She Loved a Poor Gardener—Then Discovered He Was the Heir to a Fortune
Chapter 6
The Reed estate stood beyond the northern hills.
Its stone walls were older than the town itself.
Thomas arrived before sunrise.
William Reed was waiting.
His uncle had aged.
But his eyes remained sharp.
“So.”
Thomas removed his gloves.
“So.”
“You look like a laborer.”
“I have been one.”
William laughed.
“Do you know how much you inherited?”
“No.”
“Millions.”
Thomas looked at him.
“I don’t care.”
“Don’t lie.”
“I care about what my father built.”
William leaned forward.
“Then take your place.”
Thomas remained silent.
“The company is yours.”
“And the missing accounts?”
William’s expression changed.
“What accounts?”
“The ones my father kept.”
William stood.
“You’ve been listening to rumors.”
“I’ve been reading copies.”
“From whom?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
William walked to the window.
“You have no idea how difficult it is to manage an empire.”
“I don’t want an empire.”
“Then why return?”
Thomas looked at him.
“Because you came after me.”
William turned.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then the door opened.
A lawyer entered carrying a box.
“Sir.”
William nodded.
The lawyer placed the box on the desk.
Inside were old contracts.
Thomas examined them.
Several transfers had been made after his father’s death.
Land.
Ships.
Warehouses.
All sold below value.
All to companies connected to William.
Thomas looked up.
“You stole from my father.”
William’s face hardened.
“Be careful.”
“No.”
Thomas stood.
“I spent years believing I had abandoned my family.”
“You did.”
“I was a frightened boy.”
“You were weak.”
Thomas shook his head.
“No.”
He looked directly at his uncle.
“I was lied to.”
The lawyer quietly left.
William stepped closer.
“You think money makes you powerful.”
Thomas smiled.
“No.”
He placed the contracts on the desk.
“Evidence does.”
William’s expression changed.
Thomas turned toward the door.
“You’re not leaving with the estate.”
“Who says?”
“My father’s original will.”
William froze.
Thomas looked back.
“I found it.”
William’s face went white.
The original will named Thomas sole heir.
And it contained one additional instruction.
The company could not be inherited until Thomas personally uncovered the truth behind his father’s death.
