Chapter 5

Gabriel paused, a thoughtful look crossing his features. ‘Just know that your parents loved you dearly. They wanted you to have the best of everything, and they knew you would do great things.’ Elodie looked at the documents again, her heart heavy with emotion. This inheritance was more than just wealth; it was a symbol of her parents’ love and trust. It was a challenge, an opportunity, a chance to build a future worthy of their sacrifice. Finally, with a deep breath, Elodie looked at her brother, her eyes filled with determination. ‘Thank you, Gabe. I accept your gift.’ Gabriel’s smile widened, his eyes shining with pride. ‘That’s my girl,’ he said, pulling her into a warm embrace. As they broke apart, a new resolve settled within Elodie. She would not let her parents down. She would honour their legacy by making Northstar even greater, using its power to create a better future for herself and for others. However, a question lingered in her mind. ‘Gabe,’ she asked, ‘where’s Oliver?’ Gabriel shrugged, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. ‘Only Oliver knows the answer to that question.’ *** As Gabriel regaled her with tales of his globe-trotting adventures as a neurosurgeon, Elodie found herself hesitant, a nagging suspicion gnawing at the edges of her mind. Should she share this burden with him? He was clearly thriving, his life a vibrant tapestry of success and accomplishment. Would dragging him back into the abyss of their shared grief serve any purpose? But the nightmares wouldn’t leave her alone. They were less frequent now, but the fragmented flashes of the car crash remained, growing more vivid with each passing day. The more she revisited the scene, the more details surfaced, like pieces of a shattered puzzle slowly coalescing. Gabriel, ever attuned to his sister’s emotions, sensed her growing distress. ‘What’s wrong, El?’ Elodie met his gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of trepidation and resolve. ‘I… I’ve been having nightmares again. About the crash.’ Gabriel’s brow furrowed. ‘Still? After all this time?’ She nodded, a tremor in her voice. ‘But they’re different now. Less frequent, and I’m starting… starting to remember things.’ His concern intensified. ‘Remember what?’ Elodie took a deep breath. ‘Details. Like the truck.’ Gabriel’s expression darkened. ‘The driver is serving a life sentence. The police caught him, he was drunk. I was at the trial, Ellie, remember?’ ‘I know,’ she whispered, ‘but… I can’t shake the feeling that the truck was aiming for us. Not an accident. Before I passed out, I saw the driver’s face. Just a glimpse, but…’ Her voice trailed off, the memory too painful to articulate. ‘What did you see, El?’ Gabriel urged, his voice gentle yet firm. Elodie closed her eyes, the image flashing behind her lids. ‘He wasn’t drunk. His eyes weren’t bleary or confused. They were… horrified. Like he knew what he was doing.’ Gabriel’s blood ran cold. This was new information, something that had the potential to blow up their lives. He could see the determination burning in Elodie’s eyes, the need for answers no matter how painful. ‘What are you thinking?’ he asked, his voice barely a whisper. ‘I don’t know yet,’ Elodie admitted, her voice trembling. ‘But I need to find out. I need to speak to the driver, see if I can jog his memory, see if there’s more to the story than we know.’ Gabriel looked at his sister, a wave of protectiveness washing over him. He knew how deeply the crash had scarred her, how it had haunted her dreams for years. Was he right to encourage her to reopen this Pandora’s Box? But then he saw the steely resolve in her eyes, a newfound strength he hadn’t seen before. He knew she wouldn’t rest until she had the answers she sought, no matter how painful they might be. ‘Alright,’ he said, taking a deep breath. ‘I’ll make some calls. See if we can arrange a visit.’ Elodie’s lips curved into a faint smile, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. ‘Thank you, Gabe. I know this is difficult for you too.’ He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring. ‘We face this together, El. Remember that.’ *** Elodie sat in the plush study, surrounded by the remnants of her parents’ life: meticulously filed financial statements, legal documents, and a collection of antique jade figurines. She held a velvet box, its contents glinting in the soft light. It was the jade bracelet, a gift from her mother Madeline, designed for Elodie’s eighteenth birthday – a birthday she never got to celebrate. Pushing aside the wave of grief, Elodie focused on the task at hand. Her inheritance, a gift of immense responsibility, lay before her. She had already mapped out her immediate steps – hiring a tutor to catch up on her education and taking control of her finances. But a closer examination of the documents revealed a disturbing truth. She no longer owned 100% of Northstar, the jewel in her inheritance crown. Instead, she held only 44%. A swift conversation with Gabriel confirmed her suspicions. Their uncles, Cyrus and Sebastian Fontaine, had taken advantage of Gabriel’s preoccupation with saving her life during that fateful year. Like vultures circling a dying carcass, they had chipped away at bits and pieces of the company, acquiring a combined 18% and installing themselves on the board of directors. Gabriel offered a sheepish apology, his eyes filled with regret. ‘I should have fought harder. I should have kept a closer eye on the company, but you know how those numbers make my head spin.’ Elodie smiled reassuringly. ‘Don’t worry, Gabe. I’ll handle it. I happen to like a challenge.’ The truth was, a challenge was exactly what she needed. There was no love lost between Elodie and her uncles. She vividly recalled their distant demeanour at family gatherings, their thinly veiled jealousy towards her father’s success. In her eyes, they were parasites, content to feast on the fruits of her parents’ labour while offering nothing in return. The time had come to reclaim what was rightfully hers. The thought of Cyrus and Sebastian basking in the glory they didn’t earn fuelled a fire within her. She wouldn’t allow them to tarnish her parents’ legacy. She would take back Northstar, brick by brick, and ensure its future was as bright as its past.