Vivica, however, listened to the entire story and replied with crisp finality. "Alright. If we can't avoid it, we might as well face it head-on. We'll go to Sydville after the New Year and do the paternity test. If they want to transfer their shares to me or have me inherit the family fortune, I won't refuse."
She had already suffered for this, so why not accept the “benefits”? It would be a waste of suffering otherwise.
She didn't care for herself, but now those people were targeting Joseph.
"I believe you have your ways of dealing with them," she continued. "Instead of running and hiding, I'd rather fight for it. If they really are my biological parents, they're sitting on a fortune that should rightfully be mine. There's nothing wrong with taking back what belongs to me."
Vivica's mind was suddenly clear; the internal conflict had vanished.
She was right. Why should she have a problem with money? Even if she never forgave the parents who abandoned her, the money itself wasn’t the problem. If she found the fortune distasteful, she could always donate it to charity—a good deed in Chaim's name.
Joseph smiled, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "I didn't expect you to come to terms with it so suddenly."
"You think so too?"
He gave a faint smile. "It's the truth. You're just taking back what's yours. Besides, if you don't fight for it, they'll just keep trying to eliminate you."
Vivica pressed her lips together, her resolve hardening.
She'd like to see who would eliminate whom.
————
Once Vivica had made up her mind, Joseph relayed the message to Raymond.
Raymond was ecstatic, wishing he could fly over with Hillary for the test immediately.
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