Derek arrived in a brand-new suit, likely purchased on credit in anticipation of inheritance. He sat at the mahogany conference table with his brother Calvin, already mentally spending a trust that wasn’t theirs, having neglected to read the preliminary documents.
As Vincent Rodriguez began the reading of Theodore James Harrison’s Last Will and Testament, the atmosphere shifted from eager anticipation to cold, crushing reality. Theodore had executed a new will just two months prior, following a comprehensive psychological evaluation to ensure his testamentary capacity. The document was a surgical strike against entitlement: Derek received only five thousand dollars and a box of old fishing gear. Calvin received ten thousand dollars and a reminder that hard work carries its own reward.
Then came the asset allocation that would change everything. Theodore had left the entirety of his estate—the Harrison Construction Company, valued at sixty-two million dollars, eight million in real estate holdings, and five million in diversified investments—to Joanna.
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