Relinquish - His Second Chance

Chapter Ten

Sebastian

My Dearest Seb,

I would ask how you are, but I think I know the answer to that already.

I'm not sure how much time has passed since I left you, but I trust you've taken this step in your own time and at your own pace.

As you are probably now aware, I've been working extremely hard during the evenings whilst you've been sleeping with Melody.

I knew I needed to get things done, that the 'I's' required dotting and the 't's' needed crossing.

This isn't the life I wished for us, but nevertheless, it is the life bestowed upon us, and it is now, as I'm planning your future, that you realise what I've been working towards all along.

God had been guiding me, Seb...

I know you don't believe it, but I do, and it's now, in the face of leaving you, that I know why my drive was so high and why I am adamant about being successful.

Everything is signed over to you: the houses, my businesses, all equity gained from my investments, but what you are not currently aware of is the life insurance I took out secretly.

I'm not entirely sure what pressured me in doing so; perhaps the birth of Melody had me feeling anxious, but the point is I did take them out, and they have ensured the pair of you will need for nothing in the coming years.

It shouldn't take long for our lawyer to have the outcome of each individual insurance claim mailed to you. After all, he would have started the claims on the day that I passed.

The total sum of monies will be with you by no later than eight weeks after my death certificate is produced.

The monies are signed over you as my husband in the entirety. But I do have a few requests that I hope you will fulfil.

The payouts will come in substantial amounts, amounting to well over one million pounds.

Now, although this money is yours to do with as you please, I do wish for one quarter to be placed in a high-interest account for Melody.

Each year, I wish you to access enough funds of hers to do something or have something that she really really wants. See this as my gift to her, on her birthday.

Once she turns eighteen, I wish for her to have an allowance, money that she can do with as she pleases, whether that be travelling, education, or even partying, because, above all else, she needs to live how we never did.

Once she has turned twenty-five, I'm sure she can handle her own money, so I have no wishes at this age.

Oh, and please also put aside enough money for her to have an extravagant wedding, courtesy of us, her parents.

I hope the money I leave you will aid you in feeling comfortable to stay home and grieve me for a little longer than you necessarily believed you had. Use this time to create the concrete bond Melody, and you will need for the years to come.

Explore the world, travel, and invest in something that means something to you.

Buy a new house if that is what is needed... perhaps build our dream home in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but acres of land for as long as the eye can see.

What I'm trying to say is, finally, live for you, Seb.

Don't worry about the mortgage, don't worry about your father. Don't worry about your job...

I love you.

I know I say that often, but I genuinely mean it.

I. Love. You.

Thank you for giving me the life I could only have ever dreamed of. Thank you for giving me our home. For giving me Melody. For opening my horizon.

Thank you for making me happy.

For those things, I'll always be endeared to you.

I hope I've given you the same in return, and I hope god has a future in store for you.

But more importantly, I hope you accept whoever's coming your way.

Love always,

Your Beth x

I ripped into the envelope as quickly as I could once Melody had fallen asleep; it had been burning a hole in my back pocket all afternoon. And though I was scared to read another letter from Beth, I couldn't refrain.

But the words of my wife's endearment didn't hit me as they ought to.

I hated that she was providing me with an opportunity to live my life comfortably over struggling after her death.

I hated that she was providing me with anything at all.

It was my job as her husband to ensure she was cared for and in need of nothing, yet here she was, gone and taking care of me even from the past life.

I think that's why I started to spiral, the anguish taking hold of me, giving way to blood-hot tears of resentment as I cussed her out as she sat on the rocking chair in the corner of the room.

Of course, I knew she was only doing what any good and wholesome wife would in her situation. But that didn't mean I would accept her forward-thinking for what it was.

So I fell asleep angry at my wife, angry that she left me.

Angry that her god would deem it okay to take her from me.

And true to her nature, she sat and took everything I had to say. Nodding with that thoughtful look of disappointment on her face.