The Unexpected

Rachael stepped out of the guest room, leaving Adam and her mother engrossed in their conversation, only to be intercepted by Kate's frantic expression.

"Rachael, you're here! I think it's time my water just broke!"

Kate's voice trembled, a mix of excitement and fear flickering in her eyes.

Rachael's phone was pressed into her ear as she talked to David, but the urgency in Kate's voice made her reaction immediate.

"I have to call you back, something bigger just came up."

 She barely finished the sentence before she turned sharply, her voice rising.

"Mom! Get the baby things! We're going to the hospital now!"

Harriet didn't hesitate. In an instant, she was moving, gathering the necessary items while helping Kate, who waddled toward the car. The tension was palpable as they sped through the streets.

Three agonizing hours of labor later, the cries of newborns echoed through the delivery room.

"It's twins," the doctor announced with a smile. "Both healthy."

The news of the twins' arrival spread like wildfire through the streets of Festac, igniting a spark of joy that seemed to radiate through every corner of the town. For the Georges family, it was a moment of pure elation, a beacon of hope after a year of unrelenting challenges that had tested their strength and resilience.

The naming ceremony was a grand affair, a celebration filled with laughter, music, and the warmth of a community that had stood by them through the storms.

For Racheal, Kate, and Harriet, the arrival of the twins was a reminder that joy could be restored to their household, that love and laughter could once again fill their home. As they gazed lovingly at the two tiny bundles of joy, they knew that this was just the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, one that was filled with promise and possibility.

But as Christmas approached, joy gave way to tension.

Adam was here for one reason: to take over the George family's wine business. The business had been in their family for generations, and since Anthony's passing, Adam saw himself as the rightful successor. Rachael, however, wasn't having it. Not without a fight.

"I don't trust Uncle Adam, Mom," Rachael said one evening, arms crossed as she paced the living room.

"I watched you and Dad toil for this business. I won't let someone else swoop in and take over."

Harriet sighed, weary of the battle she saw brewing. "Rachael, it's a family tradition. The business belongs to the Georges."

Rachael stiffened. "Then we need a lawyer, Mom."

Before Harriet could respond, a sharp knock at the door echoed through the house. Harriet and Racheal exchanged wary glances; they weren't expecting visitors.

Rachael opened the door to find a man, almost the same age as her father, standing there. His face was weathered, his expression unreadable.

"Good evening," Rachael greeted cautiously.

The man nodded, studying her. "You must be Rachael George."

Rachael's brows furrowed. "You know me?"

"Yes," he replied. "I am Anthony's lawyer."

"May I come in?"

Harriet's breath hitched as she rose from her chair.

"Mr James," she murmured. "It's been a long time."

"Indeed, Mrs. George." His tone was formal, but his eyes softened slightly.

"I should have come sooner, but I had pressing matters to clear off my desk." He exhaled. 

"I'm here to inform you that Mr George's willreading will take place after Christmas."

Harriet's fingers clenched against her dress, but she forced a nod. "I understand."

Rachael, however, remained silent, her mind racing. A will reading. Her father had never treated her as his true heir. Richard had always been the golden child. What could possibly be left for her?

For Christmas, the family traveled to New York, including Adam, Kate, and the twins. But even amid the festivities, the looming date of the willreading cast a shadow over Rachael's thoughts.

The George family gathered in the mansion's grand living room. The air was thick with tension, the weight of unspoken expectations pressed down on them.

Harriet entered Rachael's room that morning as she was dressing.

"Rachael, make sure you're downstairs before everyone starts arriving."

Harriet's voice was firm. "We must present a united front against those scavengers."

She stormed out before Rachael could respond.

By midday, the guests had assembled. Lawyer James arrived and took his place at the head of the room, adjusting his glasses as he opened the document in his hands.

Clearing his throat, he began:

"I, Anthony George, being of sound mind and body, do hereby inscribe the terms of my last will and testament."

The room fell into complete silence.

"Firstly, to my wife and partner, Harriet, I leave ownership of our greatest treasures: the penthouse in Festac and Oakhaven, the exquisite mansion she has made a home."

Rachael scoffed under her breath. "Fair enough," she muttered.

There were murmurs from the extended relatives, but James continued, undeterred.

"As for the remainder of my fortune, it shall be divided in half. The first half will be distributed equally to anyone, whether in Festac or beyond, who can medically prove that even a single drop of George blood flows through their veins."

Gasps rippled through the room.

"The second half of my fortune shall go to my true heirs, Richard and Rachael."

Rachael inhaled sharply.

She stood, her black dress clinging to her as if she were still in mourning. The eyes of the room turned to her. Swallowing hard, she forced a smile and stepped forward.

Racheal took a deep breath, her voice ringing out clear and strong.

"As the true George heir, I feel it's my sacred duty to say a few words." She paused, surveying the crowd with a steady gaze.

"Georges has been bathing in a curse since the time my own father sent away his own twin brother."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some exchanged uneasy glances, while others fidgeted in their seats.

"But today", Rachael's voice cracked, her eyes misting over. Harriet instinctively stood and handed her a handkerchief. Rachael wiped the corner of her eyes.

"Today, I say: no more. No more curses. No more tears. No more madness. No more horror."

The room hung on her every word. But just as the tension reached its peak

A knock at the door shattered the moment.

Silence fell once more, thick and expectant. Every pair of eyes turned toward the entrance, waiting.

The air grew heavier, thick with something unspoken.

The door creaked open, and a young lady stepped into the room, her presence sending a ripple of shock through the assembly.

She wasn't alone. A woman stood beside her, protective, almost territorial. Rachael's breath caught in her throat as she locked eyes with the girl. She looked exactly like her. The resemblance was uncanny. Jaw tight, heart racing wildly, Rachael took an unsteady step forward, her eyes fixed on the stranger.

It was like staring into a mirror.

The resemblance was undeniable, too sharp, too precise. The girl had the same sharp jawline, the same piercing eyes, the same delicate curve of her lips. Her heart slammed against her ribs.

The silence stretched unbearably before the girl's lips curled into a slow, unreadable smile.

"Hello, everyone," the girl said, her voice sweet and innocent. "Did I interrupt the meeting?"

A suffocating pause followed.

Then, the older woman beside her spoke, her voice calm but edged with steel.

"My name is Martha," she announced. Then she motioned toward the lady at her side.

"And this is Eloise George, Anthony's daughter."

The words detonated like a bomb.

A collective gasp echoed through the room. Shock, disbelief, confusion, expressions twisted, eyes widened, whispers erupted like wildfire.

Harriet's body jerked as if she had been struck. Tears welled in her eyes, shame carving deep lines into her face. Without a word, she turned on her heel and rushed out of the living room.

"Mom!" Rachael called out, her voice desperate and pleading. But Harriet didn't look back, she didn't stop running until she reached the sanctuary of her bedroom.

Rachael's eyes remained fixed on Eloise, her mind reeling with questions and doubts. 

The gathering dissolved into hushed whispers and scandalized murmurs. Relatives leaned into one another, the weight of the revelation sending a ripple of shock through them all.

Adam leaned in close to Rachael, his voice a low whisper.

"You should go and check on your mum and I will take it from here, okay?," he murmured.

Rachael gave a slow, measured nod. Adam understood and turned to the stunned crowd.

"That will be all for today. This meeting is dissolved."

His voice carried authority, and within moments, the guests began murmuring their goodbyes, filtering out of the room in clusters. A few curious gazes lingered on Eloise and Martha, but no one approached them.