Last wishes

Chapter 4: Last Wishes

THE POINT OF HOPE

Monday arrived with a heavy atmosphere in the family home. The great room, once filled with laughter and memories, was now the scene of underlying tensions. We were all there: me, Espoir, my younger sister Émilie, and my brother Hector. The lawyer, a man with an impassive face and precise gestures, sat facing us, files carefully arranged in front of him.

— “My condolences to everyone,” he began, opening a thick binder. “Today we are here to honor your father’s final wishes.”

I remained silent, my fingers drumming lightly on the arm of my chair. Emilie seemed nervous, fiddling with the hem of her dress. Hector, for his part, had a neutral expression, but I knew he was burning with impatience.

— “Your father, a man of great rigor and a clear vision for each of you, took care to distribute his assets in a thoughtful manner,” continued the lawyer, glancing at his notes.

He adjusted his glasses before starting to read.

— "For Emilie, your father has expressed his wish to entrust you with the management of the family hotel, the classic cars, as well as the main laundry."

Émilie opened her mouth, surprised, but no words came out. I saw her glance at Hector, then at me, as if to make sure she had heard correctly.

— “To Hector,” continued the lawyer, “your father leaves the foreign companies and the complete management of the port activities.”

Hector nodded, satisfied. His jaw tightened slightly, but he said nothing.

Then the lawyer looked up at me, and an even heavier silence set in.

— “Hope,” he said in a more solemn voice. "Your father trusted you to maintain the family's power and protect his empire."

I crossed my arms, waiting for what happened next.

— "He therefore entrusts you with all the operations of the family mafia, all the trafficking which has made your name famous. In addition, he leaves you the luxury boat which houses the greatest restaurants in the city, symbol of prestige and power."

A shiver ran through me. This boat was a centerpiece of the family heritage, a pride that my father had always protected. But before I could savor the importance of this inheritance, the lawyer added a condition that took my breath away.

— “However, there is one condition.”

My eyes narrowed.

— "The will states that unless you marry a woman within three months of this reading, this boat will be sold, and all funds will be donated to an orphanage."

The room plunged into frozen silence. I stared at the lawyer, unable to understand what I had just heard.

— “Say that again,” I ordered hoarsely.

The lawyer, imperturbable, reread the clause.

— “Your father was clear: if we don’t get married within this time, the boat will be sold and the money will go to charity.”

— “It’s a joke,” I grumbled, standing up abruptly. “My father knew very well that I don’t have time for that. Why add such a clause?”

Hector chuckled softly.

— "Maybe he wanted to make sure you became a respectable man, Hope. After all, you can't rule forever without stability."

I glared at my brother, but he just shrugged.

— “Hope,” Emilie intervened in a soft voice, “maybe dad wanted you to think about the future, about building something outside of... all that.”

— “And what are you getting involved in?” I replied sharply, cutting her off.

The lawyer raised a hand to calm the tension.

— "I understand that this condition may come as a surprise, but these are your father's final wishes. They are clear and must be respected."

I sank back into my chair, my jaw clenched.

— “I’m not ready,” I finally said.

— “I’m afraid that won’t change anything, sir,” replied the lawyer. "You have three months. If this condition is not met, the boat will be sold, and the money will go to the orphanage. These are irrevocable instructions."

After the reading, I left the room without a word, anger boiling inside me. This marriage thing... Why did my father find it necessary to impose it on me? He knew how much power meant to me, but he decided to trick me, to force me down a path I didn't choose.

As I got into my car, I swore to myself that if I had to find a woman to satisfy this condition, it would be on my own terms. No one would dictate my life, not even the last wishes of a dead man.

NINA’S POINT OF VIEW

The sky was beginning to turn the orange of dusk, as I walked alongside Clara down a small cobblestone alley, lined by dilapidated buildings. The sound of our footsteps echoed softly, punctuated by our loud laughter.

— “And you know what he said to me next?” Clara shouted, holding back a giggle.

— “What else?” I asked, already amused.

— "He dared to ask me if I knew how to cook... as if that was the main criterion for going out with him! Do you realize?"

I burst out laughing, the kind of laugh that hurts your ribs.

— “Ah, guys,” I said, shaking my head. “They always think they have it all figured out.”

- "Exactly !" Clara added, waving her arms to imitate the boy's smug look. "But wait, the worst part is that I said, 'You know, I'm a pro at burning eggs.' And then he turned pale!”

We stopped for a moment to laugh harder. I think it was the first time all day that I felt so light.

But this lightness did not last.

The screeching of tires on the pavement made our heads spin. A black sedan suddenly stopped right in front of us. The tinted windows revealed nothing of the interior, but I knew that this kind of car never boded well.

The door opened, and a tall, imposing man got out. Dressed in a dark suit, his gaze was hard and direct, without an ounce of smile.

— “Nina,” he said, completely ignoring Clara.

I stiffened slightly, my instincts immediately going on alert.

— “Jonas needs you. Now.”

His tone left no room for discussion.

Clara, beside me, frowned.

— “Who’s that one?” she whispered, visibly intrigued.

I turned my head towards her with a reassuring smile.

— “He’s… a colleague,” I replied, vaguely.

Then, I walked towards the man without hesitation.

— “Jonas has a new mission for me, right?” I asked.

He nodded.

— “Exactly. We have to leave right away.”

I took one last look at Clara.

— “I have to go, but we’ll see you soon, okay?”

Clara shrugged, still a little perplexed.

— “Okay, but you’ll tell me everything. And be careful, Nina.”

— “Always,” I said with a wink.

I got into the car, closing the door behind me. The engine roared to life, and the black sedan disappeared into the alley, leaving me alone with this silent man and the weight of what awaited me.