The Inherited Stranger
Chapter 1
"Thank you for coming today. And... my condolences for your uncle's passing," said Mr. Smith, the family lawyer who had served the household for over a decade. His voice was calm, but his eyes carried the weight of something more than just grief.
"Miss Elena," he continued, sliding a crisp white envelope across the polished mahogany desk. My name was inked boldly on the front, the handwriting unmistakably my late uncle's. "He asked me to deliver this to you personally. His final instructions."
My throat tightened as my fingers hovered over the letter. Something about the way Mr. Smith avoided my gaze told me this wasn't just any letter. My fingers trembled as I broke the seal and pulled out the paper.
Dear Elena,
If you're reading this, it means I am no more. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you this earlier, but I wanted you to have this after I was gone. You've been like a daughter to me since I took you in, and I want you to know I'm proud of you. This letter contains the will to an island I have left behind for you-Erténa Island. There are rules you must follow once you arrive, and you will not be alone...
"What?!" I screamed, slamming the paper onto the table. "I have to live there for a year with some rando?" The name, Lucas Vance, was written in bold, unforgiving letters.
"I'm sorry, Elena, but those were your uncle's instructions," Mr. Smith said calmly, seeing the desperation in my eyes as I sat speechless.
Who the hell is Lucas Vance, and why does he get to stay on my island?
Lucas's POV
The crash of the ocean waves was the only sound I heard as I stood at the edge of Erténa Island. The wind tugged at my shirt, carrying the faint scent of salt and earth. This island was supposed to be my escape, my solitude. But solitude never lasts long, does it?
Mr. Smith's call still echoed in my head. "You won't be alone there, Lucas. The late Mr. Alden made arrangements."
Arrangements. That was one word for it. Shackles was another.
I clenched my jaw, folding the letter tighter in my hands until the paper crumpled. A stranger, some girl I'd never met, was about to share my exile. Her name was Elena Hayes. I had no idea who she was, but if she thought this island was going to be hers, she was in for a surprise. Erténa wasn't just an island to me. It was the only place where my sins could be buried. And now, she was coming to dig them up. I reached into my pocket, grabbed my phone, and made a call.
"Get everyone ready to welcome our expecting guest," I said into the phone. "Elena, huh? Let's see what you're about."
Elena's POV
I drove back home, the will a chaotic blur in my mind. I had lived with Uncle Frederick, his wife Clarissa, and their daughter Tiffany for years, but Uncle Frederick was the only one who ever treated me like family. Aunt Clarissa and Tiffany always made me feel like an outcast. Now that he was gone, I was left to deal with my aunt's treachery alone.
"Can't believe Uncle Frederick would make such terms," I muttered as I walked into our mansion.
"Oh, sweet cousin, where have you been?" Tiffany called out from the staircase, a mischievous smile on her face. Our mansion was grand, but today it felt like a gilded cage.
"What do you want, Tiffany?" I asked, rolling my eyes.
"With Dad gone, what makes you think you have the right to be in this mansion?" she shot back.
"I've lived here for fifteen years. I have as much right to this house as you do."
"Oh, please! Spare me the drama. You're nothing but a charity case Dad took in. Now that he's gone, neither my mother nor I owe you a thing. The sooner you start packing your things, the better," she replied coldly.
"You..." I started to retort, but a sharp slap from Aunt Clarissa cut me off.
"Shut your mouth, you ungrateful wretch! From today, you cease to be a member of this family. Pack your things and leave immediately," she snapped.
Still reeling from the slap, I seethed silently. They had always treated me like trash. Did I really want to live with these monsters? No. Erténa Island might just be my ticket, not only to claim what I deserved, but to make them pay. I stood firm and calm, a smirk playing on my lips.
"Lucky for you both, I was already on my way out," I said. I pulled out the envelope containing Uncle's letter and tossed it at her. "No worries. You won't be seeing any more of me from today," I added, a satisfied smile on my face.
I walked up the stairs to my room, leaving the two of them staring at the letter in shock.
"Whaaat!! Dad gave her an island??" Tiffany shrieked. "How is that possible?"
"Says here she has to live with Lucas Vance for a year before claiming the inheritance," Aunt Clarissa read aloud, her eyes narrowing.
"Lucas Vance? As in the Lucas who's been living on Erténa?" Tiffany gasped.
"No... that... that's impossible. We have to stop this. That wretch can't possess what should be ours!" Clarissa snapped, her mind already scheming.
Inside my room, I sat staring at the suitcase. "Am I really going to a mysterious island to live with a Lucas for a whole year?" I wondered. "What if he's a creepy old pervert? A dangerous maniac?... No. I trust Uncle Frederick. If he wanted me to take over Erténa, then I can't afford to disappoint him."
I packed my clothes and called a cab. As I descended the stairs, memories of the fifteen years I had spent in the mansion flooded my mind. It was time to change my fortune, and finally uncover the secrets behind Erténa. My cab waited outside. Without a second glance at the mansion, I got in and we drove off.
After two hours and thirty minutes of driving, the cab finally stopped at the entrance of a sprawling estate-like island. A shadowy figure stood waiting. My heart skipped. Was that... him? Lucas Vance.
And from the look in his eyes, I knew my life was about to change forever.
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