Gemotions

The courtroom was packed, the hushed murmurs and rustling papers making Grace feel even more exposed. She wrung her hands in her lap, her stomach churning with a mixture of dread and anticipation. Her brother, Ethan, sat beside her, his expression carefully neutral. He was trying to be calm.

The lawyer’s voice was a dull monotone, reciting the terms of the will. The house, the stocks, the family jewelry…Ethan. She barely listened, the blood thrumming in her ears.

Then came the announcement. “And to Grace, the family's collection of classic cars, including a fully restored 1957 Thunderbird and a 1965 Mustang.” The room seemed to tilt. Grace was astonished, and felt a rush of heat and a sudden, inexplicable tightening in her chest. Ethan looked utterly bewildered.