Chapter 10 - Turbulence on the Ground
While Emma was finishing her croissant, my tablet—which wasn't connected to my personal phone number but was logged into my work email—buzzed with an incoming notification.
It was an email forwarded from my lawyer.
*Subject: Urgent Inquiry regarding Estate and Parental Trust.*
I opened it, frowning. Attached was a formal legal letter sent by my father’s attorney.
I skimmed through the legal jargon until the core message became crystal clear:
*In light of recent financial disputes, Mr. and Mrs. Miller have initiated a formal review of the family living trust. Notice is hereby given that David Miller has been formally removed as an executor and primary beneficiary of the family estate, with all assets, including the residential property on Oakridge Lane, being transferred solely to Jessica Miller.*
I stared at the screen for a moment, then let out a soft, genuine laugh.
They really thought this was a punishment. They thought threatening me with a future inheritance of a heavily mortgaged suburban house would bring me to my knees. Dad had re-mortgaged that house twice to pay off Jessica’s debts; the remaining equity wouldn't even cover the property taxes over the next ten years.
They were disinheriting me from a house of cards.
"What is funny, Daddy?" Emma asked, wiping crumbs from her mouth.
"Nothing, sweetheart," I said, hitting *Delete* on the email and closing the tablet. "Just someone trying to sell me a broken toy."
"Flight 805 to Tokyo Haneda is now commencing general boarding for Business Class passengers," the lounge speaker chimed.
Emma leaped out of her chair, grabbing her little backpack. "That’s us! That’s us!"
"That’s us," I confirmed, taking her hand.
We walked down the jet bridge and stepped into the cabin. The flight attendants bowed graciously, guiding Emma to her pod seat by the window. She gasped as she saw the plush lie-flat bed, the noise-canceling headphones, and the large private television screen.
"Daddy, I have my own little room!" she squeaked, climbing into the seat and testing the plush cushion.
"Only the best for the VIP," I said, settling into the pod directly across the aisle from her.
May you like
As the plane pushed back from the gate and the engines rumbled to life, I pulled out my phone one last time to turn on Airplane Mode. Just before the cellular signal dropped, a single voicemail popped up in my notifications.
It was from an unknown number with a local area code.
