Page 3 of Overnight Inheritance

“Everyone wants something.” He knew that from experience. “What’s the voice in your heart whispering? Fame? Power? Influence?”

She was silent for so long that he began to wonder if she’d left. Then she said, softly, “To make the world a better place.”

He almost snorted in disbelief but thankfully caught it in time on the off chance she was serious. Did people like that really exist? People filled with hope and goodness?

“There’s a lot of things that aren’t great in the world,” he said, probing. “What, specifically, would you like to make better?”

“I’d like to help children. And mothers who are trying to protect them.”

The simple sentiment hit him hard in the solar plexus, and he practically staggered with the weight of it. Everyone knew that her father, Joseph Rutherford, had been a terrible human being, and many suspected that his wife had run to protect their little boy, Heath. Heath had reappeared on the scene a few months ago, and it was later revealed that he was a package deal with Mae. Their father hadn’t known of her existence, which meant her mother had to have escaped once she knew she was pregnant. Sebastian’s own father—and Joseph Rutherford’s business partner—wasn’t someone he thought of fondly, but he’d been an angel compared to Joseph. Mae’s mother had probably done the right thing by running far, far away, and, as a parent himself, he respected her choice.

“That’s,” he began but had to stop and clear his throat. “That’s a good idea. If it’s what you want to do, then slip on the mask of someone who can get it done and head back inside.”

He heard a long intake of breath and could imagine her straightening her spine and getting her game face on.

“Thank you. I’m ready.” There was a crunch of leaves, as if she’d taken a step. “Nice to meet you, shadow man.”

He waited until her steps faded, then whispered, “Likewise, Mae.”

Mae felt taller, surer. She’d left the party less than half an hour earlier, wanting to be as far from the people and their world as she could. One conversation with the stranger next door and she felt different, and was reentering the party with a sense of purpose. She began to talk to the people she met about their passions and what charity work they did, feeling her way and looking for clues of what she could do with these new connections.

She wasn’t staying in the US forever—she’d spent most of her life in Australia and thought of it as home—but while she was here, she could do something to help women who were in a similar position to the one her mother had found herself in when she realized she was pregnant with her.

Aunt Sarah approached from the champagne bar, the skirt of her turquoise dress swirling around her knees. “You seem different than the last time I saw you.” She smiled, and her kind eyes crinkled at the corners. “Less like a startled bird.”

Mae chuckled. She really did like Sarah. “I just had an interesting conversation with your neighbor.”

Sarah stilled. “Which neighbor?”

“The one over the hedge there,” she said, pointing.

Her aunt swore under her breath and Mae was momentarily surprised. She’d obviously only seen Sarah on her best behavior in the few weeks she’d known her. Then she registered that Sarah’s expression was stormy too. Shadow Man had said there was some history between them and that they avoided each other when they could.

Mae lifted her hands, palms out, placating. “I’m not sure what the problem is between you, but he was really lovely to me tonight. Gave me some good advice too.”

Her aunt’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll just bet he did.”

“Okay, what am I missing?” This seemed like an overreaction for neighbors who didn’t see eye to eye.

Sarah glanced around, then beckoned her to follow until they reached a secluded corner on the other side of the kitchen. “I was planning on letting you settle in a bit longer before plunging you into meetings with the lawyers and accountants to explain your inheritance to you. But for now, how much has Heath told you about what your father left in trust?”

“We haven’t had much time to talk in detail yet. Just that after our father died, most of his wealth was left for Heath, and you’ve been the executor, overseeing it in the meantime. And that once you and Freya found him and proved his identity with the DNA tests, he split the money fifty-fifty with me.”

“That’s the story of the money,” Sarah said, inclining her head in acknowledgement, “but do you know anything about the composition of the estate?”

Mae thought about conversations she’d had with Heath and came up empty-handed. She really should have asked more questions. “Not really.”

“Okay, here’s a quick overview. You’ve both inherited a portfolio that contains cash, bonds, and investments. But the main component is stock in a property development company that my father, your grandfather, and his business partner started—Rutherford and Newport. That company passed to their sons—your father, Joseph Rutherford, as well as Christopher Newport. They ran it together for many years, despite disliking each other intensely. They both tried to buy the other out several times, but neither would sell. When your father died and we couldn’t find Heath and didn’t know about you, Christopher thought he’d won. But I refused to sell the stock and, instead, employed a team to work in the company, to keep the business going and keep the seat warm for Heath, and now for you too.”

Mae gave Sarah a spontaneous hug. “I can’t believe you kept the faith all that time that you’d find him.”

“I never gave up hope.” Sarah reached out and cupped Mae’s cheek. “And then finding you was such a special bonus.”

The touch, the boundless love, reminded her of her mother’s love for her, and she found herself smiling. “So what does all this have to do with your neighbor?”

Sarah flicked a glance at the window that faced her neighbor’s property, appearing lost in thought for a long moment. “That man is Christopher’s son, Sebastian Newport. Christopher is in the process of retiring, and Sebastian has stepped up to take over most of Christopher’s duties. So the man who ‘gave you good advice’ has a vested interest in any decision you make.”

Mae’s heart stuttered and her stomach sank before she remembered something crucial. “I didn’t tell him who I was. I could have been any guest at the party.”

---