My Uncle Left Me $50 Million While I Was Living In A Dumpster. My Toxic Ex Just Found Out And Is Suing Me For “marital Assets.” How Do I Make Him Regret Ever Leaving Me?

I turned smiling faintly. “Theodore planned every piece of it: the inheritance, the board, the acquisition offer. He created obstacles like an architect builds foundations. Every test was designed to make sure I became the woman he believed I could be.”

Jacob moved closer. “Are you angry?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m grateful. He didn’t just give me a company. He gave me the challenges I needed to prove to myself that I was capable. Without them I might have kept doubting forever.”

He wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. “You know what I think? Theodore already knew you’d pass every test. Because you have something Marcus Chen and men like Richard never will.”

“What’s that?” I asked quietly.

“The instinct to build instead of destroy,” he said. “To see potential where others see problems, to put people before profit. That’s why I fell in love with you. Not because you inherited Theodore’s empire—because you see the world as something worth improving.”

I turned in his arms, my voice barely above a whisper. “I love you too. You’ve been my partner in everything.”

He hesitated, eyes flicking with nervous light. “Speaking of partnership…” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box. When he opened it the ring inside glimmered: simple, elegant, timeless.

“Sophia Hartfield,” he said softly. “This isn’t about any test or deadline. I’m asking because every single day with you is better than the one before and I want a lifetime of those days watching you change the world. Will you marry me?”

For a moment I could only stare at him, at the ring, at the studio that had once been Theodore’s dream and was now the center of my own life. A year ago I’d been married to a man who needed to shrink me to feel tall. Now I was being proposed to by someone who wanted nothing more than to see me soar.

“Yes,” I whispered, the word breaking into a laugh and a sob all at once. “Yes. Absolutely yes.”

He slipped the ring on beside Eleanor’s and together they gleamed—one symbolizing legacy, the other a new beginning. Jacob grinned. “Should we tell people tonight?”

“Actually,” he said pulling out his phone. “I already texted Margaret. She’s chilling champagne. Said she’s been waiting for this moment since the day you moved in.”

When we went downstairs Margaret was radiant, two flutes in hand, eyes glistening. “It’s about time,” she said. “Mr. Theodore would be so proud.”

I laughed through tears. “Knowing him,” I said. “He probably planned this too. Probably has a letter somewhere about how you’re perfect for me.”

Margaret chuckled knowingly. “Actually,” she said already heading toward Theodore’s study. “He does.”

She returned with an envelope sealed in Theodore’s familiar, precise handwriting, addressed to both of us. The date stopped me cold: just a week before he passed. Jacob unfolded it carefully and we read together.

“Jacob and Sophia: If you’re reading this together then my plan worked better than I dared to hope. Jacob, you’ve been like a son to me. Sophia, you’ve always been the daughter I never had. I couldn’t imagine two better people to lead my company or better partners for each other. Build something beautiful together. And please, for the love of all that is holy, don’t name any children Theodore. That name dies with me. All my love, T.”

We both laughed and cried at once, clinking glasses of champagne in honor of the man who’d believed in us long before we believed in ourselves. Our engagement announcement spread quickly through the architectural world.

But predictably the loudest reaction came from Richard. On a gray Friday morning in November, Victoria called, her tone controlled but edged with fury.

“Richard just filed a lawsuit,” she said.

I blinked. “For what?”

“He’s claiming you used marital assets to invest in Hartfield Architecture, that he’s entitled to a share of your inheritance.”

I laughed out loud. “I was broke when we divorced. He took everything! How exactly does he think I invested money I didn’t have?”