Four years-Free

Renee was just starting to find her footing as a single mother of two rowdy boys. It had been four long years since her abusive and controlling husband, Leo, died. In the beginning, she struggled—he left the kids with nothing. No savings, no support. She was furious at how he’d left them behind with empty hands.

For two years, Renee scraped by—baking bread and picking up shifts at the local diner. Nothing was stable at first. Jobs came and went, and hope often felt like a stranger. But by the third year, she landed steady work at the diner and saved just enough to move them into a modest home in the city—not her dream, but manageable. The apartment was tight. The boys got their own rooms, technically, if you counted the converted living room as Renee’s. Still, it was theirs.

She couldn’t bring all her things from the old three-story house they’d lived in before—too expensive to maintain, too full of painful memories. She sold nearly everything, especially what had belonged to Leo. What she couldn’t sell, she stored. With that money and her income, she paid six months’ rent upfront on the new place. It took a year of searching, but it was worth it.

Now, finally, she could breathe. Bills were fewer, cleaning was easier, and the boys were enrolled in a better school. That evening, with the kids settled on their devices and winding down, Renee sat on the floor among a few unpacked boxes. She wasn’t a material person; the past had stripped that away. She grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the fridge, poured a glass, and began unpacking slowly, exhaustion pressing down.

Before she knew it, she had dozed off on the floor. She was startled awake around 9 p.m. by the shrill ring of her phone. Still groggy, she answered, “Hello?”

“I apologize for calling so late, Renee. Do you have a second to talk?” came a familiar voice. She blinked and looked at the caller ID. Jake. Jake—the lawyer. Her late husband’s lawyer. Her brows furrowed. They hadn’t spoken in years. She sat up quickly, accidentally kicking the whiskey glass and spilling what little remained. “Hi Jake. I do. What’s going on?” There was a pause. “I hate that we’re only having this conversation now, but I need to meet with you. As soon as possible.”

Uneasy, she agreed to meet the next morning after the boys were off to school. Once off the phone, she cleaned up the spilled drink, blew up the air mattress, popped in a old movie for background noise, and drifted off. The boys were up before the sun, practically leaping onto her with excitement about their first day at their new school. Renee dragged herself up and got them dressed, making breakfast and coffee at the same time. Between bites and sips, she packed their lunches, checked their uniforms, and ensured their backpacks were ready.

She couldn’t stop wondering—why now? Jake was Leo’s lawyer, not hers. What could possibly be so urgent?

She walked the boys to the bus stop at the corner, grateful they no longer had to trek half a mile just to get picked up. Once they were safely off, she made her way to the nearby coffee shop where she was to meet Jake. She spotted him instantly. Same long, curly hair falling to his shoulders. Same easy smile, sun-kissed skin, and impossibly blue eyes. He stood out in any crowd, just as she remembered. Jake walked over, holding two coffees and two bagels. “Right on time. I hope you don’t mind—I got your favorite.” He handed her an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese and a coffee. She blinked in surprise. “How did you know I liked this?”

He just smiled and shrugged, motioning for her to follow. She fell into step beside him, heading to his office only a block away.

“You still didn’t answer about the bagel,” she laughed lightly. He hesitated. “Leo once mentioned he couldn’t understand how you liked that combo so much. Said it was a weird mix. But... it’s one of my favorites too.” That surprised her. Leo used to mock her choices constantly. The idea of him remembering such a trivial detail was... weird. When they reached Jake’s office, he opened the door and let her in. Once they were settled, Renee didn’t waste time.

“Okay, Jake. What is this about? What did Leo leave behind this time—debts?” Jake set his coffee down, pulled a large white envelope from a drawer, and placed it between them. “Let’s finish breakfast first,” he said. “It’s... a lot.” Renee didn’t feel like eating. She took a sip of coffee, eyes never leaving the envelope. Jake finished his bagel, wiped crumbs from his desk, then tapped the envelope a few times. Finally, he broke the silence. “Renee, this is probably the worst thing a client’s ever asked me to do. Leo... he made me promise not to contact you until now. But he did leave you and the boys something. There were... conditions.”

She froze. “You told me he left us nothing.”

“I know. And I did what he asked. But I regret it. I let money talk me into waiting.” Renee stared, a knot forming in her gut. “He didn’t care about his kids enough to leave them anything. Hell, he left us broke while they were in private school. And now this?” Jake looked ashamed. “I’m sorry. But he left something behind, with instructions to give it to you after ten years—or if you ever moved out of that old house.” He slid a key and a letter across the desk.

Renee stared at the envelope. Her heart stopped. The handwriting... it was unmistakable. Leo’s. The letter was addressed in a name she hadn’t heard in years: To My Princess - Renee. She opened it with shaking hands.

“Dear Princess,

I know the last thing you want in life is to hear from me. It’s too late to apologize, and nothing can undo the pain I caused you. You cared for me when I didn’t deserve it. You stayed, even when I gave you every reason to run.

This is my last request: Please listen to Jake. Don’t be mad at him. What I’ve left behind is for the kids—take it for them, even if you can’t take it for me.

Love,

Leo—Your King.”

Renee crumpled the letter in her hands, fury surging. “Who does he think he is? Apologizing with a damn letter—after everything he did? After beating me, making me lie to everyone just to survive...” Jake looked a little stunned. “Renee... I'm sorry.” She sat down, ashamed of her outburst. “I never told anyone. No one would have believed me anyway.”

He swallowed hard. “I believe you.” A pause settled between them. She exhaled slowly. “Well. What did Leo leave the kids?” Jake pulled out a document from the envelope. “Leo left you a house- a farm. In Oklahoma. No mortgage—it’s yours, free and clear.” Her breath caught. “Oklahoma?” Jake nodded. “He said he found the listing in one of your books. Said he thought you’d love it.” She had loved it. It was her dream home, one she secretly bookmarked before she ever dared to think about leaving him. No way Leo could have known...

“And there’s more,” Jake continued, opening another document. “There’s a secure deposit box at a bank in Oklahoma. The key I gave you opens it. Inside is $3 million.” Renee nearly choked on her coffee. “I’m sorry—what?” Jake repeated, “Three million. Left in your name. Leo set it aside before he got sick.” Renee sat in stunned silence. A dream house. A fortune. From a man who once made her feel like nothing. She didn’t know whether to scream, cry, or laugh. But one thing was certain—everything was about to change.