Chapter 8: The Truth My Father Protected
I couldn’t speak.
The words didn’t make sense.
Me?
The company?
I looked at my father.
“Is this true?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“Dad.””
He sat down slowly.
“Yes.””
My voice became quiet.
“You put a company in my name?””
“When you were born.””
“Why?””
He looked ashamed.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
He stared at the floor.
“That I would become my father.””
The answer shocked me.
He continued.
“My father cared about winning more than people. He destroyed anyone who got in his way.””
He looked at Daniel.
“I became the same person.””
Daniel looked away.
My father took a breath.
“When I realized what I had done to Daniel, I wanted to fix it.””
“But you didn’t.””
“No.””
He admitted it.
“I was afraid. I thought if I confessed everything, I would lose my company. Lose everything.””
Daniel laughed quietly.
“And you did anyway.””
My father nodded.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised me.
Michael watched silently.
Finally, he spoke.
“This is why you were always weak, John.””
Dad looked at him.
“No.””
Michael smiled.
“You think admitting your mistakes makes you better.””
He leaned closer.
“It doesn’t.””
The room went quiet.
“It just proves you knew you were wrong.””
I hated how complicated everything had become.
Nobody was completely innocent.
Nobody was completely evil.
Except Michael.
Something about him felt different.
He didn’t want answers.
He wanted control.
Daniel seemed to realize it too.
“You don’t care about the company.””
Michael looked at him.
“Of course I do.””
“No.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You care about making him suffer.””
Michael smiled.
“Maybe.””
Dad looked at him.
“Why?””
For the first time, Michael’s expression changed.
Pain appeared.
Real pain.
“You want to know why?””
He laughed softly.
“Because when our father died, he left everything to you.””
Dad froze.
“What?””
Michael’s voice became colder.
“He told me I wasn’t responsible enough. He told me you had the vision.””
The room was silent.
“I spent my whole life being second.””
He pointed at my father.
“Then you became exactly like him.””
Dad looked hurt.
“You think I wanted that?””
Michael smiled.
“I think you proved you deserved it.””
Suddenly, Mom spoke.
“You used me.””
Everyone looked at her.
Michael turned.
“Yes.””
She stared.
“You told me you wanted to expose John.””
“I did.””
“But you never told me you wanted control of everything.””
Michael smiled.
“You didn’t ask.””
Her face changed.
“You’re worse than him.””
Nobody expected her to say that.
Michael laughed.
“Interesting.””
He looked at my father.
“Even your wife sees it.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Leave.””
Michael looked amused.
“You still think you’re in charge.””
He tapped the documents.
“You’re not.””
Then he looked at me.
“Emily, your signature is the only thing missing.””
I froze.
“My signature?””
Dad immediately stood.
“No.””
Michael looked at him.
“This is not your choice anymore.””
He turned to me.
“Your father built this entire empire around you.””
He smiled.
“Now you decide what happens to everyone.””
I looked at the papers.
My name.
My future.
My family.
All tied together.
I hated it.
“I’m not signing anything.””
Michael smiled.
“I knew you’d say that.””
He picked up his briefcase.
“Which is why I brought something else.””
“What?””
He placed a photograph on the table.
A photograph of my father.
Daniel.
And a woman I had never seen.
My father looked at it.
Then his face went completely white.
“No.””
I picked up the photo.
“Who is she?””
Nobody answered.
Then Daniel whispered:
“That’s your grandmother.””
I looked at him.
“But she died years ago.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
He looked at my father.
“But this photo was taken after she supposedly died.””
My father stepped backward.
Impossible.
Another lie.
Another secret.
Then Michael said:
“Your father didn’t just hide a company.””
May you like
He looked at me.
“He hid what really happened to your family.””