Sarah, 37, wrote us a beautiful letter, beginning with a heartbreaking tale. She explained that her father had lately passed away, leaving her in deep sadness. Their closeness was exceptional, especially given that he had raised Sarah on his own after her mother died tragically when Sarah was a youngster.
Sarah said that her father was a highly talented lawyer, well-known in legal circles and beyond. His courtroom skills were legendary, gaining him great acclaim and affection. He was often referred to as “a wizard” or “a genius” by his peers, and he had an amazing capacity to obtain victory in cases that even the most seasoned professionals thought were impossible. Many people looked up to him as a mentor, gaining significant lessons from his experience and finesse.
Given his exceptional skill, it’s unsurprising that Sarah’s father amassed considerable wealth. With a net worth nearing a billion dollars, he held ownership of multiple prominent law firms, extensive property holdings, and a luxurious collection of cars.
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Sarah’s father taught in her a different perspective on money and luxury.
As a single father, Sarah’s father dedicated himself to imparting his core principles in his daughter. One important lesson was his financial attitude. Sarah recalled how he had taught her the value of modesty and frugality. Despite their riches, she grew up recognizing the importance of not flaunting their privileged status.
Sarah confessed, “I went to a regular school and eventually enrolled in a law school, all without my father’s intervention. He wouldn’t even assist me prepare for my entrance examinations, urging that I follow in his footsteps and work my way up from the bottom without skipping any steps.”
Sarah’s father was overjoyed with her accomplishments after she graduated with honors and was hired by a small law firm. Despite having the resources to offer her a position at one of his larger enterprises, he flatly declined, underlining the necessity of her establishing her own route to success.
Sarah added, “Even though my father was a very well-known figure, I never appeared in the media with him.” His flawless reputation and talent were his alone, and I never disagreed. I understand his rationale. He wanted to make sure that after he was gone, my future depended on me, not his legacy or fortune.”
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Despite reservations about her partner, Sarah’s father chose not to interfere in their relationship.
As Sarah began seeing Bradd, a fellow university student, her father was skeptical. In their first meeting, he bombarded Bradd with questions, perceiving a mismatch in what he dubbed his “personal check.”
Sarah remembers, “My father always told me that Bradd was a lazy, entitled man who was drawn to my father’s reputation and fortune from the beginning. But I chalked it up to my father’s protective personality, which I appreciated but did not give much thought to his fears regarding Bradd.
Bradd, for his part, never broached any topics related to money when conversing with Sarah, further convincing her of his pure intentions. They tied the knot a year before her father’s passing, and their marriage appeared blissful both personally and professionally, as they both pursued their careers with zeal and enjoyment.
After Sarah’s father passed away, unexpected events unfolded, taking everyone by surprise.
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Sarah became overwhelmed by enormous sorrow after her father’s loss. Nonetheless, she was surprised by Bradd’s demeanor in such hard circumstances. Her memory was this: “Instead of offering comfort and support during my overwhelming sorrow, Bradd immediately broached the subject of my inheritance, asking about the extent of my expected wealth after my father’s demise.”
This question sh0cked her, bringing back thoughts of her father’s concerns about Bradd’s actual motives and how he was only interested in her for her father’s money.
Sarah disclosed, “When he asked about my inheritance, my expression must have betrayed my surprise. I responded, ’What inheritance? I won’t receive a dime from my dad. I’m not even mentioned in his will.’”
Bradd brushed it off as a joke or a result of her distress after the funeral, assuming she was talking nonsensically. Sarah countered, “There’s no inheritance for me because I’m not my dad’s biological daughter. I was adopted a year before my mom’s death, and although my dad raised me as his own, he never intended to include me in his will. I’ve known this my entire life.”
Bradd vanished as soon as he heard the “bad news” Sarah had for him.
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In Sarah’s ongoing story, she reveals that Bradd filed for divorce less than a month after she discovered she did not inherit from her father. Sarah then scheduled a meeting with Bradd, which was facilitated by a family acquaintance who had previously worked with her father’s business.
At the dinner, Sarah’s father’s partner revealed her father’s will to Bradd. It contained a stipulation indicating that if Bradd remained married to Sarah for five years after her father passed away, he would be entitled to half of the inheritance, while Sarah would receive the other half. However, in the case of a divorce, Sarah was named as the only beneficiary of her father’s entire fortune and assets.
In her concluding words, Sarah expressed her contentment, remarking, “It was immensely gratifying to witness my ex’s sh*cked reaction. His face turned pale, then red, then pale again. He was left speechless, like a fish gasping for air out of water. I felt that my father’s plan had been fully realized, and he could finally rest in peace, knowing that I was thriving without that ’lazy, spoiled kid’ in my life.”