Page 65 of Maddening Fixation

“It is hereby stipulated and declared in the Last Will and Testament of Elena Ivanovna Sokolov, executed on the fifteenth day of March, two thousand twenty-six, and duly witnessed and notarized,” he began, his measured voice echoing against the paneled walls.

“That Juliet Alina Sokolov, granddaughter of the deceased, shall neither gain access to nor exercise control over the trust established for her benefit, comprising approximately forty-eight billion United States dollars in liquid assets together with full beneficial ownership of the Sokolov Diamond Mine in Yakutia, presently valued in excess of two hundred and seventy billion United States dollars, unless and until she enters into a lawful marriage with the eldest surviving grandson of the Flynn family, specifically Romeo Medved Flynn.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“Such marriage shall take place within one month of the passing of the testators and shall remain in force for a minimum period of two years. Upon the expiration of that period, the parties shall be free to continue the marriage or dissolve it at their sole discretion, without prejudice to Juliet Alina Sokolov’s right to receive and retain the inheritance granted under this Will.”

He paused only long enough for the words to settle over the room like a layer of ash.

“Failure to comply shall result in the entirety of the trust reverting in equal shares to the surviving children of the testator.”

Absolute silence descended over the room.

My mind struggled to keep up with the legal jargon as the lawyer continued reading the will, but one fact rang with startling clarity.

I was the sole heir to everything my grandparents had spent their lives building.

Every business. Every property. Every investment.

Every dollar they had earned.

Every asset they had acquired over decades of sacrifice and hard work.

The inheritance every one of their children and grandchildren had hoped would one day be theirs...

Had been left to me alone.

Why?

Yes, they had always loved me more than anyone else, and they had never hidden it.

But even so...

Leaving everything to me?

The thought felt impossible.

I could feel the weight of every pair of eyes in the room turning toward me, disbelief and resentment thickening the air with every passing second.

The grandfather clock in the corner ticked once.

Twice.

Then someone sucked in a sharp breath.

Mr. Volkov continued reading as though he hadn’t just detonated a bomb in the middle of the room.

I barely heard another word.

Forty-eight billion dollars in liquid assets

A diamond mine worth hundreds of billions.

All of it chained to one impossible condition.

Marry Romeo Flynn.

The name echoed through my head.