Chapter 4 - The Widow's Heir
The funeral was completely devoid of genuine emotion, just as Vanessa had promised.
She wore a breathtaking black designer dress and hid her dry eyes behind oversized sunglasses.
She squeezed out exactly two tears for the gathered news cameras before stepping into her waiting limousine.
Less than an hour later, Vanessa sat in the luxurious downtown office of Marcus Sterling.
She tapped her manicured fingernails impatiently against the mahogany conference table.
The heavy oak doors opened, and Caleb walked in, looking incredibly out of place in his cheap suit.
Vanessa burst into laughter at the sight of the young hospital orderly.
"Marcus, what is the janitor doing at my husband's private will reading?" she demanded.
Marcus adjusted his glasses and opened the thick leather binder on his desk.
"Mr. Miller is here because he is directly involved in Arthur's final testament," Marcus stated coldly.
Vanessa scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Arthur must have left him a few thousand dollars for changing his bedpans," she muttered.
Marcus ignored her and began reading the complex legal document aloud.
He meticulously listed the corporate holdings, the real estate properties, and the massive investment portfolios.
"To my wife, Vanessa," Marcus read, his voice steady and echoing in the silent room.
Vanessa sat forward, her eyes gleaming with absolute greed.
"I leave the sum of one single dollar, which is exactly what her love was worth," Marcus finished.
Vanessa's jaw dropped in absolute shock.
"The entirety of my eighty-two million dollar estate, including all physical and liquid assets, is hereby transferred to Caleb Miller."
Caleb closed his eyes, releasing a heavy sigh of relief as he thought of Mia's medical bills.
Vanessa stood up so violently that her leather chair crashed to the floor.
"This is fraud!" she screamed, pointing an accusing finger at Caleb.
"He manipulated a dying man who was out of his mind on heavy medications!"
Marcus closed the folder and looked at her with an expression of complete indifference.
"Arthur passed a psychological evaluation from an independent specialist ten minutes before signing," Marcus replied.
"The will is ironclad, Vanessa, and you get nothing."
Vanessa stopped screaming, and a slow, wicked smile suddenly spread across her beautiful face.
She reached into her designer purse and pulled out a certified medical document from a prestigious clinic.
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"You should really check state inheritance laws, Marcus," she purred, tossing the document onto his desk.
"I am three months pregnant with Arthur's child, and an unborn heir automatically freezes all estate assets until a paternity test can be performed."
