Chapter 3 - The Final Breath and the First Shock
Two days later, Jonathan Mercer took his final breath.
The heart monitor flatlined at 3:14 AM. The hospital room was silent, save for the steady beep of the machine signaling the end of an empire builder.
Victoria arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later, dressed in flawlessly tragic black attire. She threw herself onto Jonathan’s lifeless chest, sobbing hysterically for the benefit of the nursing staff.
“My poor husband! I loved him so much!” she wailed, secretly checking the time on her designer watch. She had a brunch reservation with Raymond at noon.
The funeral was held three days later. As Victoria had promised, it was brief, cheap, and private. She didn't even shed a fake tear as the casket was lowered into the ground.
Raymond, a slick-haired personal trainer with expensive taste and massive credit card debt, stood right by her side, holding her umbrella.
“We did it, babe,” Raymond whispered, his arm wrapped around her waist. “Eighty-two million dollars.”
“Try to look sad, you idiot,” Victoria hissed back, though she was smiling beneath her black veil.
The reading of the will took place the following afternoon at Arthur Vance’s downtown law office. Victoria strolled in wearing head-to-toe Chanel, dragging Raymond along with her.
“Let’s make this quick, Arthur,” Victoria said, taking a seat at the heavy mahogany table. “I have a flight to Malibu to catch tonight.”
Arthur Vance looked up from his folders. His face was a mask of professional stone.
“I’m afraid there has been a slight change of plans, Victoria,” Arthur said smoothly.
Just then, the heavy oak doors to the conference room opened. Lucas Bennett walked in, wearing an ill-fitting suit he had borrowed from a friend. He looked terrified, but he stood tall, remembering his promise to the man who died in his ward.
Victoria frowned, glaring at the young man. “Who is the help, Arthur? Why is there an orderly in my husband’s will reading?”
“Mr. Bennett is not here to serve coffee, Victoria,” Arthur said, sliding a thick stack of legal documents onto the center of the table. “He is here because he is the primary beneficiary of the Mercer Estate.”
Victoria burst into laughter. “Excuse me? That’s a terrible joke.”
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Arthur didn't smile. “Two days before his death, Jonathan executed a new will. It supersedes all previous documents.”
Victoria’s laughter died in her throat. Her face turned chalk white.
