All Chapters of My Family Stole My Inheritance, So I Walked Away: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

Before I left, I wanted to return their things.When I was twelve, my father gave me a pocket watch. He said he was afraid of losing it and asked me to hold onto it for him. It was the watch he'd bought with his first paycheck when he worked on a ship at sixteen.I took the watch to Chloe's new apartment to find him.He was crouched on the floor, assembling a coat rack for Chloe by hand. Mattresses, crystal lamps, and storage boxes were piled all around."Lower it a bit," Chloe said, measuring the height. "I can't reach."My father immediately took it apart and reassembled it.When he saw me, he asked casually, "What are you doing here?"I held out the watch. "Returning this."He blinked. "Why? Just keep it. Why bring it back now?""In case I don't get another chance."He didn't catch my meaning. He tossed the watch into a cardboard box full of spare parts."Perfect. Chloe's entryway still needs a decoration. Come help."I didn't move.Chloe quickly said, "It's fine. Vivian probably ha

At dawn, the old butler parked the black sedan outside my apartment.My parents and Damian were still busy setting up the ball.The group chat had been active all night.My mother sent a photo of a wall of balloons.[Vivian, you pick the flowers for the banquet hall. You have the best taste.]My father replied below: [She's still throwing a tantrum. Ignore her.]Damian posted a picture of a four-person cake.[Chloe said she'll save you half. Are you coming or not?]The butler loaded my luggage into the trunk. He opened the back door and laid a cashmere blanket on the seat."Miss, the late Madam instructed that you get cold on long trips."My nose stung. At least someone remembered I got cold.I didn't reply to the group chat.A notification popped up. Chloe had changed the group name from "Family of Five" to "Family of Four."Then she sent a screenshot. My group nickname had been changed to "Guest."Chloe sent a laughing emoji. [I just changed it randomly. Vivian won't be mad, right?]

Damian drove to Boston overnight.The next morning, he was standing in the Harvard Law School administrative office.The staff member asked one question."What is your relationship to Ms. Moretti?"He answered without hesitation. "Her fiancé."The staff member pulled up the file."Ms. Moretti's emergency contact list does not include you."Damian's face stiffened. "She's just upset with me. Please, just tell me where her dorm is.""I'm sorry. Under FERPA, we cannot confirm or deny any student's enrollment information."My father slammed his hand on the counter. "We're her family!""Then you should know more about her than we do," the staff member replied.All three of them went silent.They didn't know.They'd only found out about the enrollment confirmation by searching my room yesterday.My mother forced herself to stay calm. "We won't ask for her address. Can you at least pass along items for us?""No.""Then when can we contact her?""That's the student's personal choice. The law s

Life at Harvard Law was busier than I'd imagined.My first week, my advisor selected me for a research team.Days in the case library. Nights writing memos.Boston winters hit twenty below. The wind was full of snow.A senior classmate handed me a coffee. "Regret it? Coming here from New York?"I shook my head. "No.""Miss home?"I thought about it. "I miss my grandmother.""Anyone else?""No one else."He didn't ask again.By the end of my first semester, I ranked first in my class.My advisor placed a federal clerkship recommendation letter in front of me."You're the best student I've ever had.""Third year, I'm sending you to the Supreme Court for an internship."I took a sip of the coffee that had gone cold. It tasted sweeter than the real champagne at Chloe's party.Six months later, my parents showed up at Harvard.I saw them from the third-floor library.They stood at the administrative office on the ground floor, blocked by staff.My mother was crying.My father stood with cle