Nora’s family life wasn’t luxurious. They had enough for food and bills, but that was it. She valued living together as a family and was patient enough to wait for better times. But her beliefs were about to be tested when she had a chance to claim a million dollars. Would she stay honest or take the money?

Nora, her husband Rico, and their daughter Lisa were having breakfast together. The morning sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow on the table set with plates of eggs, toast, and fresh fruit.

Despite the cozy atmosphere, tension hung in the air. Rico was glued to his laptop, scrolling through job listings with a furrowed brow, his face illuminated by the screen’s bluish light.

“Rico, can you please put that away and join us for breakfast?” Nora asked gently, pouring a glass of orange juice for Lisa.

Rico barely glanced up. “I’m busy, Nora. I need to find a job.”

Nora sighed, trying to keep her frustration in check. “I understand, but can’t you take a break for just a few minutes? Lisa and I would love your company.”

Rico snapped the laptop shut and glared at her.

“You think I don’t know that? I’m trying to fix things here! I lost my job, Nora. I’m doing everything I can to find another one.”

Lisa looked back and forth between her parents, her eyes wide with worry. Nora reached out to comfort her, but Rico’s anger made the moment tense.

“Rico, I know it’s hard. But being so stressed out won’t help. We’ll get through this together. Money isn’t everything. What matters is that we have each other,” Nora said softly, trying to diffuse the situation.

Rico scoffed.

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one who has to provide for this family. I want more for us, Nora. And as my wife, I need your support, not your lectures.”

Nora felt a sharp pang in her chest. She knew Rico was under a lot of pressure, but his harsh words stung.

She glanced at Lisa, who was poking at her eggs with a worried expression.

Before Nora could respond, the ringing of the phone interrupted their argument. Grateful for the distraction, she quickly answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Nora?” a professional-sounding woman asked. “This is the secretary from the law firm of Thompson & Greene. We need you to come in for the reading of a will.”

Nora was taken aback. “The reading of a will? Whose will? None of my relatives have passed away recently.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t have all the details. I was just instructed to inform you to be present at the reading tomorrow. Could you make it?”

Confused, Nora agreed. “Yes, I can be there. What time?”

The secretary gave her the details, and Nora jotted them down in her notebook. After hanging up, she turned to Rico, who was looking at her curiously.

“What was that about?” Rico asked.

Nora shook her head. “Apparently, I need to be at the reading of a will tomorrow. I have no idea whose will it is. None of my family members have passed away.”

Rico’s face brightened slightly. “Maybe it’s a distant relative or something. Who knows? We could use some good news for a change. Maybe we’re about to get rich.”

Nora wasn’t sure what to think, but she hoped Rico was right. Maybe this unexpected call would bring some much-needed relief to their troubled lives.

The next day, Nora and Rico arrived at the law firm of Thompson & Greene.

The building was grand and imposing, with marble floors and high ceilings that made Nora feel out of place.

She clutched her purse tightly, feeling a bit nervous in such a prestigious setting.

“Wow, this place is fancy,” Rico whispered, glancing around the opulent lobby.

“Yeah, it is,” Nora replied, her anxiety growing.

A secretary led them to a conference room where a man named Thomas and another man, introduced as Sean, were already waiting.

Sean looked somber and a bit impatient, tapping his foot as they entered.

“Good morning,” Thomas said, standing up to greet them. “Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.”

Nora and Rico sat down, and Thomas began to speak. “We are here to read the will of Nathan, who recently passed away. Nathan is the father of both Sean and Nora.”

Nora’s eyes widened in shock. “There must be some mistake. My father’s name is not Nathan, and he is very much alive.”

Rico gently placed a hand on her arm.

“Let’s hear what he has to say first, Nora. It might be important.”

Thomas nodded, looking at his papers. “I understand this is confusing. Let me read the will, and we can discuss the details afterward.”

Thomas read the will, which stated that Sean would receive Nathan’s house, car, and personal belongings.

Nora was to receive one million dollars. Rico’s eyes lit up with excitement, but Nora was furious.

“This is not my father!” she exclaimed. “I don’t have any right to this money.”

Thomas looked puzzled and double-checked the documents. “The will clearly states Nora as the daughter of Nathan. If you truly believe there has been a mistake, the money would go to Sean.”

Sean nodded in agreement, urging Nora to verbally refuse the inheritance so they could avoid further formalities. However, Rico was adamant.

“Nora, you must be confused. Everything in the will is correct. You should accept the money.”

A heated argument broke out between Rico and Sean. Nora, overwhelmed by the chaos, finally intervened.

“Stop! I will take a DNA test to prove this man is not my father. If it turns out he is not, the money will go to Sean. That’s the only fair solution.”

Thomas agreed and rescheduled the meeting to allow time for the DNA test results.

Back home, the tension between Nora and Rico reached a boiling point. They argued fiercely, their voices echoing through the house.

“You should have accepted the money, Nora! It doesn’t matter if he’s your father or not. We need that money desperately!” Rico shouted.

Nora stood her ground, tears streaming down her face.

“It’s not right, Rico. If he’s not my father, I have no right to that money. I won’t take something that isn’t mine.”

Rico’s face turned red with anger.

“You’re such an idiot, Nora! I can’t live in this house with someone so stupid. If you want to keep living in poverty, go ahead. But I’m done.”

With that, Rico stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Nora collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Little Lisa, sensing her mother’s distress, ran over and hugged her tightly.

“It’s okay, Mommy. Everything will be okay,” Lisa whispered, trying to comfort her mother.

Nora held her daughter close, feeling a mix of heartbreak and determination.

She knew she had made the right choice, even if it meant losing Rico. She had to stay true to her values, no matter the cost.

A week later, Nora was tidying up the house, trying to keep herself busy. She dusted off the shelves and carefully placed photos of Rico back into a box.

The memories of their happier times together brought a bittersweet smile to her face.

Suddenly, the phone rang, startling her out of her reverie. She picked it up, her heart pounding.

“Hello?”

“Nora, it’s Thomas. The DNA test results are in. Can you come to the office as soon as possible?”

Nora felt a mix of anxiety and relief. “Yes, I’ll be there right away.”

She quickly got dressed and headed to the law firm, her mind racing with possibilities. What would the results reveal? And how would it affect her future?

Nora and Sean sat in Thomas’s office, the air thick with tension. Sean was visibly irritated, his patience worn thin by the wait.

“This has taken long enough. Let’s just get this over with,” Sean muttered.

Nora, still reeling from her recent separation from Rico, looked down at her hands, trying to hold back her tears. She felt a strange mix of sadness and anticipation.

Thomas opened the envelope containing the DNA test results and read aloud.

“The test confirms that Nora is indeed Nathan’s daughter and has a right to the inheritance.”

Nora’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t comprehend what she was hearing. Before she could react, an elderly woman entered the room.

“This is Caitlin,” Thomas introduced. “She was Nathan’s wife.”

Caitlin looked at Nora with a mixture of sorrow and understanding. “Nora, you are truly Nathan’s daughter.

He and your mother kept this secret to protect you and your family. Your mother’s husband never knew the truth and believed you were his daughter.”

Sean, furious with the results, stood up abruptly. “This is ridiculous!”

Thomas calmly intervened. “The decision is final. Nora will receive the one million dollars.”

Nora felt a whirlwind of emotions—relief, confusion, and a deep sadness for the family secrets that had been kept from her.

She nodded, accepting the reality of her new situation.

As she left the office, Nora couldn’t help but feel a sense of closure. Despite the turmoil and heartache, she knew she had done the right thing.

She walked out into the sunlight, ready to face whatever the future held, determined to make the most of her unexpected inheritance.

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