With a cruelty that defied fifteen years of shared history, he threw her suitcase onto the sidewalk, branding her “worthless” and demanding she leave before the ink on the death certificate had even dried.
Derek’s arrogance stemmed from a fundamental misunderstanding of estate planning and testamentary trusts. He assumed his father’s wealth was his by birthright, blind to the fact that Theodore had spent his final months observing the contrast between Derek’s neglect and Joanna’s unwavering devotion. While Derek played video games and complained about the “inconvenience” of his father’s declining health, Joanna had coordinated physical therapy, managed medication schedules, and provided emotional support the value of which no sum of money could match.
The legal reckoning occurred in the Victorian-style offices of Vincent Rodriguez, a probate attorney renowned for his meticulous attention to fiduciary duty.
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