Page 72 of Reeling in Love

Sophia turns toward us. “Monsieur Dupont has done a bit of digging, and I believe he’s found something. Maybe he can tell us all what he’s discovered.”

“Sure,” I say as we all sit down again.

“Well, this TruthSeekerBob is relying on an audio recording. He has apparently heard it and he’s making his posts based on what he has heard, but as of now, he doesn’t have it in his possession. Someone has agreed to send him that recording tomorrow morning. That is when he has promised to his followers that he’ll reveal more details with proof.”

“Who is that someone?” Nora asks, leaning forward, her eyes boring into Dupont. “And from where did that person get the recording?”

He turns to face Nora, then me. “She got the recording from an American named Kevin. He works as an illustrator and used to live with Ms Nora’s sister.”

“Who is the ‘she’ you refer to?”

Dupont shifts uneasily in his seat and eyes Sophia.

“Go ahead. Tell us. Is it someone we know?” she asks. “We know you’re only relaying facts, so just say it.”

“Madame Bardot.” His gaze locks on mine. “Your grandmother. I’ve traced the money trail back to her.”

“What?” Nora, Sophia, and I yell in unison.

“Are you sure you’re not out of your mind? Mamie! Why would she do it?”

“Well, I can’t be certain as to the reasons. Lack of time, you know. You’ll need to speak to her directly for that. But I have my theories.”

“What theories?”

He clears his throat.

“Are you aware of your grandfather’s will, Monsieur Gabriel?”

I nod. “I believe he left half of his estate to Mamie. The rest he divided between his two daughters—my mom and my aunt.”

“You’re partly correct. He left half to his wife, your Mamie. Twenty-five percent to your mother’s sister. The remaining twenty-five percent was not exactly to your mother. He had made it abundantly clear that he wouldn’t give her anything. He left that to you, his grandson.”

He pauses and fixes his gaze at me. I’m too dumbfounded to say anything. My jaw falls open and I stare blankly at the balding man’s face. Is he crazy? Grandfather left twenty-five percent to me? Someone he had never even met? Why didn’t Mom ever tell me?

“He did it, but on the condition that you marry Ms Sophia. You see, he wanted Ms Sophia’s father, who was his friend’s son, to marry your mother. But Madame Daphne married your father, against your grandfather’s will and much to his displeasure. But when you were born and Monsieur Martin had a granddaughter, they both believed a union between the two families could still be done.”

“Have you gone nuts?” My gaze oscillates between him and Sophia, who is sitting there, nonplussed. “You know about this? Is this true?”

She shrugs. “Yeah. I told you I knew our parents wanted us to get married.”

“Yeah, but did you know my supposed inheritance was based on that?”

She nods. “I did. And that’s why I knew you would have to come to me, whoever you decide to have a fling with before marriage. I’m surprised your mother never told you about this. It’s potentially your money, after all.”

Nora’s face has gone pale as she sits there. It’s probably too much for her to take, just as it is for me.

“Is there something linked in your inheritance too?”

Sophia smiles and shakes her head. “No. I agreed because it’ll be good for our business. And I really don’t care much about who I marry.”

I turn to Dupont again. “Who gets my share of the inheritance if I don’t marry Sophia?”

“It’ll be divided equally between your grandmother and your aunt.”

“Then why would Mamie do this? There’s nothing for her to gain. I mean, she benefits if I don’t marry Sophia. Why would she do this?”

“Perhaps because she has not been getting along too well with her other daughter. So she doesn’t want her to get any more of the estate. But my theory is that your mother asked her to do it. There’s a lot for her to lose if you don’t marry Ms Sophia. She has acted as the caretaker on your behalf, assuring everyone here that you’ll definitely marry Ms Sophia. I believe she has been spending some good amount of money every year and if you don’t get the inheritance, she’ll have to return it all.”

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