Gerald Hart or as family liked to call him, Grandpa Hart, was a rich man who lived a rich life, he only sired two male sons, the first son had sadly passed away thirty years ago and his wife followed soon after. The second son was Lionel Hart, Lucy's father and the one that everyone thought would take over the company after Grandpa's passing. That thought was shattered when right before his passing Grandpa Hart declared Michelle to be the Vice-Chairman till two years later when his will would be read and the one who would inherit all his riches, including the company, would be announced. That day was today, and all the Harts- Lionel, his wife Amelia, Michelle, Leo, Logan and Lucy as well as some distant relatives all gathered in the dining hall, with the lawyer seated at the end of the table. From his vantage point he gazed at the people seated before him, watching the excited looks on their faces, he shook his head sadly as he saw only one person seemed solemn.
Clearing his throat he began- "Thank you all for gathering here today for the will and testament of Gerald Hart, a strong amazing man whom you all loved dearly-"
"Can we please skip the pleasantries and get on with it?" Lionel asked impatiently.
"Of course, I understand. To distant relatives and to my son and his family, the sum of 100 million is to be deposited into their accounts three hours after the reading of the will is concluded." There were pleased murmurs at that, " For all my other assets, liquid or bond, estates, small companies and of course Hart Industries," Everyone sat up at that eager to see who would get everything, " I leave it to my granddaughter Michelle Hart. She shares the same love for the company and all that it stands for like I do and I trust-"
"That's outrageous!" Lionel yelled, banging his fist on the table, " What do you mean he left everything her. I am his son."
"Mr. Hart, conduct yourself, or else I'll have to ask you to leave. Now where was I? Yes, I trust she'll take very good care of them. I leave them in no better hands. Note that the contents of this will is indisputable. However, if it ever comes to be that Michelle is unable to inherit these things listed, like for example due to personal wishes, everything shall revert to my son Lionel Hart." The lawyer looked at the table again, "This concluded the will and testament of Gerald Hart."
Michelle sat frozen in her chair, this was unexpected news but she was grateful that her grandfather trusted her enough with something like this. Feeling someone's gaze on her, Michelle looked up and recoiled. Her family was looking at her with so much hate, it was scary. The looks on their faces made her realize that they didn't hate her before they only saw her as a plaything something that was amusing to them, but now? Now they hated her terribly and the look on Lucy's face was an especially terrible one.
***
Michelle was quick to return home, she didn't stay behind to converse with anyone. She opened her door, dropped her bag on the table, entered her room and promptly went to sleep, she awoke in the evening to numerous calls and texts, none were as insistent as Lucy's, she'd sent over fifty texts claiming that they had to meet as soon as possible, that she wanted to apologize and everything like that. She chose to ignore all of them. Just as she was about to drop her phone, a message entered:
Please sis, don't leave me on read.
Let's talk about this.
I'm really sorry. Let me apologize.
Apologize? after the way she looked at her? Was that really the case? Would it hurt to find out? These thoughts swirled in her mind.
Alright. Apologize then. She sent in response. The reply was immediate
No I want to do it in person. Let's meet at Rico's for lunch tomorrow pleaseeeeeee.
Rico's was a public space and a very good restaurant.
Ok, see you at Rico's at 12.
Tomorrow came quickly and Michelle tried her best to focus on work, but everyone was congratulating her on being the new CEO. Soon lunch hour came and she made her way to Rico's where she met Lucy and John? why was John here? what was Lucy planning?
Steeling her face she walked towards their table.
"Hey sis" Lucy said in a bubbly tone, " It's been forever, hope you don't mind I brought along a plus one."
"I didn't realize we were supposed to Lucy."
"Oh no, it's just when I told him I wanted to apologize to you, he insisted on following me that he had to apologize too. Hope you don't mind."
She did mind but she'd never tell Lucy that.
"Nope, not at all." She said, leaning back into her chair with a smile on her face, "So apologize."
"Right. Right. Michelle I am so sorry that your heart got broken ok. It wasn't my intention when I had John date you and then propose to you. I just wanted you to experience love."
"Wow, how kind of you." Michelle replied sarcastically.
"Right?" Lucy said smiling wider, the sarcasm going over her head, "OK now John's turn"
Both women turned to face John who coughed awkwardly, "Michelle, I apologize for the pain my actions caused you."
"Ok." She stood up to leave.
"Wait you can't leave now, you haven't had lunch." Lucy said pulling her back to sit.
"I don't think-"
"Just sit and eat. Then I'll really believe you've forgiven us"
Sighing defeated lying she accepted, ordered and soon had her order in front of her. in a bid to leave as quickly as possible she rushed through the food, ignoring the dizzying feeling that presented itself after she had a few bites. Soon the feeling became too much to ignore. Her vision started to blur and the sounds in the restaurant seemed muted.
"Are you ok?" Lucy's voice sounded as though it was coming from afar, just like that she passed out.
Lucy stared at her sister passed out before her, turned to John and said,
"poor sis, she must have been so tired. Let's help her get home."
Together they staggered out with Michelle in between them, they placed her in her car which Lucy drove following closely behind John.
***
Coming to, Michelle found herself in her room unaware of how she got there. Her limbs felt heavy and she could barely lift her head off the bed.
"Oh goodie, you're awake." Lucy's voice said at the end of the bed, at her side was John and everyone else. "I was starting to get impatient."
"Wuh-"
"Don't bother trying to speak, the drug we gave you has paralyzed all major functions in your body, it will take a while before it leaves your system. Not that it matters anyway."
"Michelle," Lionel began his voice coaxing, " I want you to relinquish your claim to the inheritance, so that it can go to me."
Unable to do anything but shake her head, she did so furiously.
"Told you." Lucy said in a mocking tone. "Do you think you're better than us? Is that it? Let my father have the company that is rightfully his."
She shook her head again.
"Haven't you gotten enough? After everything we've done for you, you're still being selfish Michelle? Isn't 100 million enough for you? Ok give it up and I promise we'll take care of you for life." Michelle gave no response.
"I told you it was a lost cause." Lucy said in a singsong voice, " There's only one thing left to do."
"I suppose you're right." Lionel said and everyone nodded in agreement and they left room leaving Michelle alone with John and Lucy.
"Why?" Michelle groaned, her voice raspy.
"Why? Because you're not one of us. You're just something Grandpa dumped on dad after your real father died."
Michelle's eyes widened in shock.
"That's right, your real dad is Grandpa's first son who died under suspicious circumstances. I say 'suspicious' because in actuality it was my dad that killed him. Your father was in the way of his rise to power and now so are you. Like father like daughter huh. Now I have to get rid of you, so that MY family can own Hart Industries and everything that comes with it" She pulled out a knife and as she stared into Michelle's eyes, she stabbed her in her lung. Cackling as she watched Michelle gasp for air, struggling and failing to breathe she grabbed the jug of gasoline and poured it all over the room nit before making sure she poured some on Michelle.
Wide eyed and in fear for her life, Michelle looked to John, hoping, praying that he would help.
He chuckled darkly, "I have no desire to help you. You strutted around in my life flaunting your wealth and your position. Rubbing it in my face that younwere better than me. Who's the better one now?" He struck the lighter he had removed from his pocket.
"So tragic, Michelle Hart dies in tragic house fire. Family consumed with grief. Bye bye sister."
With those final words, John dropped the lighter and the flames came quickly dancing around the room as it slowly made it's way towards Michelle. Choosing not to stay and watch they quickly left Michelle's home fleeing to saftey.
She couldn't move, her brain screamed at her to run but her muscles couldn't carry out that order, smoke quickly filled her lungs and she could only scream as the fires engulfed her body. Like a movie she watched her life down to the very moment she was and cursed her so called family who only got joy from her sorrow. In a moment of desperation she sent a final prayer to the heavens- praying that if she ever got the chance to start agin, she'd make them pay a hundred times everything they've done to her, finally her eyes closed in death.
Only to open abruptly in a room she'd hadn't seen in a long time. Was this heaven? she thought as she looked around her. No, this felt too real. She looked down at her self and saw her skin was unmarred by the flames. She walked towards the mirror that was in the room and found herself staring a younger looking version of herself. She gazed around the room and suddenly she remembered where she was, she was back in her twenty-four year old body, long before all the horrible things happened, the memories of all that they'd did to her played in her mind, the heavens had heard her prayer. Things were going to be different this time around. She'd make sure they'd all pay. No matter the cost.