Heir of Wishes, Bound by Fate / Chapter 2: A Mother’s Warning
Heir of Wishes, Bound by Fate

Heir of Wishes, Bound by Fate

Author: Gregory Meza


Chapter 2: A Mother’s Warning

It was the talk of the town for weeks. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me at the grocery store, and even the pastor made a gentle joke about it at Sunday service.

After receiving Nathaniel’s birth date card, my mom frowned anxiously, sighing over and over.

She sat at the kitchen table, turning the card over in her hands, her lips pressed tight. "I’ve heard the Whitmores’ seventh son wants nothing to do with marriage, just thinks about running off to find himself. No wonder all the society girls passed him by—so Mrs. Whitmore wants to hire you. She must think I’m good at having kids and wants you to give her a grandchild."

She slapped her thigh. "Won’t you end up a living widow in the future?"

Her voice echoed in the kitchen, and even the cat paused in his grooming to look up. The idea of being left behind, raising children alone, weighed heavy on her mind. She’d seen it happen before—neighbors who married dreamers, only to be left with the bills and the babies.

With Dad’s job, Mom couldn’t risk offending Mrs. Whitmore. My sisters’ husbands were officials, too—if they heard about this, wouldn’t it drag them in? My second and third brothers were also talking about marriage—if things went badly, it could mess up their chances, too…

It was a web of family politics, the kind that made holiday dinners tense if someone said the wrong thing. My mother wrung her hands, torn between protecting me and keeping peace with everyone else.

But if we agreed to this marriage, my mom was scared I’d suffer after marrying into the Whitmore family.

She looked at me with sad eyes, the kind that said she wanted to fix everything but couldn’t. I could see her doing the math in her head—what would it cost us if I said no? What would it cost me if I said yes? I didn’t have an answer.

I was just curious and asked, "Nathaniel already has six older brothers. Does it really matter if he has a kid or not?"

I couldn’t help but wonder out loud. Honestly, how many grandkids does one woman need?

Mrs. Whitmore should already be surrounded by grandkids.

It was almost funny, the way some folks got stuck on tradition. I’d seen Mrs. Whitmore fuss over her other grandchildren at church picnics, but somehow, it was never enough.

Mom shook her head helplessly. "He’s the seventh son in the whole clan, but Mrs. Whitmore only has this one precious boy! They say she prayed for him every day at St. Paul’s Church, lighting candles for months just to have him."

The way she said it, I pictured Mrs. Whitmore kneeling at the front pew, the whole church quiet except for her whispered prayers. Around here, people believed in that sort of thing.

Oh. So that’s how it was.

Suddenly, it made sense—the candles, the prayers, the way Mrs. Whitmore hovered over Nathaniel like he might disappear at any moment.

I went over and gently patted my mom’s back. "Mom, you don’t have to worry. This seems like a good deal for everyone."

Was I really ready for this? Maybe. Maybe not. But I wasn’t about to let Mom see me sweat.

"If I can give Nathaniel a son or daughter, the Whitmores will always have a place for me. In such a fancy household, wearing nice clothes and eating good food—how is that suffering?"

I let myself imagine it for a moment: dinners with real silverware, dresses that didn’t come from hand-me-down boxes, rooms with thick carpets and soft beds. It sounded like a dream compared to our noisy farmhouse.

I went on, "If Nathaniel really does leave to go find himself, the Whitmores will probably feel guilty toward me. Not only will they not treat me badly, they’ll probably help our family even more."

It was a practical calculation, and I could see my mother weighing the possibilities. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the best thing that ever happened to us.

Dad, my brothers, even my brothers-in-law could all benefit—why not?

In a small town, family ties ran deep. If the Whitmores took care of us, doors would open that had always been closed.

Besides, my mom is so good at having kids. Surely, I will be too!

I grinned at her, hoping to lighten the mood. "It must run in the family, right?"

Mom’s eyes turned red as she pulled me into her arms. "Grace, you’re so thoughtful."

She hugged me tight, her voice thick with emotion. I could feel her heart pounding against my shoulder, and for a second, I was just her little girl again.

You may also like

Heir’s Pawn, Twice Betrayed
Heir’s Pawn, Twice Betrayed
4.9
He was the heir I saved from the fire—the man who would become both my salvation and my undoing. When Gabriel Whitmore returned to claim his fortune, the town buzzed with secrets, but no one knew I’d lived this moment before. In another life, I asked for love and became a pawn in their games—betrayed, locked away, poisoned by the girl who wore white at his side. This time, I bow my head and ask only for safety, but the Whitmore estate is a maze of old grudges and new dangers. Judge Langley plots, Gabriel’s heart hardens, and I must decide if survival means giving up on hope forever. Can I break free of the cycle, or will history repeat itself—one heartbreak at a time?
Broken Bloodlines, Stolen Crowns
Broken Bloodlines, Stolen Crowns
4.9
In a high-octane, emotionally charged family saga, Tessa—the real daughter in a family torn apart by secrets, betrayals, and switched identities—battles for belonging as her five brothers, the pampered heroine Hope, and the enigmatic Eli collide in a whirlwind of love, rivalry, and ruthless ambition.
Heir to the Fallen Dynasty
Heir to the Fallen Dynasty
4.7
Andy wakes up in the body of a disgraced crown prince, suddenly responsible for saving his family's legacy from ruin. Trapped between his own modern regrets and the crushing weight of history, he must outsmart betrayal, heartbreak, and his own worst instincts—or lose everything again. With every move, Andy risks becoming the family joke forever.
Moonshade Vows: Chosen to Save Him
Moonshade Vows: Chosen to Save Him
4.8
Autumn Hayes spent ten years fighting for the wrong love, but when fate sends her to rescue the broken Caleb Monroe, she faces betrayal, supernatural trials, and a chance to rewrite her destiny. As old wounds resurface and new alliances form, Autumn must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice for a future she might finally call her own.
Inheritance of Broken Promises
Inheritance of Broken Promises
4.9
A triumphant young woman’s victory is upended by a televised confrontation with her birth family, forcing her to defend her true father and reclaim her narrative. As public spectacle turns to personal reckoning, Autumn’s courage exposes old wounds and paves the way for both herself and her estranged sister to break free from cycles of abandonment and sacrifice.
I Loved Him in Every Lifetime
I Loved Him in Every Lifetime
4.8
A single act of mercy binds Lila, an ordinary fisher girl, to the world of Maple Heights’ most powerful family. Haunted by fragments of another life—and a love that left her in the shadows—she finds herself thrust into a battle of inheritance, secrets, and whispered betrayals. As the new heir ascends and old wounds resurface, Lila faces an impossible choice: reach for the love that destroyed her once before, or settle for safety in a world that never wanted her to belong. When survival means giving up her heart, will Lila finally break the cycle—or be forced to relive her heartbreak again?
Reborn to Break the Carter Curse
Reborn to Break the Carter Curse
4.7
I spent a lifetime as First Lady, loved by all—yet my heart shattered when I learned my childhood sweetheart, Noah, truly loved my scheming half-sister. Reborn with the chance to choose again, I vow to marry for myself, not family duty, even as Noah and Lillian conspire to ruin my happiness. When my painstaking wedding veil is stolen and turned into their plaything, I swear: this time, I’ll claim the life and love I was denied.
Traded as the Heir’s Secret Bride
Traded as the Heir’s Secret Bride
4.8
For three years, I was forced to slip into the Callahan heir’s bed, a shadow of his fragile wife—my own identity erased in the darkness. When I begged for a place in his world, he offered only cold rejection and cruel truths: I was nothing but a servant, never worthy of love or status. Desperate to save my sister from a worse fate, I offered myself as a widow bride to a dying man—trading one gilded cage for another, as the man I secretly loved watched in stunned silence.
Heir of the Damned Foster Blood
Heir of the Damned Foster Blood
4.9
After her family’s brutal betrayal and the murder of her only friend, Zoe Foster is forced to confront the darkest secrets of her bloodline. As the last Foster, she must reclaim the power her ancestors sacrificed and rise against the President’s golden protégé before everything she loves is consumed by fire. The world stole her peace—now, vengeance is all she has left.
Betrayed by Heaven, Bound by Blood
Betrayed by Heaven, Bound by Blood
4.7
Nate spent centuries fighting for a father who branded him a demon and a world that demanded his obedience. When his only friends—fellow outcasts Marcus and Derek—are forced into a rigged road trip across the realms, Nate faces the ultimate betrayal: his own ally sells him out to the gods. Now, with a stolen heirloom and a heart full of rage, Nate must choose—avenge his stolen childhood and destroy the heavenly order, or be crushed beneath the weight of family and fate forever.
Heir’s Mistress, Sister’s Enemy
Heir’s Mistress, Sister’s Enemy
4.9
Trapped as a pawn in her half-sister’s ruthless marriage game, Sarah must fight for her unborn child and her only friend in a mansion where every kindness is a weapon. When betrayal strikes and alliances shift, Sarah risks everything to outwit her rival and survive the Montgomery estate’s deadly power plays.
White Lies, Wild Hearts
White Lies, Wild Hearts
4.9
Avery Harper thought she could outrun her past and her stepbrother’s obsession, but when old wounds and forbidden longing collide, she’s forced to confront the truth behind every mask she’s worn. Torn between revenge and desire, Avery must decide if she’ll risk her heart for the only boy who ever truly saw her—or finally break free from the cage of their love. Every secret, every betrayal, and every touch pushes them closer to a line that can never be uncrossed.