Malia's POV

Attorney Edwards sighed deeply, something like pity and confusion in his gaze as he looked at me.

"I'm sorry, Lia. I tried convincing your dad to change his mind when he brought up this change to his will, but he wouldn't budge. I'd like to say I don't know what he was thinking, but that would be false. Your dad was worried about you," he said as he moved closer and patted my clenched fists gently.

"Oh really?" I scoffed. "How on earth does… this…" I stammered as I struggled to describe what my late father had demanded from me in his will. I took a deep, shaky breath and continued. "How on earth does that prove he was worried about me? Not once did he reach out to me for the past six years."

Attorney Edwards opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Shane who approached me, looking rage-filled.

"You bitch! You did this, didn't you?! That company is mine!" He yelled out as he towered over me threateningly.

I flinched back from Shane's outburst, surprised by the sudden venom in his voice. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drum solo against the confused symphony of whispers now filling the room.

Shane's outburst echoed in the opulent room, bouncing off the portraits of past Williams generations who seemed to stare down at the scene with disapproval.

What are you talking about, Shane?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. The accusation stung, a fresh layer of hurt on top of the raw grief already gnawing at me.

"Don't play innocent, Malia," Shane spat, his face contorted in fury. "The controlling stake in Dad's construction company – that should have been mine! You manipulated him into leaving it to you, didn't you?"

Dad… the word Shane had used echoed in my mind over and over again. I wondered if Shane even knew what had slipped out or if he and my dad had truly developed a relationship close enough for him to call my father 'dad'.

I shook my head, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. "No, that's not true! I didn't even know there was a controlling stake in the company. Dad and I haven't spoken in years!"

Shane scoffed, his eyes narrowed. "Don't lie! You always wanted to prove you were better than me, better than everyone else. This is your way of getting back at us for everything."

"That's ridiculous!" I yelled back, finally finding my voice. My anger flared, hot and raw, at the sheer audacity of his accusations. "I haven't spent the last six years plotting some elaborate revenge scheme! I've been trying to live my life

The room had gone silent, everyone's eyes glued to our heated exchange. The whispers had ceased, replaced by a tense, suffocating quiet.

Attorney Edwards cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the thick tension. "Shane, Malia. Please calm down. We can discuss this further in my office if you like."

Shane glared at me for another moment, then turned back to the attorney. "Fine. Let's get this over with. But I still want a lawyer present."

Attorney Edwards nodded curtly. "Of course. We can schedule a meeting for tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime, please remain civil. You'll both need to be on the same page to figure this out."

With that, Shane stormed out of the living room, leaving a trail of stunned silence in his wake. I sank back onto the plush sofa, feeling drained. My body ached, but it was the emotional exhaustion that weighed the heaviest.

"Uncle Edward," I began, my voice trembling. "How can dad do this to me? How does he expect me to get married and in such a short time before I can claim my inheritance?"

"But… why?" I stammered, my mind struggling to grasp the absurdity of it all. "Why would Dad want that?"

"The document doesn't elaborate," Attorney Edwards admitted, shaking his head. "It just states that you are to get married within the next year. If you succeed, you will inherit the controlling stake in the company, and everything he owns... other than what he has already willed out of course."

My head spun. I could not help but repeat the only thing that had been on mind since Attorney Edward started reading the will. "Why?"

Attorney Edward shook his head. "I'm afraid your father didn't leave any explanation in the will. He simply stated it as a condition for your inheritance."

A cold anger began to simmer inside me. My father, who had barely acknowledged my existence for years, suddenly decided to dictate what to do with my life? This wasn't a chance for self-discovery, it felt like a punishment, an exile.

"And what if I refuse?" I challenged, my voice gaining strength.

"Then," Attorney Edward said, his expression grim, "you forfeit your inheritance entirely. It will be redistributed amongst the other beneficiaries, with specific clauses adjusted accordingly."

The room erupted in murmurs again.

I glanced around the room, taking in the faces of my relatives, each one a mask of greed or bewilderment. None of them offered any support, no words of comfort or understanding. They were vultures circling a carcass, waiting for their chance to rip off a piece.

Attorney Edwards gave me a sympathetic smile. "I understand this seems daunting, Malia. But I can assure you, your father wouldn't have put this task in the will if he didn't believe you could achieve it. Perhaps he knew something we don't. Perhaps he saw a future you just don't see yet."

I stared out the window, the familiar sight of the garden doing little to soothe the turmoil within me. It sounded like something out of a fantasy novel. Yet, here I was, with the impossible task looming before me, a bitter inheritance dangling in the balance.

"Uncle Edward," I said finally, my voice gaining a touch of resolve. "Can you tell me anything else? Anything Dad might have said about the will, about his reasons for wanting me married?"

The attorney pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Unfortunately, no," Attorney Edward continued, his kind eyes filled with regret. "Your father was a very private man, especially in recent years. He rarely confided in anyone, not even me. The will itself was a surprise to most of us, filled with unexpected stipulations."

Frustration bubbled up inside me. "Great," I muttered sarcastically. "So, I'm left with a bunch of cryptic conditions and no explanation. Just fantastic."

Attorney Edward chuckled sadly. "I understand your frustration, Malia. But trust me, I wouldn't be any help in deciphering your father's motives. He was a complex man, always driven by something we couldn't quite grasp."

He paused, then leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "However, there is one thing that might offer a clue. It's a little unorthodox, but…" He trailed off, hesitating.

Intrigued, I leaned closer. "But what?"

"There's a small, sealed envelope addressed to you tucked away with the will's original documents," Attorney Edward revealed. "Your father instructed me not to open it until after the reading. Perhaps it holds some answers, or at least a hint at his reasoning behind these conditions."

My heart skipped a beat. A secret note? Maybe, just maybe, it held the key to understanding my father's bizarre demands. "Can I see it?" I asked eagerly.

Attorney Edward nodded and retrieved a small, leather-bound envelope from a briefcase resting beside him. It felt surprisingly heavy in my hand, the worn leather cool against my fingertips.

"Go on," he said gently. "Open it."

With trembling fingers, I broke the wax seal and carefully peeled back the flap. Inside, nestled in a bed of soft velvet, lay a single sheet of aged stationery. The elegant script on the paper sent a shiver down my spine. It was my father's handwriting, a style I hadn't seen in years.

Taking a deep breath, I unfolded the letter and began to read.