My Uncle Died,A Stranger Stole My Billion-Dollar Inheritance

He gestured politely toward Russ. "Please, Mr. Finch."

Russ walked to the safe. His head turned left, then tilted right—checking that no one stood close enough to see. Then he raised his left hand, pinky finger lifted, and pressed his index finger to the keypad.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The electronic tones filled the room, each one tightening the invisible wire around my chest. My palms were slick with sweat. My heart hammered so hard I could feel it in my throat.

Wrong password. Wrong password. Wrong password.

I chanted it like a prayer.

I couldn't be wrong. Uncle Harvey must have had reasons he couldn't explain. This "Russ Finch" had to be a fraud. Uncle Harvey loved me—he loved me.

Any second now, the truth would come out. The con artist would be exposed.

Uncle Harvey, I'll protect everything you built. I swear I will—

The final digit dropped.

The air turned to glass.

No one breathed.

Click.

The safe door swung open.

The blood in my veins turned to ice. A high-pitched ringing filled my ears, drowning out everything else.

Around me, voices swirled—congratulations, flattery, sycophants tripping over themselves to praise "Mr. Finch."

And me? I was the punchline.

"So desperate for money he's lost his mind. The court already confirmed Mr. Finch is the legal heir, but he just wouldn't accept it. Bet that stings now, huh?"

"Must've done something awful in a past life. Parents died on him, and now even his own uncle doesn't want him. Karma's a bitch."

"Some people just aren't meant for fortune. Give it up already!"

I stood frozen, trembling like a leaf in a storm.

How?

How could this be?

Great-Uncle George had vouched for a man he'd never met. Uncle Harvey had signed that will like a man betting everything on one last hand. He'd given this stranger his most guarded secret—the password no one else knew.

Every single piece of evidence pointed to the same conclusion: Russ Finch was the legitimate heir.

Who the hell is Russ Finch?

No.

No.

Something didn't add up. I was missing something.

My thoughts churned into chaos—

Then my phone buzzed.

Blake Morgan. The private investigator.

I opened the file he'd sent, and my head snapped up. My eyes locked onto Russ like crosshairs finding their target.

"Russ Finch." My voice cut through the noise. "I know who you are."