When we met, I placed the keepsakes and the inheritance refusal papers on her kitchen table.
“I’m not apologizing,” she said. “I had every right to complain.”
“You did.”
I took a breath.
“I was her doctor. I was responsible for my decision. Her asking didn’t change that. I should have refused the marriage, but I didn’t marry her for money.”
Nora remained skeptical.
“The inheritance changed everything.”
“I understand why it raised questions. But I want you to tell the hospital what you actually witnessed, not what you suspect.”
She examined the papers but reminded me that they couldn’t prove I hadn’t known about the money beforehand.
“You’re right,” I admitted. “They show when I learned about it and what I did afterward.”
After a long silence, Nora agreed to write a statement. She explained that she’d helped with the wedding, understood it wasn’t romantic, and had no direct knowledge that I’d expected an inheritance.
