I let silence hang for a beat.
“No. Dad left it to me. I’ll handle it.”
Her tone sharpened.
“Don’t be difficult, Hannah. You know you’re not cut out forthis kind of thing.”
I hung up before she could finish. My pulse was pounding, but deep down I felt something new: resolve.
That evening, I cooked the rest of Jack’s stew and ate by the fire. The flames popped and crackled, and I thought about Dad’s words. Build something with it. Megan would never understand that. She only saw money. But Dad wanted more.
I pulled the letter out again and read the final lines.
Hannah, you’ve been underestimated your whole life. By teachers, by commanding officers, even byyour own family. Don’t waste this chance. Use it to prove them wrong. Use it to help others who’ve been pushed aside. That’s Rose’s legacy. That’s your legacy now.
The words burned into me. I wasn’t just sitting on a pile of rocks. I was sitting on a mission. And unlike Megan, I didn’t need a penthouse to feel powerful. I had something better: proof that my father believed in me more than anyone else.
