Rory's POV:
I stood frozen, Elijah Blackwood's words echoing in my mind like a prison sentence. Marriage to a stranger? Grandfather's will felt like a betrayal.
"How can this be?" I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper. My thoughts reeled. Why would Grandfather do this? Didn't he trust me?
Elijah's expression remained impassive, fueling my frustration. "Henry trusted me to protect Wynter Empire," he said, voice low and smooth.
Protect it from whom? I wondered. Rivals? Opportunists? Or me?
I searched Elijah's eyes for sincerity but found only mystery. His gaze seemed to hold secrets, hidden agendas.
"Why me?" I pressed, my mind racing. What made Elijah worthy of this responsibility?
"You're Henry's sole heir," Elijah replied. "This union ensures stability."
Stability? I scoffed inwardly. Control was more like it.
"Stability for whom?" I asked aloud, testing Elijah's resolve.
"Your family, the empire," he countered.
My inheritance, now conditional. I felt trapped, suffocated.
"What about my choices? My life?" I vented, desperation creeping in.
"Your grandfather made his wishes clear," Elijah said firmly.
Alex's gentle touch on my shoulder broke the tension. "Rory, let's discuss this privately."
As we stepped away, Elijah's words lingered: "Our futures are intertwined." A chill ran down my spine.
"What have I gotten myself into?" I whispered to Alex.
Alex's concern mirrored mine. "Research Elijah. Know your adversary."
Adversary? Ally? The lines blurred. Questions swirled: What drove Elijah? Ambition? Loyalty?
I vowed to uncover Elijah's true intentions.
YOU ARE READING
The Inheritance Game
RomanceRory Wynter's life shattered with the sudden passing of her beloved grandfather, Henry Wynter. The patriarch's demise unleashed a whirlwind of intrigue, ambition and hidden agendas within the walls of Wynter Manor. Henry's last will and testament re...
