Raelyn had spent her life chasing self-fulfillment. Six months ago, she joined some friends on a climb up Mount Everest. Aware of the dangers, she wrote a will, leaving everything to Adrian in case she didnât return alive.
Her foresight, as painful as it was, was understandable.
She must have regretted her mistakes and sought some form of reconciliation with Adrian.
But Adrian no longer needed this delayed maternal love. He didnât despise Raelyn anymore. After all, being a mother was just one of the many roles a woman played in her life.
He understood that now. If Joelle chose to pursue her career instead of being a housewife, Adrian would support her.
Although Raelyn was just his biological mother, Adrian still felt a pang of regret for her untimely death. After all, she had died in search of her own sense of self-worth. She still had so much life ahead of her.
Joelle leaned against the table, studying her husbandâs face. âIf you donât want her money, we could donate it. It would be a good deed in her name.â
Adrian chuckled bitterly. âShe was selfish and egotistical. If we donate her money, sheâll come back from the grave to haunt us.â
Joelle looked at him, her gaze seemingly reading his heart. âYou still wish you had a mother, donât you?â
Adrian retorted, âLeah has filled part of that void. Even if I had the chance to do it all over again, I still wouldnât need Raelyn in my life.â
Joelle understood and said nothing more. She returned her attention to the letter and read it again. âIt seems you have to go overseas to handle the transfer of assets. Why does it say you need to be careful?â
Adrian wondered the same thing, but his emotions were still too chaotic to rationalize the warning.
The only explanation he could come up with was that Raelynâs assets were likely more substantial than they had realized, attracting the attention of those who desired them.
But Joelle didnât share his thoughts. âRaelyn mentioned she had two more children after you. That means they also have a legal share of the inheritance.â
Adrian might not care about the money, but his siblings could be desperate for it.
They might resort to risky measures to fight for the inheritance. If this were the case, the earlier incident with the crib might have been a warning rather than a simple accident.
After all, how could a brand-new, sturdy crib collapse on its own?
To Joelleâs horror, her suspicions were confirmed a few days later.
She was at work when Adrian called, and her heart dropped.
Aurora had been kidnapped.
In exchange for her release, the kidnapper demanded Adrian meet them alone at Mount Everest.
Joelle rose to her feet, shaking with horror and disbelief at the news.
But then, a message popped up on her phone screen, revealing a video of Auroraâs abduction. Her world turned upside down.
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