Page 3 of Leafpoint Lighthouse

“No. I guess an explanation is required. Sonia is a Jasper by birth. Her husband, Frederick, took Sonia’s surname, as is the practice in your family. You are the heirs to the Jasper Trust, which only the eldest female child can inherit. The Trust also includes a codicil stating that your surname can’t be changed, or you’ll forfeit everything. Female or not, the Jasper name must survive. Sadly, Sonia and Frederick had four sons; they weren’t lucky enough to have a daughter. This meant their sons would miss out on the inheritance. Of course, if they had female children, it would go to them.

“I guess we’re the girls,” Ophelia demanded brusquely. She was a little terrifying, and I made a note not to upset her.

“Yes. Your fathers fell out with Sonia over the legacy and other reasons and left before you were all born. Sonia became embittered and severed their ties to everything. Sadly, she lived alone until the day she died.”

“My father wouldn’t have disowned his mother because of money!” Poppy exclaimed, banging her hands on the table.

Joseph shook his head. “Your father, Edmund, refused to have anything to do with Sonia because Sonia hated your mom.”

“Well, Sonia wasn’t wrong about that,” Poppy muttered. “My dad is a good man.”

“Are you telling me this old lady had a fortune and let my mum die?” I asked, sitting forward.

“As I said, Sonia became embittered. Something she desperately regretted on her deathbed,” Joseph replied.

“No doubt because nobody gave a toss about her,” Thea ground out. “My dad needed support, and he worked so hard that he died of a heart attack. This woman could have helped him?”

“Simeon could have reached out too,” Joseph pointed out.

“But you just stated Sonia wouldn’t help. What would have been the point?” Ophelia demanded.

“I don’t know my dad. But I’m guessing he was angry about the finances?” I whispered.

“Lyle was the eldest and believed he should inherit everything. My apologies, Lyra, but your father refused to believe The Trust was unbreakable. And I assure you, it is impossible to break.”

“Well, Lyra, mine is also a money-grabbing idiot,” Ophelia stated.

“Without sounding indelicate, whose parents are still alive? Because I’m so confused,” Poppy asked.

“I’m not sure about Lyle, but my mom is dead,” I replied with an audible tremor.

“Both my mother and father are alive,” Ophelia replied.

“My dad’s not dead, but my mum ran away,” Poppy added.

“My parents are both dead,” Thea ground out, glaring at Joseph as if it was his fault.

“Lyle is breathing and abroad at the moment,” Joseph informed me. I shrugged; it didn’t matter if he was. He’d married my mom and then run. I’d no interest in the coward and had never met him.

“Can we get on with this? I have meetings this afternoon,” Ophelia demanded.

Joseph looked on with disapproval. “There is no need for rudeness or disrespect,” he chided, and Ophelia flushed.

“The terms of her will are clear. Before her death, Sonia liquidated most of her belongings, and the money was placed into a separate fund.” He shuffled some papers. “I’ll do the Jasper Trust first. As the eldest daughter, Lyra inherits everything. However, Sonia put some codicils in place. The Trust owns several lighthouses.

“Sonia left the lifelong tenancy rights to Kingfisher to Poppy. Thea, you have the same agreement with Seareef. Ophelia, you received Clamshell, and finally you, Lyra, inherited Leafpoint. None of these four lighthouses may be sold, demolished, or anything else. Alongside those is a five-thousand-pound living allowance and one thousand a month for maintenance,” Joseph said.

“We’ve been given lighthouses?” Poppy asked, amused.

“You are entitled to live in the lighthouses and receive financial aid to do so,” Joseph corrected.

“Is that everything?” Thea questioned.

“Lyra also inherits the family jewels, which belong to the estate, and some holiday homes complete with furnishings. There’s precious artwork, a couple of farms, and a parkland.”

“No mansion?” Thea sneered.

“The Jasper Manor burned down two hundred years ago in a tragic fire,” Joseph replied.