I am the Heir

Called Crazy

The elaborate surprise I had mapped out in my head disintegrated in a matter of seconds. That afternoon, I pulled up to Ava’s house, my heart racing with anticipation. In the pocket of my denim jacket, the velvet box containing the $285,000 ring felt heavy. I could already see her tearful face, her embrace, and her promise to grow old with me.

Ava stepped out onto the porch to meet me. She was dressed in a simple, neat floral dress, her face as beautiful as ever, but her eyes were ice-cold. There was no welcoming smile. She didn't even ask me to sit down.

"Dominic, we’re done. This is over," she said without preamble. Her voice was flat and sharp.

I froze, trying to process the words. "What are you talking about? I came here to talk seriously about our future."

Ava crossed her arms over her chest. She looked at my old motorcycle parked by the fence with a look of pure disgust. "What future? I already heard from your stepmother, Monica. You didn't get a single cent from your father’s estate. The savings, the insurance—it all went to your stepbrothers. You’ve got nothing but the clothes on your back and that piece-of-crap bike."

I stared at her intensely. "So you’ve been talking to Monica? And because of that, you’re breaking up with me?"

"Yes! I’m being a realist, Dominic. I only stayed with you because I thought you’d at least get that big house or a few hundred grand. I’m a beautiful woman; there are plenty of successful men lining up to propose to me. If you’re going to stay poor and be a mechanic forever, why would I waste my time on you?"

Her words hit me like a physical blow to the gut. I never imagined the woman I’d adored for three years could be so shallow. I had intentionally kept the $999.4 billion a secret. I wanted to see if she would stand by me at my lowest point. The answer was a resounding no.

"I have something for you," I said, reaching into my jacket pocket. I pulled out the jewelry box and clicked it open. The brilliance of the diamond caught the orange glow of the setting sun. "This was the ring I was going to propose with. I bought this so you wouldn't have to worry about your father’s medical bills or the mortgage on his farm."

Ava looked at the ring, then burst into a loud, mocking laugh. "What is that? A toy? Or some glass you picked up at a flea market? Stop hallucinating, Dominic. You can barely afford to eat; there’s no way you bought a real diamond. You’re trying to show off with fake jewelry?"

"It’s real, Ava. It cost nearly three hundred thousand dollars. If you take this, you can sell it or keep it. The money is more than enough to clear your dad’s debts and build your parents a brand-new house," I said, my voice steady even as the anger began to burn in my throat.

Ava snatched the box from my hand. She looked at the ring for a split second, and then, with a violent motion, she hurled the box toward the dirt road in front of her house. The box popped open, and the exquisite ring fell into a muddy puddle left by last night’s rain.

"You’re delusional! You’ve actually lost your mind because you got cut out of the will!" Ava screamed. She stepped forward and spat near my boot. "Don’t ever come back here with your fantasies. Go back to the shop and deal with your filthy oil. I don't need a loser living in a dream world!"

I stood there, looking at the spit near my feet. The heartache I’d felt moments ago vanished instantly, replaced by an overwhelming sense of gratitude. God had just shown me this woman’s true face before I tied myself to her forever.

I walked slowly toward the road, bent down, and picked up the velvet box, now caked in mud. I retrieved the diamond ring from the murky water and wiped it clean with the hem of my black shirt. The diamond still sparkled perfectly, indifferent to the filth it had fallen into. Just like me.

"You’re right, Ava. I shouldn't be here," I said, sliding the ring back into my pocket. "One thing you should know—Monica doesn't know the first thing about my father’s real wealth. But that’s not your concern anymore."

"Pfft! Still acting tough! Just get lost, you loser!" Ava jeered from the porch.

I hopped on my bike and kicked the engine to life, the roar echoing through the quiet street. I didn't look back. In my jacket pocket sat a piece of jewelry worth a fortune, and in my backpack were documents worth nearly a trillion dollars. Ava had just thrown away her ticket to the life of luxury she dreamed of, all because she chose to believe Monica’s poison over me.