Gemotions

The cold marble of the courtroom floor seemed to radiate into Clara's bones. Her stomach was a knot of anxiety. Beside her, Leo, her brother, maintained a practiced calmness, his face a perfect picture of indifference. He had always been good at hiding things.

The judge, a stern woman with a voice that cut like a knife, began to read the will. Clara braced herself. Their estranged father, a man who had vanished from their lives years ago, had left them something, and Clara was convinced that it would be a disaster.

“To Clara, a trust fund… with stipulations.” The judge's words echoed in the cavernous space. Clara’s breath caught in her throat. She closed her eyes.

"And to Leo…" the judge continued, her voice unwavering, “a controlling interest in the family business.” The words hung in the air, a stark contrast to what she’d thought. Clara's chest felt tight.