Epilogue #2
You may wonder why I didn’t use it to my advantage. To pay off my debts and rid out lives of the darkness. I considered it several times, but each time I reminded myself that my debt to that family would never be paid. I had signed my death warrant, and this is my revenge. On them.
Your sisters have one each, the pink diamond and the green diamond, all priceless.
You may be wondering why I included terms and conditions in my will. It was for a very good reason.
These diamonds are not yours.
They are for my grandchildren. You have your trust funds; you will never spend the money. Your children now have The Diamond Dynasty, or what is left of it, anyway.
Under the terms of the law, any gifts must have been gifted seven years before I died, otherwise they return to the estate. Tiffany’s twenty-fifth birthday.
This gift was an idea your mother gave me. She told me one day it would be the most tax efficient inheritance I could bestow on you. I’m not certain if she meant the priceless diamonds. Her idea was probably more like stocks and shares, a trust fund perhaps. But this is my gift to you all.
Diamonds made me who I was and ultimately became my downfall. You must gift them to your children now. A further seven years in their boxes and they will be set for life.
Or you could use the diamonds to improve your life, which I am extremely sad not to be a part of. Remember, I loved you girls. I always did; despite the fact that I never demonstrated it.
Whatever happens to these rare diamonds is yours to decide.
I wish you health and happiness, and above all, a long and amazing life.
Your loving father
Enrico.
The room is silent. Sister Agatha wipes her tears away with a pure cotton handkerchief. Sophia appears concerned, tears also pouring down her face, and yet I share a smile with my sisters.
“My letter is the same.” Rose smiles.
“Mine too.” Alice adds.
I stare at the beautiful diamond in my hand and whisper, “It’s a strange thing to say, given the fact these are priceless, but the most valuable thing to me is knowing that our father loved us.”
Alice nods, tears streaming down her face, and Rose gulps, “I agree. It means more than the diamond somehow.”
Sophia shakes her head sadly. “That it came to this. He obviously knew what would happen. The stress he was under was a lot. But you’re right, it’s obvious he loved you all very much, and that is the memory you should hold on tight to and take with you into your future.”
I place the diamond carefully in the box and take a moment to remember the man who shaped our lives and probably not in a good way. But somehow this is his redemption. Not the diamonds, but the gesture. That means so much and I’ve already decided to do the same for my children.
I fold up his letter and set it to one side, closing the box and turn the key.
Then I hand it back to Sister Agatha and whisper, “If it’s not too much to ask, please, can you return it to our lord’s care?
I am taking my father’s advice. I’ll gift this to my children and when it’s arranged, I’ll make certain it’s placed in a secure bank vault somewhere secret rather than sacred this time. ”
Rose does the same. Handing her box to Sister Agatha and Alice, sighs. “Easy come, easy go, I suppose.”
She turns the lock and, as Sister Agatha places them in the box once again, Sophia says with pride.
“The perfect decision. Will you tell your husbands? It can be our secret if you like?”
“No,” I shake my head. “Joseph and I made a vow that there will be no secrets between us.”
“Same.” My sisters nod, and Sister Agatha beams a radiant smile.
“Then that is decided. You know where I am if you ever need me. Now, before I leave, I would love to meet your family. I’ve been waiting for this moment, and it can no longer be delayed.”
We leave the box behind us, rather recklessly considering its contents, but Sophia winks as she locks the music room behind us and pockets the key.
“They will be safe. You have my word on that.”
She links her arm in mine and my sister’s chatter floats back as they walk on either side of Sister Agatha.
Sophia whispers, “It all worked out perfectly. It appears The Diamond Dynasty lives on in the next generation after all.”
“Perhaps. They have a choice now, I suppose.”
I reference the other family business that I wouldn’t wish on any of my children and Sophia nods, understanding heavy in her eyes.
“Choice is good. Not all of us enjoy that luxury.”
As we head back to our dark version of reality, I eagerly search for my husband in the crowd. As our eyes connect, I smile softly and the burning love in his eyes wraps around my heart.
We made it. We always will, and as I head toward him and my twins, I spare a brief thought for my father, who I hope is resting in peace, and thank him from the bottom of my heart for setting me free from the torment of my past. His greatest gift being knowledge that despite everything, I was loved by him and that is the biggest gift he could ever give me.
The Diamond Dynasty will live on through his grandchildren and, who knows, one day his legacy will continue. I wonder which one of our many children will take up the challenge. It will be interesting to find out.
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Thank you for reading this story.