldn't give up-not now. I needed to t
forwarding address, hastily scribbled by his neighbor
ed. For two weeks, he'd been gone, without a word. I'd been consumed by exams and n
e breathless. It looked like something out of a dream. A marvel of modern architecture w
ammering. The entrance loomed ahead-two grand wooden doors, carved with intri
ded with sunlight. The marble floors gleamed beneath my feet. Sculptures lined the wa
ere? And more importantly-what wa
elegant in a dark blue dress. Her eye
you?" she as
ng calm into my voice. "I'm a friend
se. "Jake? Oh... you must mean our b
lanced at it and nodded. "Yes, you're in the right
" as I stepped into the sitting room-
that scattered light like a cascade of stars. Cream-colored sofas sat gracefully atop a
efinement. I sat down slowly, trying not to wrinkle my dress, trying to st
tray of cups, the rich scent
efer tea?" sh
ed, gr
up. "Thank you," I murmured. She nodded and g
e warm ceramic and took a si
teps. Loud, confident
eath
it
nd striking. Her silver hair was cut into a sharp bob that framed her hi
ng to her frame like they'd been tailored by a private designer
y. "Welcome," she said, extending a
othing my skirt and
." she trailed
barely above a whisper, my heart
this time, it didn't
feeling deep in my chest-this enco