Chapter 4 I AM PART OF THE WILL

NOVA'S POV

Riley led me upstairs to the blue room, and I took the longest shower of my life. When I came out, there were clothes laid out on the bed. Designer stuff with tags still on. A simple black dress that fit perfectly.

I got dressed and stared at myself in the mirror. I looked like someone who belonged here, in this expensive room with expensive clothes. But I didn't feel like I belonged.

There was a knock on my door.

"Come in."

Elias stepped inside. He'd changed too, into dark jeans and a button-down shirt that made him look unfairly good.

"Dinner's ready," he said. "Father wants us all there."

"I don't know if I can do this." I turned away from the mirror. "Sit there and make small talk like everything's normal."

"Nobody's expecting you to pretend everything's normal." He came closer. "But you do need to eat something. You haven't had anything all day."

My stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, betraying me.

Elias smiled. "Come on. I promise it won't be that bad."

We went downstairs together. The dining room was exactly as I remembered. Long table, expensive chandelier, paintings that were probably worth more than most people made in their lifetimes.

Richard was already seated at the head of the table. Callum was on his right side.

"Nova, please." Richard gestured to the chair directly across from him. "Sit."

I sat. Elias took the seat next to me.

Staff appeared immediately with food. Way too much food for four people.

"So," Richard said once everyone was served. "Nova. I imagine my sons have filled you in on recent events?"

"Some of them," I said carefully.

"Then you know I've been unwell." He cut into his steak. "It gives a man perspective, facing his own mortality. Makes him think about what he's leaving behind."

I didn't say anything. Just pushed food around my plate.

"I've been making some changes," Richard continued. "To my will and to ensure my estate is distributed fairly."

"Father—" Callum started, but Richard held up a hand.

"Let me finish." He looked at me. "Your mother was my wife, Nova. However brief that marriage was. And you are her daughter. Which means you have a legal claim to a portion of this estate."

My heart started pounding. "I don't want anything from you."

"Nevertheless, the law is the law." Richard set down his fork. "I've decided to leave you twenty percent of my estate. My lawyers will be drawing up the new will next week."

The room went completely silent.

I looked at Callum and Elias. Callum's jaw was tight, his hands gripping his fork and knife hard enough that his knuckles were white. Elias had gone very still beside me.

"I don't understand," I said. "Why would you do that?"

"Because it's the right thing to do," Richard said simply. "Your mother contributed to this family in the short time she was here. You deserve to benefit from that."

"The boys don't seem happy about it." I nodded toward Callum and Elias.

"My sons will still inherit the majority," Richard said. "Forty percent each. But yes, they've made their feelings about this decision quite clear."

I looked at Callum. "You knew about this?"

"We found out this morning." His voice was tight. "Right before you called."

"So that's why you came to get me?" Something hurt in my chest. "Because I'm suddenly worth something to your father's estate?"

"No." Elias turned to me. "That's not why we came."

"Then why? Why did you really come for me after six years?"

"Because you called us," Callum said, finally looking at me. "Because you needed help and the will has nothing to do with it."

"Doesn't it though?" Richard's voice cut through. "After all, twenty percent of the Blackthorn fortune is substantial. Life-changing money. Perhaps my sons wanted to ensure you were... grateful."

"Father, that's enough." Callum's voice was dangerous now.

"Is it?" Richard smiled. "I'm simply pointing out that my sons have always been very protective of what belongs to them. And now, with you inheriting part of the family fortune, you'll be very much a part of this family again. Won't she, boys?"

The way he said it made something twist in my stomach.

Elias's hand landed on my thigh under the table. Not sexual, just there with this possessive aura.

"We're family now. Or we will be, once the will is finalized." Richard turned his attention back to me. "Tell me, Nova. Do you remember the night you left? The night you ran away from this house like it was on fire?"

I couldn't breathe. "I remember."

"What happened that night? What could have been so terrible that you felt the need to disappear in the middle of the night without even saying goodbye?"

I looked at Callum and Elias. Callum was staring at his plate like he wanted to set it on fire with his mind. Elias's hand tightened on my thigh.

"Nothing happened," I lied. "I just needed to leave."

"Hmm." Richard didn't look like he believed me. "Well, whatever the reason, you're back now. And this time, I suspect my sons won't let you run quite so easily."

"I can leave whenever I want," I said, even though we all knew it was bullshit. I had nowhere to go.

"Of course you can." Richard stood up. "Well, I've lost my appetite. Nova, welcome back to Blackthorn Estate. I do hope you'll be comfortable here. Despite the... complicated history."

He left, leaning on his cane as he walked out.

The three of us sat there in heavy silence.

"I need air." I pushed back from the table and stood up. "I'm going to my room."

"Nova—" Elias started.

"No. I need to think, I need to figure out what the hell I'm doing here." I walked out before either of them could stop me.

I made it halfway up the stairs before I heard footsteps behind me.

Both of them, of course.

"We need to talk about this," Callum said.

"There's nothing to talk about." I kept climbing. "Your father's leaving me money I don't want. You both came to get me out of... whatever reason. And I'm staying here because I literally have no other options. That's the situation."

"That's not the situation and you know it." Elias caught up to me on the landing. "Stop running."

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out with shaking hands.

Unknown number.

I opened the text and my blood went cold.

It was a photo of me, from today. Sitting on that curb in the rain outside my old apartment.

The message underneath made my stomach drop:

Welcome home, Nova. Let the games begin. You took something from me six years ago. Now I'm going to take everything from you. Starting with them.

I showed the phone to Callum and Elias.

Callum's face went dark. "When did you get this?"

"Just now."

Elias looked at the photo. "Someone's been following you, they know you're here."

"What did I take six years ago?" My voice was shaking. "I didn't take anything from anyone."

"I don't know," Callum said grimly. "But we're going to find out. Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"To increase security around the estate," he said, already heading for the stairs. "And to figure out who sent this before they make their next move."

"What if their next move is—"

"We're not going to let anything happen to you," Elias interrupted. "That's a promise."

We headed downstairs together, and I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to get a lot more dangerous.

And this time, I had nowhere to run.