Chapter 3 Fate Has Other Plans

Mia couldn't believe that her dad was gone. It had been a few weeks since his burial, but she still felt as though he would walk through the door any minute, his jovial smile and comforting presence filling the room.

She had been spending most of her days in her room, curled up in bed, the weight of her grief too heavy to bear. Her mom was also struggling, her health deteriorating even further since her husband's death.

It was a bright afternoon when Mia's Uncle Richard arrived at their house, accompanied by her dad's lawyer; Mr. Anderson. Mia's mom was still in her room, resting. Mia knew she had to be present for the reading of the will, it was what her dad would have wanted.

"Mia, my dear. How are you holding up?" Uncle Richard asked, his deep voice comforting.

Mia looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. "I'm trying to be strong," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Uncle Richard pulled her into a tight embrace. "You don't always have to be strong, my dear. It's okay to let it out."

Mia felt a sense of comfort wash over her as she clung to her uncle.

The lawyer cleared his throat, interrupting their moment of grief. "Shall we start with the reading of the will?"

Mia nodded, wiping away her tears.

The lawyer proceeded to read out the contents of the will, detailing how her dad's assets and finances would be distributed. Mia listened intently, appreciating how her dad had planned everything out so meticulously.

"I leave all my assets, my company; The Liam Group, our family home, and all its contents, along with all my accounts and all accounts in the family to my brother Richard, to administer it. I believe my brother would take good care of my family and protect their inheritance till Mia comes of age"

This came as a shock to Mia, her mom, and her brother, even the lawyer was surprised. He reexamined the will and he confirmed that it was original and had not been tampered with.

Mia's mom Helena was shocked but she also believed that Richard, her husband's brother would treat his family well and take care of them. At least he had been so helpful all these years and he understands how to take care of the company.

Mr. Anderson continued, "To my beloved daughter, Mia, I leave my journal, open it on your 23rd birthday."

Mia's heart ached, knowing that this journal held a piece of her father's heart but she was puzzled as to why her dad would leave everything to her Uncle to administer, even their accounts.

She felt a little concerned but she decided that her dad had probably done what he felt was best to guarantee them a good life.

Helena and Mia exchanged glances, realizing the extent of their late husband and father's trust in Uncle Richard.

Mr. Anderson: "Furthermore, I have set up a trust fund for Mia's education and future endeavors, ensuring that she has the support she needs to achieve her dreams, my brother Richard is also in charge of granting her access as the need arises"

Mia: who was surprised and grateful, simply whispered "Thank you, Dad."

In the following weeks Richard, Mia's Uncle proved to be the complete opposite of what they had expected, he began to reveal his true nature. Mia had traveled for college within the US, she was in Houston and her family was in New York.

The problem started when she arrived at her college and she was not given accommodation because her fees and other expenses had not been paid, she thought it was a mistake but it wasn't. She immediately reached out to her uncle to inform him about this.

Mia's heart raced as she stood there in the bustling streets of Houston, her eyes fixed on the cityscape that was supposed to be her new college home. But everything had turned sour in an instant. Her dreams of a bright future were fading into uncertainty as she tried to comprehend the situation she found herself in. She had traveled thousands of miles from her family in New York, excited to begin this new chapter of her life, but now she was stranded without a place to stay.

With trembling fingers, she dialed her uncle Richard's number, hoping he could provide some clarity or even a solution to her predicament. Her phone rang, and with each passing second, her anxiety intensified. Finally, he answered, and Mia hastily explained her situation.

"Uncle Richard, I've arrived at college, but they won't give me accommodation because my fees and other expenses haven't been paid. I thought it was a mistake, but it's not. Can you please help me with this?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, followed by a chilling response that sent shivers down Mia's spine.

"Daddy's little princess, you're about to experience the full impact of Daddy's absence," he said coldly.

Mia's heart sank. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. Was this her uncle speaking to her in such a heartless manner?

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, and then asked, "Uncle Richard, what do you mean by that? Please, I need your help."

Her uncle's voice dripped with malice as he replied, "You'll learn what it's like to fend for yourself, just like your dear old dad should have made you do."

Tears welled up in Mia's eyes as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Her uncle had no intention of taking care of her family as instructed by her father in his supposed will, and worse still, he seemed to be reveling in her distress.

She clutched her phone tightly, trying to hold back her emotions. She couldn't let her family know what was happening. Her mom had been struggling with health issues and her condition had worsened since the death of her dad. Mia didn't want to burden her further.

Taking a deep breath, Mia decided she had to find a way to survive on her own. She searched for nearby hotels, hoping she could at least find a place to rest for the night. With trembling hands, she entered the hotel, hoping against hope that her credit card would go through. But as she handed it to the receptionist, her heart sank further when she heard the words she dreaded most.

"I'm sorry, but your card has been declined," the receptionist said with an apologetic smile.

Mia's face flushed with embarrassment as she tried another card, only to face the same rejection. She stepped aside to call her bank, hoping it was just a misunderstanding, but they informed her that there were insufficient funds in her account. The weight of her helplessness bore down on her, and she felt tears streaming down her cheeks.

She walked out of the hotel, her dreams shattered, and her future uncertain. Her phone rang again, and this time it was her mom calling. Mia wiped her tears, trying to sound composed as she answered.

"Hey, Mom," she said, her voice quivering.

"Oh, Mia, I was worried when I didn't hear from you. How are you doing, sweetheart?" her mom asked, concern evident in her tone.

Mia forced a smile, not wanting her mom to sense the turmoil she was going through. "I'm fine, Mom, just settling in. It's been a long day."

"I'm glad you're okay. Remember, you can always talk to me if you need anything," her mom reassured her.

"I know, Mom. Thanks. I love you," Mia said, her voice breaking slightly.

"I love you too, Mia. Take care," her mom said before ending the call.

Mia walked aimlessly through the streets, trying to gather her thoughts. She needed to figure out a plan, a way to survive in this unfamiliar city until she could sort out her college fees. She didn't want to ask for help from anyone else, not after what her uncle had said.

Mia sat in her on the cold floor, outside a club, staring at her phone in disbelief. Her uncle's words echoed in her head, leaving her feeling confused and betrayed. She had always looked up to Richard, her father's brother, as a sort of surrogate father figure. But ever since her father's untimely death, Richard had been acting strangely. And now, this.

"Daddy's little princess, you are about to experience the full impact of Daddy's absence." His words ran through her mind again, ringing with a hint of malicious glee. She couldn't believe it. This wasn't Richard she was talking to. This wasn't the man who had always been there for her and her family when they needed him. It was like he had changed overnight, even before her father's will was read.

Mia had always been close to her father. They shared an unbreakable bond, even now that he was gone. Her father had always said that Richard was a good man, that he could be trusted to take care of them if he was ever gone. But now, she couldn't help but wonder if her father had been wrong about him all along.

She missed her father terribly, and she knew that her brother, Corey, was feeling the same way. They had always been very close, and losing their father had been hard on both of them. But now, with Richard acting like this, she couldn't help but worry about what would happen to their family.

She picked up her phone and dialed Shelby's number, needing to talk to someone who understood what she was going through.

"Hey sis, what's up?" Shelby answered after a few rings.

"Mia sighed, "Richard just told me that he's not going to pay for my school fees and I won't get accommodation."

"What? Why not?" Shelby's voice registered her surprise.

"I don't know, he just said something about the full impact of Daddy's absence." Mia's voice choked up. She was starting to feel like everything was falling apart, and she had no clue what to do next.

Shelby paused, trying to think of something to say that would make her feel better. "Maybe it's just a misunderstanding. You should try calling him back and see if everything is okay."

Mia nodded, her mind already running through possible scenarios. "Yeah, you're right. I'll give him another call." She hung up and dialed her uncle's number again. When he answered, she tried to keep her voice steady as she asked, "Richard, what's going on? Why aren't you paying my fees? I thought you said you would take care of us."

Richard's voice was cold and dismissive. "Things change, Mia. You'll have to figure it out on your own."

"But I can't, Richard. I don't have any money. I don't even have a place to stay," Mia protested.

"That's not my problem. You'll have to figure something out. I have my own problems to deal with," Richard said before hanging up.

Mia felt a wave of panic wash over her. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't believe that her uncle was treating her this way. She had always been close to him, and he had always been there for her.

Suddenly, a thought struck her. What if Richard had somehow manipulated her father's will? What if he had deceived her father into signing to leave everything to him and cut out their family? She had never been one for conspiracy theories, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.