Little White Lies

Chapter 13

"I'm here!" Candice shouted, pushing the heavy double French doors of her home and bursting in. Despite only walking up the few stairs from the driveway to the door, she was breathing hard. Benson smoothly glided out from the living room door and nodded curtly at her.

"Miss White. The party has been waiting for you," he announced. Candice had always found him too formal but for once, his tone felt oddly fitting. She was so close to putting all these behind her that her entire body was shaking. It all felt oddly surreal as she trailed after Benson into the living room.

But the entourage that greeted her was not what she expected.

The team of lawyers was in various shades of grey suit, spread across the sofa on a laptop or cell phone. Next to them were David, Eric, and Eva.

Candice should be overjoyed that they are all here. She was worried about Eric and Eva. But something felt off. Eric was looking anywhere but her, David was tapping his foot impatiently, and Eva was smirking in a way that was unlike the girl she came to know.

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice coming out only marginally less afraid than she felt. One of the lawyers looked up and gave her a nod of acknowledgment and the rest just continued like she wasn't in the room.

She turned to Benson, who retreated to a corner of the room just like he used to. His expression offered no clue whatsoever. She looked at Eric, trying to catch his eyes as he leaned forward and kept his eyes pointed at his feet. Ok, no problem, she'll get to it after she secured her inheritance.

Before she had a chance to open her mouth, the lawyer pushed a document towards Eva. "Sign here and everything is done."

Candice froze as she watched Eva took the document and picked up a pen. This couldn't be happening. No way. "What is happening? Are you..."

Eva finished signing the paper with a flourish and stood up abruptly. She handed the paper back to the lawyer and walked around the coffee table between them until they were face to face, only a few inches apart. Candice wanted to rip the paper out of the lawyer's hand, but Eva's gaze made her hesitate. It was like she was possessed, the way she was twitching and the maniacal look on her face.

"David?" Candice called. Her cousin looked up, his jaw clutched tight and he was wringing his hands nervously. She didn't like the look of pity he gave her. "Can someone just tell me what is going on. I'm here now, can I just get my inheritance?"

The lawyer slid the paper neatly into a briefcase and stood up. "The matter is concluded. Miss Eva Goodman here is now the heiress to everything. Have a good day."

Have a good day?

Candice watched as the lawyers all got up and leave. Have a good day? Was he serious? He just handed her inheritance, her legacy, to another person. She wanted to scream, to call after them and tell them there was a mistake. But it wouldn't make a difference. They had played her.

"I can't believe you'd do this. Is this your plan the whole time? Stealing this from me?" Candice exploded the moment she heard the front door click. David shuffled back uncomfortably at her anger while Eric continued to act like he wasn't even in the room. She turned to Eva, who gave her a sickeningly sweet smile.