Four months ago...
The Tanarro family fixed their gaze on the newly arrived girl, the same disheveled motorcyclist who showed up unceremoniously at Kai's funeral.
She raised her hand to greet them informally; she could barely muster a "hello" that was quickly ignored by the attendees who turned their attention back to the lawyer. Aya Tanarro spoke up, interrupting the prolonged silence.
"Sir Hidalgo, could you explain to us what this person is doing here?" She furrowed her brow, demanding an answer from the lawyer whom she detested. "But respond, say something!"
"Well, Kai's last wish was for the entire family to be present..." He swallowed, unaccustomed to dealing with this harassing woman. He opened his briefcase and took out a folder, which he slowly opened, adjusted his glasses, and proceeded to read.
"My dear family, consumed by this incurable illness, I must inform you that I, Tanarro Kai, in full possession of my mental and physical faculties, of my own free will and responsibility, have decided to distribute my assets, wealth, and everything that belongs to me as the leader and head of the family in the following manner: I bequeath the Suite apartment of the Saint Marie Hotel in Tokyo to my aunt Aya and her adorable children. The rest of the properties, real estate, companies, and banks of the Tanarro group, I bequeath to my sole successor and the new head of the family: my only niece, Jina Sotomayor."
Yuselso opened his mouth; his cigarette slipped from his lips and fell onto the conference table. Yukio closed his eyes and brought his hands to his head; both of them had the same question in their minds: "Only niece?"
Mrs. Tanarro fainted, sliding from her chair, but none of her children helped her regain consciousness. They were possibly too shocked by such news or perhaps they believed she was acting, as with her, one could never know for sure what was true and what was false.
Jina and the lawyer helped her sit and catch her breath. Once she regained consciousness...
"What are you saying, you damned imbecile! How can she be his niece?" She shook the lawyer violently, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. "That will is fake! I don't accept it! I don't accept it!"
Jina Sotomayor stood up, took the will in her hands. Everything was confusing, even for her, but when she remembered the man who had treated her with such generosity in the past, she felt much calmer.
"Now I understand everything," she murmured to herself. "All this time, I thought it was just a whim of my mother, but now everything is clear to me..."
Yukio helped his mother stand up; the lawyer's hair was already disheveled from being shaken so much while she hysterically shouted over and over again that it couldn't be possible. Her screams were so loud that the assistant and the secretaries looked toward the glass door, observing what was happening.
A single glance from Tanarro Yukio was enough for the group to return to their tasks and try not to look toward the room where things seemed to be going poorly.
"The hotel suite apartment? Is that all?" she continued shouting. "It can't be..."
Jina sighed as she took a seat. Even she couldn't believe it. She had gone from being a nobody to inheriting an entire business empire in the blink of an eye. She wondered if it was all a dream, but Mrs. Tanarro's screams confirmed that it wasn't.
The lawyer found a way to free himself from Mrs. Tanarro's grip, took a few steps back, and resumed reading the will:
"I know my decision will cause some dissatisfaction among you, but I believe it is for the best, considering that the heir is my only niece, and therefore, the family's legacy continues in the hands of a direct descendant. I hope no difficulties arise. I have left precise instructions to ensure that Aunt Aya lacks nothing while she lives. As for Yukio and Yuselso, I believe they are old enough to fend for themselves..."
The lawyer handed a document to the woman, and Yukio and Yuselso peeked their heads over her shoulders, their eyes widening in astonishment. They looked at each other while the woman tore the document to pieces with her hands and cried hysterically.
"This!... Only this! It's a pittance. No one can live on this per month..."
"Madam," the lawyer interrupted, taking a breath, "in fact, that is the sum that was arranged for you every three months... until the day of your death or in the event that you decide to remarry. We will always ensure that you receive the same amount."
"Are you crazy?" the woman yelled angrily. "This isn't enough to pay for the gym, the club, or to go shopping!"
"Madam, you will have to adjust to that," the lawyer protested. "As for the will, it is legitimate. Mr. Tanarro left two registered copies in the notaries with his signature, fingerprint, and family seal. I will provide you with the details in case you wish to request a copy."
"Well, if everything is legal, then I request that this brat undergo a DNA test. I won't rest until it is proven that she carries the bloodline of my nephew Kai and my brother-in-law and those who came before him, the Tanarro family."
"If that's what you want, we have no objection, but it will be done in a location agreed upon by us," the lawyer responded, annoyed by the woman's request.
"Oh, really? So you can have time to tamper with the results and get away with it?" the enraged woman said. "Do you think I don't know that you're behind all of this? You took advantage of Kai's illness to brainwash him with the idea of a niece who doesn't exist!"
"Well, whether you like it or not, Jina Sotomayor has more of Tanarro in her than you and your children, madam!" he replied, flushed with anger. "And yes, the test will be done in a place where your dirty hands cannot manipulate or alter it."
"Enough!" Yuselso shouted, grabbing the lawyer by the collar. "Don't you dare speak to my mother like that!"
"Get your hands off me, spoiled brat! Don't touch me!" the lawyer retorted.
The argument grew more heated. Jina remained seated on the couch, intimidated by what she witnessed. It was clear that the family wouldn't accept her, and the idea of becoming a member of it again seemed distant. She wanted to scream, and so she did.
"Enough!" Her cry was so piercing that everyone fell silent. "I... I..." She stammered under the expectant gazes silently fixed on her. She looked at each one of them, and her eyes settled on the mature face of the lawyer. "I... I... I have something to say."
It was strange that the words didn't want to come out of her throat. Normally, she was an impulsive and rebellious young woman who never cared about gossip, but these unfamiliar people unsettled her, and the presence of the brown-haired man hiding his eyes behind black glasses made her uneasy.
"I... The truth is, maybe this may seem crazy," she hesitated. She wasn't even sure what she was about to confess, but she wanted it all to end. "But the truth is, I don't want anything that Kai has inherited for me."
They looked at him puzzled. Yukio took off his glasses just to make sure with his own eyes that it was true. Yuselso took another cigarette, brought it to his lips, and lit it without any hurry. Mrs. Tanarro looked at him in awe, placed a hand on her chest, and sighed. It seemed that everything had ended favorably for the Tanarro's interests."Jina, I know this news hasn't been easy for you, especially considering that you have traveled hundreds of kilometers to come here and discover this truth. However, you cannot renounce what has been inherited," the lawyer smiled at her, trying to reassure her, and continued reading the additional clause imposed by Kai."I know very well that it has always been the desire of my ancestors that a person from the Tanarro lineage inherit the fortune that we have amassed for centuries. However, if Jina Sotomayor voluntarily decides not to accept the inheritance, it should be fully distributed to charitable institutions."Mrs. Tanarro immediately under
Four months later... He was driving his car at high speed, wondering why he had done all that; he didn't need it. He had his own businesses, his own assets earned with his own efforts, but he knew that didn't compare to the fortune his cousin had left in the hands of that girl. He smiled as he pressed his foot on the accelerator. He took the main road, not wanting to go back home. He didn't want to see Tori, didn't want to look her in the face, especially after sharing intimacy with another girl... No, he was sure she would forgive him for everything except that. Just remembering what had just happened made his skin crawl. He needed a shower, maybe a couple of drinks, or possibly to get into another woman's bed, something to rid himself of the strange sensation on his skin when he recalled the girl's caresses and kisses. He stopped in front of the entrance gate of a luxurious building. He searched his pocket for his cell phone. His cold and calculating face twisted in anger. The id
"Oh... How dreadful!" A grimace formed on that perfectly featured face as she put on her sunglasses. "I'll have to hurry. I don't want this to ruin my image... How could she go out dressed like that?"She drank her glass of cognac while the cheerful Jina arrived, smiling happily and taking a seat."Good day, my love!" She tried to hide the sadness she felt, certain that this wasn't the place to ask her lover directly about the message."What's good about it?" She replied grumpily. "You're late!""What kind of greeting is that?... I missed you so much," she looked at him tenderly while reaching into her pocket to make sure her phone was still there."We were together almost the whole night! How can you miss me when we've barely been apart for a few hours?" She replied, trying to contain her anger. With a hand gesture, she signaled the waiter to come and take their order. "The usual," she replied, handing back the menu as she fixed her gaze on Jina."Pateee Oran... Nah, Sooouuup l...a..
Four months ago...Her lips emitted a loud whistle. The lawyer and the secretary were standing behind her. They closed the door so that no one could interrupt them."This is luxurious!" she exclaimed, running towards the grand presidential armchair and spinning around excitedly as the world revolved around her. She suddenly stopped and looked at the two smiling faces. "But what do I have to do here? I have no idea how to handle all this," she looked at them as if she were a lost puppy."Don't worry, Jina. Secretary Hibara and I will help you. With our guidance, you will do a good job.""But I don't think I'm prepared for this. It's a great responsibility... Besides, I heard that Tanarro Yukio is the most suitable person to sit in this chair.""That could be... But Mr. Kai chose you, so we will place our trust in you," the secretary replied with a smile. "Mr. Hida
He looked at him coldly, adjusting his scarf with his right hand while holding his umbrella with his left. He dared to say,"Sotomayor Jina, you will never change...""Teodoro Eun-Chan!" she shouted in surprise, running towards him. "What are you doing here? When did you arrive? How did you find me? Where have you been? How was university? Will you be coming back home soon?..."A frivolous smile appeared on his face, and with his right hand, he made a "stop" gesture, trying to halt Jina's endless barrage of questions.They walked in the rain until they stopped at a nearby café. Jina looked at her companion from head to toe, admiring him since high school. Everything looked good on Eugene-Chan. She looked at herself again in the reflection of the window glass; she was a mess compared to her friend."Are you going to sit down or are you just going to keep staring at yourself
Three months later..."Passengers bound for Switzerland, please board through gate thirty-two... Ladies and gentlemen, due to the reported weather conditions in the major cities of Spain, flights will experience a delay of approximately one hour... Thank you for your patience..."The message in English was replicated in several languages. Jina walked, dragging her heavy travel suitcase, and approached a foreigner with brown hair and a freckled face who held a huge sign with her name written on it."That's me!" she said, pointing to the sign and then pointing to herself.The man smiled and took her luggage, leading her to the car while speaking several words that Jina didn't fully understand.She peeked out of the window, amazed by the monuments, sculptures, and architecture of the buildings. She smiled in awe. Finally, they stopped in front of a small residence l
Paris, France...Eugene-Chan's house was completely silent. Jina spent the afternoon gazing out of the window, often crying. But on that particular day, she felt calm, thinking that Yukio must have returned from Hokkaido and was probably surprised not to find her there. She smiled and looked around for a calendar where she had marked several dates, including that specific day. She closed the curtain of her bedroom window and walked towards Eun-Chan's occupied study."Mmmmmm...""Mmmmmm, what?" asked the writer without taking his eyes off the computer screen."Mmmmmm..." she repeated while organizing her thoughts. "I'm bored!""Being bored in Paris is a crime," he replied while continuing to type. "If you're bored, go out and take a walk. Paris is full of beautiful places, art, fashion, and all those cheesy things you like...""Yes, it's beaut
He entered the office with his shirt untucked, his tie loosely knotted, wearing black glasses. A cigarette rested on his lips, and an elegant Hugo Boss jacket casually hung off his shoulder. The people he bumped into in the hallway greeted him in their usual manner, but behind his back, they murmured among themselves. For the first time since they had known him, they saw him with this somewhat unkempt appearance. He slammed the door shut and poured himself a drink."Isn't it a bit early to start drinking?" Ankit asked, poking his head through the door."The night ended badly, the day started badly..." Yukio tossed a paper ball at him.Ankit caught the paper, hastily unwrapped it, and read it, then looked at his friend."Damn it! That doesn't look good at all." He approached and poured himself a drink to join his friend. After a pause, he interrupted the silence. "Although this confirms our suspicions