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I shook my head, giving her a warning look not to push the subject. Not right now. It would have to wait until Damian had time to process, and we weren’t sitting in a crowd of people who didn’t know about Damian’s issues.
“To my grandson, Bastian, I leave my home in Sagaponack and all of its contents.”
As Mr. Bollinger moved on to the next person on the list, I ripped open the envelope.
You are my greatest disappointment.
His letter wasn’t much of a surprise. He often told me I hadn’t turned out the way he’d wanted, mostly because I wasn’t like him. I couldn’t believe he left me anything, let alone his precious house, which included all of his art.
My grandfather loved this place.
There wasn’t anything else in the world he loved more, not unless you counted money. He sure as fuck didn’t love me.
“To my granddaughter, Grace,” Mr. Bollinger said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I leave the rest of my estate.”
Grace gasped. “Excuse me?”
I glanced over my shoulder at her. She had her hand raised in the air like we were in school. Everyone started at Grace.
“Yes?” Mr. Bollinger said.
“Are you sure the will is valid?” Grace bit the inside of her cheek. “It’s just… I don’t understand why…” She was so stunned she couldn’t get out the words.
“Yes,” Mr. Bollinger replied. “Mr. Adams amended the will one month before his death.”
“Exactly how much money is the rest of his estate?” Grace asked, her voice shaking.
She’d lived a life of luxury before we placed her into the care of her adoptive father. A Marine who pretended to be her father for years, while teaching her how to survive. She was a tough girl, all because of him, and could handle just about anything. Even the rigorous cadet training at York Military Academy.
For most of her life, Grace lived on military bases around the world. She never even had her own laptop until she attended the academy. Overnight, she went from nothing to a billionaire. A true rags to riches story. The real-life Cinderella.
Mr. Bollinger flipped through a few pages on the podium. “Including all of Mr. Adams’ houses, cars, jewelry, stock, bank accounts, and miscellaneous possessions…” He double-checked the figure again and then looked up at her. “Approximately two hundred and fifty seven billion dollars.”
A stifled scream ripped from her throat. “No.” She shook her head in disbelief. “That’s too much money. He didn’t even like me… And I don’t want it.”
“Grace.” I raised my hand to gain her attention. “You deserve it. Take the money, or one of my shitty family members will.”
A few of said family members snickered. Some gave me nasty looks.
Fuck them.
They all had their hands out when I was a child, offering to take me for the money. But none of them wanted Damian. And that was a deal breaker.
Grace pressed her lips together and nodded. Cole hooked one arm around her, pulling her closer, his head lowered to whisper into her ear.
After the will reading was over, everyone left the house, except for my immediate family and a few of the Knights. Most of my shithead family members left in a huff. I hated the old man for taunting Damian from the grave.
Throwing my arms around Damian, I hugged him hard enough to burn my fingerprints on his back. His chin dropped to my shoulder, his arms still at his sides.
“Just fucking hug me back, D.” I said the words in his ear, pushing my fingers deeper into his flesh over top of the suit jacket. “You need this.”
We both needed it.
“Forget about him.” I patted his back. “He can’t hurt us anymore.”
* * *
Two weeks later, I stood in the circular driveway beside Damian. We stared up at my grandfather’s mansion—my new house—with gas cans in our hands, watching as the flames spread to each room. I’d never seen Damian smile so much.
