The envelope in my hands felt heavier than it should have. My fingers trembled slightly as I ran them over the smooth surface before carefully pulling it open. Inside, a neatly folded letter bore my mother's elegant handwriting. My breath hitched as I unfolded the paper, my heart pounding with anticipation and a lingering ache of longing.
My dearest Elise,
If you are reading this, then you are now eighteen. First, I want you to know how much I love you and how proud I am of the young woman you have become. I wish I could be there with you, guiding you through life's challenges, but I hope this letter will serve as my voice in my absence.
There is something you need to know, something I had hoped you would never have to face, but I feared it might come to this. Cassandra has never had your best interests at heart. I suspected her schemes long before my passing, but I lacked the evidence to act against her. I was only able to ensure that my estate and company shares were safeguarded in your name.
I know Cassandra has likely manipulated your father, twisting him against you as she once tried to do with me. Do not let her win, Elise. Do not let her take what is rightfully yours. You must be strong, my love. You must fight for what belongs to you. And in doing so, you will honor everything I worked so hard to build.
Trust Daniel Grimes. He is a loyal ally, someone who has always had our family's best interests in mind. Work with him to protect your legacy, and do not hesitate to act. Cassandra will not stop until she gets what she wants. But you, my beautiful daughter, are stronger than she could ever anticipate.
Stand tall, be fearless, and never forget who you are.
With all my love,
Your Mother, Anaïs Bellamy-Wilson
Tears blurred my vision as I finished reading. The ache in my chest deepened, not just from the loss of my mother, but from the weight of her warning. She had known. She had suspected Cassandra's treachery, even back then. And now, it was up to me to stop her.
Mr. Grimes cleared his throat, allowing me a moment to compose myself before he spoke. "Your mother was a brilliant woman. She knew what was coming, and she did everything in her power to ensure you would be prepared when the time arrived."
I clenched the letter in my hands, my resolve hardening. "Then I won't let her down. Cassandra has been trying to steal everything from me, and I won't stand by and let it happen."
He nodded approvingly. "That's exactly the attitude you need to have. Now, let's talk strategy."
I straightened in my seat, wiping the last traces of tears from my face. "What's our first step?"
"We need to legally secure your ownership of your mother's company shares before Cassandra finds a way to contest them," Mr. Grimes explained. "She has likely been maneuvering behind the scenes to consolidate power. But if we move quickly, we can block any attempt she makes to take control."
I exhaled sharply. "How do we do that?"
Mr. Grimes slid a folder across the desk toward me. "We'll need to file paperwork with the board of directors, formally acknowledging you as the rightful heir to Bellamy Enterprises. If Cassandra has been manipulating them, they need to see that you are stepping into your role as the primary shareholder."
I flipped through the documents, scanning them quickly. "I'll sign whatever I need to."
"Good," he said. "Additionally, we need to gather proof of her schemes. If she's been using company funds improperly or coercing board members, we can expose her. Have you noticed anything unusual about her behavior lately?"
I thought about the past few months, about the hushed conversations, the smug looks she exchanged with Delphine, and the way she had been carefully laying the groundwork to push me out of the picture.
"She's been working in the shadows, trying to secure as much influence as possible before my birthday," I said. "She thinks she's already won."
Mr. Grimes smirked. "Then it will be all the more satisfying to pull the rug out from under her."
I tapped my fingers against the desk, thinking. "We need more than just legal documents. If we really want to take her down, we need undeniable proof of her corruption. Something we can use to make sure she can't manipulate her way out of this."
Mr. Grimes nodded. "Agreed. I have a private investigator who has been keeping an eye on her business dealings. I'll instruct him to gather every scrap of evidence he can find. In the meantime, you should keep up appearances. Act as if you suspect nothing. The more confident Cassandra feels, the more careless she will become."
I met his gaze, determination burning in my chest. "I can do that."
He leaned forward, his expression serious. "Elise, this isn't just about keeping your inheritance. This is about protecting your mother's legacy. If Cassandra succeeds, she'll dismantle everything Anaïs built. Are you ready for this fight?"
I didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Mr. Grimes smiled, pride glinting in his eyes. "Then let's get started."
That evening, I returned home with the weight of my mother's words still pressing against my heart. But this time, it wasn't just grief I felt—it was a burning sense of purpose.
As I stepped into the grand foyer of the Wilson estate, Delphine was lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone. She barely looked up as I entered, but I caught the flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
"Busy day?" she asked, feigning nonchalance.
I forced a light smile. "Just tying up some loose ends."
Delphine arched a brow. "Anything interesting?"
I tilted my head, mirroring her expression. "Nothing you need to worry about."
Her lips twitched as if she wanted to push further, but she held back. I could see the suspicion growing in her gaze. Good. Let her wonder. Let her doubt.
Because soon enough, she and Cassandra would realize that I wasn't the naive girl they thought they could manipulate.
I was my mother's daughter. And I was ready for war.