He Needed a Wife to Claim His Inheritance—So He Paid a Poor Widow to Pretend
Chapter 10
Ethan went back to the lawyer.
“I don’t want the inheritance.”
The lawyer stared.
“What?”
“I’ll keep my company.”
“But the estate—”
“Let Nathan have whatever remains.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
The lawyer looked at him.
“Your grandfather wanted you to have it.”
“My grandfather wanted me to become someone better.”
He placed the will on the desk.
“If keeping the money means turning my marriage into a contract, I don’t want it.”
The lawyer smiled.
“You finally understand.”
Ethan frowned.
“Understand what?”
“The inheritance was never yours to earn.”
“What?”
“Your grandfather changed the will a month before he died.”
The lawyer handed him another document.
It contained a second clause.
If Ethan chooses his wife over the estate, the entire inheritance shall be transferred to a charitable trust in his grandmother’s name.
Ethan stared.
His grandfather had anticipated this.
He hadn’t wanted Ethan to marry for money.
He had wanted him to choose love.
Then Ethan laughed.
“He really was impossible.”
The lawyer smiled.
“Yes.”
Ethan returned home.
Clara was packing.
“What are you doing?”
She looked at him.
“I thought you were done.”
“Done with what?”
“The inheritance.”
“I am.”
She froze.
“What?”
“I gave it up.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to spend our marriage wondering whether you stayed for money.”
Her eyes filled.
“You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
She walked toward him.
“You know I would have stayed anyway.”
“I know.”
“Then why give it up?”
“Because I need to know that if you choose me, it’s because you want me.”
She smiled through tears.
“I already do.”
They kissed.
For the first time, there was no contract between them.
No deadline.
No inheritance.
Just love.
Noah walked into the room.
“Are you guys kissing?”
They separated.
Ethan laughed.
“Yes.”
“Are you really married?”
Clara smiled.
“Yes.”
Noah thought for a second.
“Forever?”
Ethan looked at Clara.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Your mom.”
Clara smiled.
“Forever sounds good.”
Noah grinned.
“Good.”
That night, Ethan opened another letter from his grandfather.
If you chose the woman, keep her.
If you chose the money, you never deserved either.
Ethan smiled.
For the first time, the inheritance didn’t matter.
He had already received the thing his grandfather wanted him to find.
A family.
