Neither of them spoke to her, just stomped into the living room and took a seat, while glaring at her.If how they treated her before was tolerating her, that was gone now.She couldn’t help but notice her mother wasn’t with them.
“Where’s Mom?”
“Your mother was so upset she didn’t want to be here.She can’t believe you tricked your grandfather into changing his will the week he died.”
Before Shelby could refute the accusation, Wes closed the front door with enough force to get everyone’s attention.
“Since Ms.Shepherd agreed to allow you into her home, I’m going to need you to keep your slanderous accusations to yourselves, or I’ll remove you from the property for trespassing,” Wes said with such conviction it made her straighten her shoulders and lift her head higher.
“In truth Mr.Zeke Francis Shepherd signed this version of his will twelve years ago.There have been no changes since,” Declan stated as he sat down in the wingback chair next to Shelby.“You’re welcome to hire your lawyers to attempt to challenge this, but I’m not exaggerating when I say the deceased went to great lengths to ensure this will would be ironclad and withstand any challenges, to include undertaking a rigorous mental and physical assessment prior to signing the will,” Declan said.
The earth seemed to freeze, and the only movement was her father’s mouth opening and closing.Her brother’s eyes were open wide, and her uncle just stared at Declan.
Next Declan pulled his laptop out of his bag and typed in some passwords.
“I can provide a notarized copy of the original document; however, since I wasn’t planning on reading the will here, I only have a digital copy.”
Shelby nodded and avoided looking at her father and brother.As each second passed she realized they not only didn’t care about her, but they also didn’t seem to think she belonged in the family, and that Pops shouldn’t have left her anything.How could a father dislike his own child so much?She felt the pinprick of tears but bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from crying.
“Why are you still here, Hart?You don’t need to hear the reading of the will.Get out,” Samuel said.
“It is customary for only family to be present,” Declan said.“Unless a family member requests you stay.In this case, I can confirm Shelby will be safe if you want to wait in the kitchen,” Declan suggested.
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him to stay for her, but she knew it would only bring more scrutiny on Wes if she spoke up.He didn’t deserve her father’s wrath because of her.Now that she was enemy number one, any ties to her would get him in more trouble than she was worth.
“I’ll just be in the kitchen then, if you need me, Ms.Shepherd,” Wes said.
It pained her not to look at him, but she couldn’t risk it and just nodded.If she looked at him, the tears she was holding back would escape.
“Very well, here we go.”
In less than two minutes, Declan read Pops’s last will and testament.Everything Pops achieved was left to a few line items: the house, the marina, the boats, his investment portfolio, and all worldly possessions.Everything left to Shelby.He didn’t berate her father or uncle, but it was clear he found them lacking and had every right and reason to leave them nothing.They had taken little interest in his boating business that had brought him so much wealth and success, and even less interest in him or his beloved wife over the years.
“You mean to tell me, Shelby is his sole heir?I don’t believe you,” her uncle said, blustering and standing to pace.“You most certainly will hear from my lawyer.”Then he opened the front door and stormed out, leaving it wide open.
“It’s a con.If Shelby is involved it’s definitely not legit,” Sam growled then headed for the door, leaving it wide open after he stomped out.
Her father stood silently but she could feel his eyes on her as she looked down at her nails, the chipped black nail polish mocking her attempt to sit properly and project the fact that she belonged in this beautiful home.Her family didn’t believe she had just as much right as them to inherit the one place in the world she ever felt safe and loved.
“The magnitude of your selfish, ungratefulness is shocking,” her father said, before walking past them.“You will hear from our lawyer as well, Shaw.”
Then they were gone.And it wasn’t until Wes scooped her up into his arms that she realized she had tears streaming down her face.He pulled her into his chest, and she took a deep inhalation.The mix of his scent and strength unleashed the emotions enveloping her, knowing she would never see her grandfather again.And now every other man in her family would forever treat her like the enemy.
She vaguely heard Declan say goodbye and then Wes was whispering words of comfort in her ear and kissing her face.
“That was the worst of it.You don’t have to put up with them challenging you at your house anymore.I’ll sleep in my truck outside if I have to, to make sure they got the message.”
She took a deep breath and pictured that.“I don’t think having the town sheriff as my personal security will help you win the election or discourage them from challenging Pops’s will.If anything, it may only make them more vindictive.”
Wes pulled back and wiped at her tears with his thumbs.“I don’t care, do you?”
She shouldn’t care.She was never close with her brother or uncle, but seeing the disbelief and venom from her father was worse than when she was a child, and she disappointed him with poor grades.
“I don’t know.I mean I don’t want my dad to hate me.And yet, everything about me always seems to set him off.He’s always been disappointed, cold, indifferent, but now…” She trailed off.“You didn’t see the look on his face when he heard Pops left me everything.
“Everything?”
She saw his surprise and remembered he’d been in the kitchen.
