Inheritance Of Secrets

I can fix some things

I waited a while before going back into the hall.

I wandered through the gala, and it was comforting.

I turned to walk down a new hall. All the paintings on the walls were eerily similar, showing depictions of war and soldiers fighting for their homes.

The reality of everything has been settling in.

My mother has practically disowned me. Although I don't think she ever wanted me as her child, so I was technically disowned the moment she left the hospital without me.

I own a billion dollars, which is more than I'll ever need. The amount of money people could only dream of having.

I own a library that is an anagram to remind me of my dead sister.

I haven't gotten anywhere on my cold case because I have focused on everyone else's problems.

And finally, my whole life is getting up and ended by a billionaire's final wish to start family drama in hopes of 'bringing the family back together.' I know I could not say anything about family, but a whole riddle that will break someone's heart before finally fixing it seems very unnecessary. Everything Tobias Hawthorne decided to do with his grandsons seemed superfluous.

I was always envious of the Saturday puzzles and how he trained them to become amazing at all different aspects of their lives. I now know how much that impacted them. Nash always felt like he was a second thought of his grandfather, Grayson was convinced he was the heir apparent, so he spent his whole life trying to be utterly perfect. Jameson was told he was ordinary, so he spent his life depending on the validation of winning, and Xander hid behind humour because he knew how much his older two brothers needed to win.

I always knew how magnetic they all were. I led myself to believe I really knew what I was getting into every time I did something dumb with Jameson.

I didn't.

Even if I didn't know what I was getting into, the Hawthornes each showed me something important.

I got leadership skills and the ability to rebut quickly from Nash.

I was able to learn how to be specific and hardworking from Grayson. Something I probably never would have learned otherwise, considering most of my intelligence is natural.

Jameson taught me the art of escapism and how much I love winning.

Even Xander reminded me sometimes you cannot be too serious.

I know these were important for me to know. I wish that I didn't need to know it. I wish I could-

My thoughts trailed off when I heard footsteps behind me.

Male, around 6ft, walks rather simply—toes to heal, careful not to crease his shoe too badly.

It's Grayson. I know it before I even turn around. It's not just the walk but the fact he is probably the only person who would walk silently, waiting for me to spin around.

I turn slowly to avoid him seeing me at first. The idea is shut down fast as his eyes are not travelling around the room even though he is walking slowly. They are directly on me.

Grey eyes on mine.

To take the situation back into my control, I tilt my head and slowly walk towards him till we eventually circle each other without saying a word.

He stops walking first.

His eyes are locked on mine, but I can tell he is troubled about something. Something about me, I presume.