They Tore Up My Lifesaving Will

My aunt left a will, leaving her entire one-million-dollar estate to me. My father, Robert, snatched the paper and ripped it to shreds. "What does someone on her deathbed need this kind of money for?" he sneered. "Now that the will is gone, the law says the three brothers split it equally." My face went deathly pale. "Clara left that money for me! I need it for my leukemia treatment!" Robert ground the paper scraps under his boot. "Money might not even save your life anyway. We're her real next of kin. What the adults say, goes." The rest of the family broke into eager smiles. "Robert's right. We're with you all the way." A wave of icy numbness washed over me. What they didn't know was that Clara had an electronic copy safely backed up. If they didn't care whether I lived or died, they wouldn't get a single dime from me. Seeing me stand there frozen, Robert softened his tone, pretending to care. "Vivian, sweetie, I know you're hurting. But we have to look out for the living." "Austin is getting married soon, and Mia is getting ready to study abroad. Your uncles and aunts are struggling too. Splitting it three ways is the fairest outcome." Pain ripped through me like I was being dragged straight into hell. "Even without this money, Austin can still get married, and Charles can still send Mia to college!” “But if I don't get treatment, I will die! Besides, Clara promised that money to me. What right do any of you have to touch it?!" Robert trembled with rage at my defiance. "Vivian, how can you be this selfish?! That money might not even cure you, but it could change our whole family's lives!" Brenda wiped away fake tears. "Oh, honey, don't talk about dying. Do you really think your family would abandon you?" Donna chimed right in. "Exactly. We'll find you the best specialists, of course. Blood is thicker than water. We'd never leave you hanging." I almost laughed out loud. Ever since my diagnosis, they had treated me like a leper. They were terrified of catching it from me, or worse, being asked to donate bone marrow. "We're too old for surgery." "Austin and Mia are too young. What if the procedure hurts them? Absolutely not." Where was that 'blood is thicker than water' speech back then? I shattered their little charade. "The doctor already found a matching donor. The surgery costs exactly one million dollars. If I inherit Clara's money, I get to live." They exchanged glances, their minds racing. Charles was the first to speak up. "Doctors say whatever they want. For all you know, they're just pushing an expensive procedure to pad their commissions." Everyone nodded in hasty agreement. "We're your family. We wouldn't steer you wrong." My expression didn't waver. "Clara wanted me to have it. I am not sharing a single cent." Robert lashed out. "Vivian! When I get my share, I'll pay for your treatments! You lose nothing! Everyone wins this way. Why do you have to ruin everyone else's happiness just because you're sick?!" His outburst emboldened the others. Brenda gave a theatrical sigh. "Vivian, don't blame me for being realistic. Even if you survive, you'll just be a burden on everyone who has to care for you. Have some pity on your father. He raised you on his own. Stop torturing him." Donna nodded eagerly. "Clara's money belongs to the Vance family anyway. Splitting it is the legal, rightful way." I gasped in sheer fury. "No! The law won't let you!" Donna looked at me like I was an idiot. "The law won't let us split it, but it'll let you hoard it all? The will is gone, sweetie. You have zero legal ground." I pointed at the shredded paper on the floor. "It was in black and white! Everything went to me!" Our family had never treated Clara with any respect. Years ago, my grandparents tried to marry her off to an older man for a hefty check. Clara had a huge fight with them and ran away to build a life of her own. Robert took her independence as an insult to the family name. "Consider her dead to us!" he had declared. I dropped to my knees, desperate to gather the torn fragments. "You never cared about her while she was alive! What makes you think you have any right to her money now that she's dead?!"Austin stood nearby with his hands in his pockets, smirking. "You guys remember, right? Vivian was always hanging around Clara's place when we were kids. Clara spoiled her rotten, handing her cash all the time.” “No wonder she tricked her into leaving everything to her." Brenda caught on instantly. She rushed over, knocking me down with her heavy shoulder. "You little manipulator! You played your aunt so you could steal the entire estate! Vance family wealth belongs to the boys carrying our name. What business does a dying girl have touching it?!" I hit the floor hard, a sharp pain shooting through my chest. Still, I fought through the agony to defend Clara. "You cast her out first! Her death is on your hands! None of you deserve a single penny!" Clara never married or had kids, so she poured all her love into me. She gave me pocket money, bought me treats, and surprised me with cute clothes. When Austin and Mia found out, they banged on her door, demanding their share. "Our parents said since you don't have kids, everything you own belongs to Austin once you kick the bucket!" Clara was furious and kicked them out on the spot. "Don't you dare touch my money!" Austin's words spooked her, though. She took me to a lawyer right away. "Vivian, you're the only one I love. Guard my money carefully. Don't let those vultures have a cent." To be safe, she also slipped a legally binding copy of her will into her diary. That was the copy we had just found among her things. Later, when I was diagnosed with leukemia, Clara sent me fifty thousand dollars right away. "Don't worry, sweetie. I have money. We'll spend whatever it takes to get you well." When Brenda found out, she threw a massive tantrum at Clara's house. "What the hell are you doing?! Why are you giving Austin's money to Vivian?! Give it back!" During the screaming match, Clara fell. She was bedridden after that and passed away shortly after. Remembering that fifty grand, Brenda kicked me in the ribs. "Clara gave you fifty thousand dollars before she died! That belonged to Austin! Cough it up!" I looked up at my father, helpless. Robert didn't show an ounce of pity. Instead, his eyes were full of disgust. "Vivian, Brenda is right. Hand that fifty grand over so we can split it three ways along with the estate. It's the only decent thing to do. Aren't you afraid of karma?" I reached for the fragments on the floor, my eyes burning with hatred. "In your dreams. Clara's will said everything is mine. You get nothing!" Austin's heavy boot stomped down onto my hand. "Stop fighting it. You're half-dead anyway. Give up the treatment, die peacefully, and leave Robert with a decent retirement fund." Brenda spat, her voice dripping with venom. "We wasted our time caring about you! How can you be so selfish and petty? Even if you win this money and get cured, everyone will despise you! You'll die alone with no family left!" I clenched my teeth, ignoring the agony as I grabbed at the pieces. Robert bent down, scooped up the pile of paper scraps, flicked a lighter, and set them ablaze. "Forget it. No will means an equal split." Tears streamed down my face. "Dad... why are you doing this to me? I'm your daughter! How can you stand by and watch me die just to save a buck?!" He didn't answer. The overwhelming pain was too much, and everything went black.When I woke up, I was staring at the ceiling of a hospital room. A nurse noticed I was awake and let out a heavy sigh. "You're finally up. God, you should've seen the circus earlier. A mob dumped you here, yelling at us to wake you up so you'd 'cough up fifty grand.'” “Security had to kick them out for causing a scene. Who were those monsters?" A sharp, stabbing ache gripped my chest, but I kept my voice steady. "My family." The nurse gasped. "Seriously? They acted like they wanted you dead." She caught herself and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. I didn't answer. I just picked up my phone and dialed. "Mr. Pierce? It's Vivian. I want to execute Clara's will. I need her estate released immediately for my leukemia treatments." An hour later, I arrived at Pierce Law. To my shock, Robert, my uncles, and my aunts were already sitting in the lobby. Brenda sneered the moment she saw me. "Well, look who caught wind of our meeting. Too bad you're late. We already consulted legal counsel. Without a will, her siblings split everything equally. If you want a cut, beg your dad." Robert looked down on me with cold indifference. "Vivian, out of a million dollars, our household only gets around three hundred thousand. That's barely enough for your first surgery, let alone follow-ups.” “Stop dragging this out. Take that fifty grand Clara gave you as a gift from all of us. Treat yourself to some good food. Make peace with your time." Seeing me stay silent, Brenda stepped forward and shoved a bright red envelope into my hands. "By the way, your cousin is getting married. You'd better stay alive long enough to show up." I opened it. The invitation was for a five-star hotel downtown. Austin's fiancée came from a wealthy family. Brenda and Arthur were desperate to impress her parents, maxing out their credit cards to throw a lavish wedding they couldn't afford. I never expected them to lend me money to save my life. But why did they have to steal the money that was rightfully mine? Furious, I tore the invitation to shreds and threw it at her feet. Brenda snapped. "Vivian Vance! Don't you dare bite the hand that feeds you!" I shrugged coldly. "Just taking a page out of your book. Didn't you do the exact same thing to Clara's will?" Nathan Pierce stepped out of his office to greet me. "Miss Vance, please come in." I looked straight at him. "Mr. Pierce, I'm here to claim my aunt's estate in full, exactly as she requested." Laughter erupted behind me. Donna mocked, "Are you losing your mind from the cancer? What will?!" Embarrassed, Robert quickly jumped in to explain to Nathan. "I apologize, counselor. My daughter is terribly ill, and her head isn't clear. Don't listen to her nonsense. And don't bother charging her—she doesn't have a job and can't pay your fees." I still couldn't understand why my own father was fighting so hard to stop me from inheriting it all. "Dad, Clara made it crystal clear. Everything belongs to me. If I don't survive, whatever is left goes to you anyway!” “Why would you destroy the will and share it with everyone else? You're taking less money!" Robert stammered, his face flushing red, before barking defensively, "I'm doing what's best for the family! Stop being so damn selfish!" If he refused to tell me the truth, I was done humoring him. I reached into my bag, pulled out Clara's paper will, and held it up for everyone to see. "I have the will. Every last penny is mine."Their smug smiles vanished. "That's impossible! How do you have that?!" "It's a fake! She's lying!" Donna grabbed Nathan's sleeve. "Don't listen to her! It's forged! Tell her what happens to criminals who forge legal documents!" Robert lunged forward, yelling, "Vivian! I know you're desperate, but faking a legal document?! You're humiliating our entire family!" Nathan held up a hand, his voice firm and commanding. "Everyone, calm down. The document in Miss Vance's hands is indeed the official last will and testament executed by Clara Vance. It is fully legally binding." Panic washed over their faces. "How? We ripped it up the other day!" "Yeah, it was destroyed! Destroyed documents don't count!" Before anyone could react, Robert lunged forward, grabbed the paper from my hands, and tore it to pieces just like before. He let out a long sigh of relief, smirking at Nathan. "Now it's gone. Clara's estate goes to the three brothers under intestacy law, right?" I stared at him in utter disbelief. "Dad... why? Why would you shred a legal document right in front of an attorney? Are you really so desperate for that three hundred grand that you'd throw away your own daughter's dignity and life?!" A sharp surge of fury rushed through my chest. The pain was so intense I coughed, spitting a mouthful of blood across the floor. Robert didn't flinch. He didn't ask if I was okay. Instead, he muttered under his breath, "If I'd known she was this close to dying, I wouldn't have shredded it. If she died first, I would've gotten the whole million." A cold weight pressed down on my lungs, suffocating me. Nathan rushed forward to support my trembling shoulders. "Miss Vance, are you alright?" I gritted my teeth, forcing every word through the blood in my mouth. "Move forward with probate. I want every single cent Clara left me." Robert sneered. "Vivian, give it up. You have no will. The law says we split it." Nathan adjusted his glasses, his gaze piercing. "Miss Clara Vance's estate was filed electronically through our firm. No matter how many physical copies you destroy, the legal record stands.” “Miss Vivian Vance is the sole designated heir. You will not receive a single dime." He paused, letting the words sink in. "Furthermore, Miss Vance has formally instructed us to file criminal charges against you for the intentional destruction of legal documents and attempted grand larceny.” “We reserve every right to prosecute." Arthur was the first to fold, pointing straight at Robert. "It was him! He shredded the paper from the start! We had nothing to do with it!" The rest of the family turned on him in an instant. "Officer—er, counselor, he dragged us into this! He told us we'd get a cut! We didn't know anything!" Robert stared at them in utter shock. "When we were talking money, I was your hero! Now that there's trouble, you throw me under the bus?! We're family!" Desperate, Robert turned to me, tears welling in his eyes. "Vivian... do you really want to put your own father in prison?!" Suddenly, the door swung open. A young man marched in, glaring at me. "Vivian Vance! You split Clara's estate right now, or I'm taking Robert to court!" Looking at the stranger's strikingly familiar face, the pieces finally clicked. I finally understood why Robert was so desperate to split my inheritance among our relatives. Fighting through the agony, I stared the man down. "Go ahead. Let's both sue him and see whose claim comes first. I'm suing him for destroying a will to steal my inheritance. What are you suing him for?" The man puffed out his chest. "I'm suing him for—"