Robert, a wealthy investor who faces the aftermath of his wife’s death, stumbles upon a secret divorce agreement and another surprising revelation, which lead him on a transformative journey towards forgiveness.
Robert was sitting on the couch, with his gaze lost in the divorce decree. He was in his luxurious beach house, surrounded by memories of Melissa, his wife during the last 30 years.
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His death had been a hard blow, but finding that document among his belongings baffled him. He didn’t remember divorcing her.
He reflected on the accident he had had years ago, which caused him a head injury and a six-month memory vacuum. Reading the document, he realized that it was during that time when, apparently, he had started the divorce. “Twenty years ago, in July,” he murmured, looking at the date of the document.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
His life at that time was a whirlwind of social relationships with artists and actors, fueled by excessive alcohol consumption. Despite the temptations, he remained faithful to Melissa, although his drinking problem strained his marriage.
In the end he looked for his phone and dialed the number of the law firm that appeared on the letterhead, but discovered that they had moved. The receptionist on the other side suggested that he Google the new number.
Robert returned to the document and was stunned to learn that Melissa was entitled to half of her considerable fortune in the divorce. He had already been rich, with a fortune inherited from his father.
Robert had made his pinitos as a stockbroker, but for the most part he paid others to manage and increase his assets while he lived an easy and luxurious life in New York.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
It’s not that he was irresponsible; he spent his money well and donated large sums to charities, but he let his wife manage that part of his business, and she did it very well.
He went back to Melissa’s document box and discovered more surprises. Among them was a birth certificate of a girl named Tallulah, born three years before her marriage. The girl’s last name coincided with her wife’s maiden name.
Robert’s heart raced. I had always sensed that Melissa had a secret, but this surpassed everything I had imagined. A daughter I never knew anything about.
He reflected on the situation, worried. Melissa had fought bravely against cancer, but it had spread quickly, ending her life. Robert, still distressed, was now dealing with this new revelation.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
He decided to talk about it with his twins, Pete and Sandra. They were very close to their mother, especially during her illness, and had returned home for her funeral.
When he sat them down, he explained his discovery. The twins were dumbfounded, unable to understand their mother’s secret.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Sandra asked, visibly upset.
“I don’t know. Maybe he thought it would hurt us,” Robert replied. “I’m also trying to understand why there’s a divorce document. I don’t remember any of that… because of the accident.”
While scrutinizing the divorce document, Pete suggested: “You should look for the lawyer who appears here on LinkedIn.”
Robert agreed, but they decided to focus on the funeral first.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
After the funeral, Robert pluned up the courage and faced the situation. It didn’t take long to locate the lawyer who had official the divorce; he worked in another law firm in New York.
The call brought more surprises; Franklin instantly recognized Robert and expressed concern for his well-being.
“Well, yes, I’m fine,” Robert said, puzzled by the fact that Franklin seemed to know who he was. “So, do you know me?”
“Of course I know you. It was a chaotic time, with your accident. How is Melissa?”
“Melissa passed away a week ago.”
“I’m very sorry to hear that. How can I help?”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“I have found some documents that worry me a lot. A divorce decree and a birth certificate of a girl.”
There was absolute silence on the other side of the line. “I took care of the divorce, Robert. It was a closed case. Don’t you remember it?”
“No. Melissa and I were happily married for thirty years.”
“Never, Franklin. Do you have records of Melissa’s divorce and will?”
“We have everything on file. How about coming to New York to solve this? It’s serious.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Robert accepted and flew to New York. In Franklin’s office, they talked about Robert’s past and Melissa’s recent change of will.
“Do you remember anything about the accident, the fall?”
“No, just what Melissa told me. I fell off the balcony during a discussion about my way of drinking.”
“Did Melissa tell you anything else about that night?”
“You mean later, when I recovered? No, we don’t talk much about it,” Robert replied. “She decided that we would move to California. He found there the best specialist in traumatic brain injuries in the country to help me in my recovery. I was in good hands.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
“So, you never saw anything in the media?” Franklin asked.
“Melissa thought it was better to keep me completely away from that. I wanted to start again away from that life. I agreed. I think it was the best.”
“Robert, this can be hard to hear. Did you know the life insurance policy in Melissa’s name?”
“I had forgotten. We bought it shortly after we got married,” Robert reflected. “She would have been the only beneficiary at the time of the accident. Wait, are you saying…?”
“I’m not saying anything, Rob, please. The media speculated that Melissa had something to do with your fall,” Franklin revealed. “But well, you survived, and she never charged the policy. By the way, he changed his will at the time of your accident.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
“Does the beneficiary’s name mean something to you?” Franklin asked, sliding a slot of papers towards Robert.
“Tallulah J-,” he said. “Yes. Do you remember the birth certificate I told you I had found among Melissa’s personal effects? It’s the same name.”
Robert rummaged in the leather briefcase he had brought, found the birth certificate and handed it to the lawyer.
“The plot gets complicated,” Franklin said, examining the document. “Along with the will, there is a stamped letter from Melissa addressed to you with instructions to read it only in case of death. Are you ready?”
Robert nodded. “Let me see her,” he said.
Franklin handed him the envelope. “I’m going to the bathroom,” he said. “Tay your time.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Robert opened the letter and read:
I’m sorry I kept such a big secret. When I got pregnant with Tallulah, I was scared. I thought you would abandon me, so I kept it a secret until your private investigator found out.
I had Tallulah adopted and I never told anyone else about her. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I was wrong. I’ve missed her every day. And yes, no may what they say about that night, I had nothing to do with the fall. It was an accident.
I’m very sorry for everything. I hope you at least try to understand it.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“In your will, did you leave all your estate to Tallulah?” Robert asked when the lawyer returned.
Franklin nodded. “He immobilized all the assets in a trust account that pays his daughter in case of Melissa’s death.”
“That money is mine,” Robert said. “Can we challenge the will before a court? Can the divorce be annulled?”
Franklin explained the difficulties, but agreed. “I think we can file a case.”
“How much money are we talking about?” Robert asked.
“Do you mean how much it will cost to challenge the will and annul the divorce?” Franklin clarified.
“No, how much money was my wife worth when she died?” Robert asked.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“Almost $500 million,” Franklin revealed.
“And now everything is for your daughter Tallulah?”
“That’s right,” Franklin confirmed. “Exenless we sue the inheritance for what it did to you, hiding all this from you.”
“In that folder you have there, is there any contact information for Tallulah?” Robert asked.
“There is one last known address. It looks like a business address.”
“Write me that address, please, Frank,” Robert said.
Franklin provided an address in Los Angeles. Determined, Robert visited the right place, a dilapidated study, and met a rough man.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
“I’m looking for a woman,” Robert began.
The man sneered. “Join the club. Don’t we all do it?”
“He’s about 33 years old. This is the address indicated as his place of work,” Robert said, ignoring the man’s joke.
“Let’s see, it could be any of, I don’t know, a hundred women in the last year alone. I can’t help you. You’d better leave. Are you a lawyer or something like that?”
“No, it’s a personal matter. I’m looking for my wife’s daughter.”
“Another one looking for a long-lost daughter,” the man sneered.
“What are you doing here?” Robert asked. “Is it an adult film studio?”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Unsplash
“You got it right, genius. Are you going to leave now or do I have to kick you out?”
“No need. I’m here to give this woman news about her mother; she’s dead,” Robert said. “It’s called Tallulah.”
Robert offered him a reward of a thousand dollars if he told him about Tallulah. The man accepted when he saw the money.
“His stage name is Tulip Jones, or sometimes he calls himself TJ. Try at Melrose Productions, a couple of apples beyond,” the man revealed. “And don’t tell her I told you where to find her. We don’t like it very much around here. He left us a year ago.”
Robert gave him the money and left.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Although Melrose Productions received her with some warmth, they told her to contact her through a mobile number that they had provided her. He wasn’t sure if she would answer his calls, so he left her a message. Finally, they spoke by SMS and agreed to see each other.
Sitting opposite each other, Robert told him the truth about Melissa, the inheritance and his desire to guide Tallulah in the management of the large sum.
“Why should I trust you to manage my money?”
“I’ve been dedicated to managing money; believe me, it’s not as easy as you think,” Robert assured him.
The conversation led to personal matters. Tallulah revealed his contempt for the adult film industry and his desire to escape from it. She had been forced to do so by her adoptive mother.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
“Believe me, from today on you will never have to do it again. I promise you,” Robert assured him, handing him his business card.
She looked at him with a hint of surprise and hope after having flipped through the card details. “Are you a producer?” he asked.
“Executivery producer,” Robert said. “If you want, I can show you how to get into this. You will be in a good position with the inheritance money, as long as you don’t risk it all to a single movie. It’s a tough business.”
“I could accept it,” Tallulah said thoughtfully. “The film business itself, I mean. Not the game.”
“How about getting to know my children too? Twins: a boy and a girl. Twenty-two years. Good guys. One is in film school and the other is studying business. Good combination.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Tallulah agreed and, a few days later, finally met Sandra and Pete at Robert’s office in Santa Monica. While the talk flowed, Robert proposed a trip to New York to manage Tallulah’s inheritance.
While the plans were being developed, Tallulah hesitantly shared her desire to use part of the heritage to create an organization that would help women leave the adult film industry. And they all decided to name her Melissa.
“I’ll be happy to come up with a business plan,” Pete offered.
Under Robert’s direction, the organization called Melissa’s Hope prospered. Tallulah became a defender of women and children victims of trafficking. The brothers came together, creating a very close-fit family.
Robert was still grateful for everything he had given him in life. He took advantage of any opportunity to give to others and help them the best he could. And, above all, he was still grateful for the lesson of love that his late wife had given him.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
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