𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬 || Jameson Hawthorne

will time

༄ 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐅, 𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐖𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐈 𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃.

The old man was a mastermind, full of puzzles and riddles that I couldn't even decipher. He had trained and prepared his four grandsons for this moment for years— the moment he died.

But I never expected to get an invitation to the will reading. Andrew and Lottie Laughlin— my grandparents— were expected to be at the will reading. Me? Not so much. Even my sister Rebecca was not invited.

The will was about to start, until we all realized one thing. Jameson Winchester Hawthorne was nowhere to be found. This wasn't out of ordinary routine. The only strange thing was the mystery girl that had showed up at Hawthorne House— no knowledge or correlation to Tobias Hawthorne whatsoever.

I walked into the garden, my eyes fighting the urge to look around. I hadn't been here in so long. The memories of this place? Of Hawthorne House? It just brought me back to—

"Lizzie?" A voice none other than Jameson's slurred. Looking toward the direction of his voice, I saw him— drunk, and hanging from the rooftop. "You're here?"

"Yep," I eyed him and the vodka bottle he was holding. "I think you should get down."

His mouth contorted into a smirk. "That's no fun."

Ugh. "I'm serious, the will reading is gonna start soon," Jameson didn't look convinced at all. Jameson Winchester Hawthorne always did what he wanted to do. "Please?"

"You don't come around anymore," Jameson said, his tone shifting to something else. He knew why I didn't come around anymore, I shouldn't have to say it out loud. "I think—"

"Jameson!" Jameson missed a step and went tumbling down the roof, plopping right on the floor beside me. He looked dead.

"Oh my gosh— what is wrong with you?"

He turned around and laid flat on his back, and then his gaze shifted onto me. "It's good to see you, too."
—
༄

Every part of Hawthorne House amazed me. I had roamed around this house for years, but I still found new riddles and passages to decipher. Or, at least try to decipher. Jameson had been beating me at our little competition our whole lives. I only won once, but Xander told me later it was because he let me.

I sat down in the chair farthest from everyone. Unfortunately, all the chairs were about to be occupied. The mystery girl and her (sister? friend?) were sitting a couple of chairs down from me. I could feel her staring at me. I hate eye contact.

"Excuse me?" She said, her voice soft.

I couldn't just ignore the girl. "Yes?"

"Do you.." She paused, and I almost felt sorry for her. She was shaking. "Why am I here? Why did Tobias Hawthorne want me here?"

"The old man was a puzzle," I had known that my whole life. For years I had breathed in his games. "If he brought you here, I could guarantee you it was for a reason."

The girl gulped, sliding back into her chair.

Great job Liz, you scared the shit out of the her.

"I'm sorry, that was rude. What's your name?"

She smiled at me, but it didn't reach her eyes. Nerves were glued to her face. "Avery Grambs."

That name doesn't ring a bell.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when a drunk and unstable Jameson sat a few chairs down from me. He met my gaze. I looked away.

Grayson Davenport Hawthorne was seated beside him in a suit. That wasn't any surprise. What was a surprise was the bundle of nerves he had on which were apparent to everybody.

Grayson was the heir apparent. He was expected to get almost everything in Tobias Hawthorne's name.

"Let's begin." Ortega, one of the lawyers from McNamara, Ortega and Jones said. The room fell silent, all eyes on the man.

I pretty much spaced out for the first half, because it was a bunch of random nonsense. True North this— why didn't I get this? that— all the same thing.

"Elizabeth Laughlin," the usage of my full name snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up at Ortega.

What could Tobias Hawthorne possibly want to give me? If Rebecca wasn't here, I shouldn't be either. Only Andrew and Lottie Laughlin deserved to be here. Tobias Hawthorne barely knew I—

"500,000 dollars, available on her eighteenth birthday," The gasps around the room were more than audible. Ortega squinted at the piece of paper and then looked back up at me. "For she is worth more than she thought."

I didn't have any time to let those last few words sink in before Skye and Zara Hawthorne were standing up. "This is ridiculous. Tobias barely acknowledged the girl. Not many people—"

"Enough," Nash Hawthorne said, holding up a hand to his mother and aunt. "The man had his reasons." With this, he turned to face me and smirked.

Who doesn't love Nash Hawthorne?

But none of this had made sense. The Hawthorne brothers had only inherited 250,000 apiece. Zara and Skye had basically gotten nothing, and Andrew and Lottie Laughlin had gotten what they'd expected.

That meant..

"The remainder of my estate," Mr. Ortega read, "including all properties, monetary assets, and worldly possessions not otherwise specified, I leave to Avery Kylie Grambs."

Holy shit.
—
༄

a/n:

CHAPTER 1 IS DONE!!!! y'all i hope this book doesn't flop but since my Grayson series really started only has one more full act left (cry) I was like why not make this??

also imagine Jameson as Louis Partridge (who is my husband he just doesn't know it yet even tho him and olivia are cute sigh i hate life) bc he's like the number 1 fan-cast. If they don't do him for the show i'm done. HES THE PERFECT AGE. UGH. K BYE