After his wife’s funeral, the husband and his mistress went to the notary to receive his wife’s inheritance. But they were shocked when the will of the deceased was read…

He was just a poor drunkard, living in delusions of grandeur. It was very difficult to come to terms with that reality. His dreams of wealth and success, largely contingent on his ex-wife, crumbled like a house of cards.

His aspirations to be a successful businessman were dashed. Blinded by his ego, he failed to see his own part in his downfall. Instead, he blamed his deceased wife, who he saw as the root of all his problems.

Nick spent nearly two weeks in a drunken stupor, seeking escape from reality, and his resentment grew stronger each day. During one bleak, hangover-filled morning, he decided he had had enough. He realised that he wouldn’t achieve success or revenge on Jolie by drinking.

Nick felt deeply humiliated. A few days prior, men from Mr Chinland had arrived and practically forced him to hand over his car keys, tearing up the power of attorney Jolie had given him. «‘Didn’t you know the power of attorney loses its legal force after the death of the person who issued it?’ one of the men said in a derogatory manner.

In his mind, Nick saw himself as a saint, who never left his sick wife’s side. He conveniently overlooked his endless intrigues, gambling, alcohol abuse, and dismissive behaviour towards his wife. «‘What a pity that she’s dead, and I can’t hit her,’ he thought.

So many times I barely restrained my impulse, encouraging myself that my patience would be generously rewarded.’ He began to ponder how he would like to take revenge on her, and what he should do now. At first he wanted to desecrate her grave. But then, contemplating what was dear to Jolie, and what harm would cause her the most suffering, he saw another answer which was lying on the surface.

«‘Rob it!’ Nick was literally struck by electricity when this idea came to his head. He laughed viciously, having finally devised his revenge plan. Of course, there were many issues to resolve and structure, but he had decided on the main thing.

He was not going to hurt Robert. What’s a mother’s worst nightmare? Not being able to help her child in trouble. That’s precisely what he decided to do.

The plan of his inflamed imagination was simple—to kidnap the baby, take him far away, and leave him at an orphanage after a week. Thoughts of revenge and fantasies of it warmed Nick’s soul—if he had one, of course. He hadn’t smiled like this for a long time.

True, such a grimace looked rather intimidating and scary, but Jolie’s husband didn’t care at all. You could even say that he was happy. As he thought through all the details, he experienced euphoria.

The object of his hatred was not nearby, but Nick eagerly imagined how Jolie would have suffered from her inability to help her child. Once he had settled on a plan theoretically, he began to think about the practical side. He needed to find out everything about Robert’s movements, and those with whom he leaves the house, to perfectly select the place and time for his crime.

Nick had known Kurt well in his past, and was even familiar with his parents, having visited their house. He also knew that their elite suburban settlement had enhanced security. As Nick began to contemplate his plan, he realized the challenges he would face.

He couldn’t predict how much time he would spend observing from the forest with binoculars, studying the child’s daily routine and movements. Is the game worth the candle? Absolutely. Nick reasoned with himself.

His mental state had been noticeably affected after the announcement of the will. She ruined my life, and I will ruin the life of her child. A rich heir? He will live off the state’s readiness, and his mother will watch from the other world, realizing she is to blame for everything.

The man laughed maliciously. If an indifferent person had been near Nick at that moment, they would have noticed the changes in his mind and taken him to a doctor. Unfortunately, history doesn’t entertain hypotheticals.

Nick was unmatched in achieving his goals. If he had a plan, no matter how foolish it seemed, he saw it through to the end. He spent two full days not watching, but preparing the necessary conditions for it.

Nick scouted the entire territory to find the perfect vantage point. He needed a spot that overlooked the entire settlement, especially the Turgisson house, while remaining hidden. The man devoted all his effort and time to finding a place that he deemed perfect in every aspect.

For over a week Nick rose at dawn and hurried to the cottage settlement, remaining there until late evening. He kept a watch with binoculars, recording every activity in the house, who arrived and when they departed. He diligently maintained a notebook to ensure he didn’t miss anything…