Chapter 1: The Promise That Vanished

I sat stiffly in the lawyer’s office across from Mrs. Rhode’s niece, who kept looking at me like I was something unpleasant stuck to the bottom of her shoe. Every few seconds, her lip curled with barely hidden disgust while she adjusted the expensive bracelet glittering on her wrist.

The lawyer cleared his throat, opened a folder, and began reading in the dull, emotionless tone people use when they don’t care whose world they’re destroying.

“The residence on Willow Street will be donated to Saint Matthew’s Outreach Charity.”

I blinked hard. “What?”

He didn’t even look up. “Personal savings are to be distributed between Saint Matthew’s Church and several charitable organizations. To my niece, I leave my jewelry collection.”

I sat frozen, waiting for my name.

Mrs. Rhode had promised me everything. She said if I stayed beside her during the final years of her life, she would make sure I was taken care of. Then the lawyer calmly shut the folder… Continue Reading ⬇️