479 Lance’s Will Reading

(Winona)

The law office feels oppressive, the kind of place that absorbs every ounce of emotion and holds it hostage.

Lisa sits beside me, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her skirt. She's trying to look composed, but the redness around her eyes gives her away. She hasn't stopped crying since Lance's death.

I glance at the empty chair where Jayden should be. I tried to convince him to come, but he flat-out refused. Too much history. Too much pain. I can't force him, and honestly, I don't have the energy to try. I wasted enough of my life trying to change Jayden's mind on things.

I'm free of Judy and I'm going to make the most of that. This much I do know. But first, I need to get Lisa through this tragedy and broken heart.

The lawyer clears his throat. "Thank you for coming. We are here for the reading of Lance Edward Collins' last will and testament. Copies of the document will be provided after this session."

Lisa shifts in her seat, her breathing shallow. I reach over and squeeze her hand. She doesn't look at me, but I can feel her grip tighten.

"To Lisa," the lawyer nods over at Lisa and begins, "Lance has left the entirety of his personal fortune, a total amount of cash and investments in excess of ten billion dollars, along with instructions to continue supporting the charities he was passionate about, particularly his personal charity funding mental health and education for at-risk youth."

Lisa looks at me with her eyebrows raised. I shake my head indicating I have no clue either. Lance never mentioned charities or the size of his fortune.

The lawyer keeps reading, "he writes, 'Lisa, you brought light to my life in a way I never thought possible. I trust you to keep shining that light for others. Start with yourself, and let it grow from there.""

hand flies to her mouth, and the tears come fast. "I... I don't know if I can do that," she whispers, her voice cracking. "He always had a job, wanted a job, I don't even know where

the doubt in

of his startup company, FinEase, a platform designed to make

the actual fuck? My mind is exploding right now. FinEase is Lance? I probably should have guessed from

have always had a way of seeing potential where others see limitations. I started FinEase with the belief that financial literacy should be for

back tears and laugh despite the gravity of it

repeats. "It's a

what it is," I interrupt, my mind racing. "I just... I didn't

that FinEase? The one that's been blowing up everywhere

FinEase is under includes other investments and is currently valued at just over five billion dollars, with projections suggesting significant growth

but he'd never mentioned this. Not once. And now, he's

scratch. You can take

shake my head, still trying to process. "This is...

investor," the lawyer says simply, as if that settles the fact that I've just become a

moves on. "Lance

and that his ashes be handled jointly by Lisa, Winona, and Jayden-the only family he considered himself to have. He left

she turns to me. "He was our

the lump in my throat. "Yes, yes he

handing us copies of the will. Lisa and I both sniffling over the hole left by Lance that no

Lisa turns to me. "Winona, what if I screw this up? What

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