[CHAPTER 6]
Nathan held a press conference before noon.
That was his first mistake.
His second was believing I would stay silent.
By the time I turned on the television, he was standing outside Hart Foundation headquarters with Mother beside him.
That hurt.
Not because I expected her to choose me.
Because I had hoped she might finally choose the truth.
Nathan wore a dark suit and the expression he used whenever a crisis needed to appear smaller than it was.
“There has been a serious misunderstanding involving confidential family documents.”
I nearly threw the remote.
Emma sat beside me at Marcus’s office.
Eli stood near the window.
Nathan continued.
“A troubled minor entered a private charity event last night and approached my niece.”
Emma shot to her feet.
“He approached me because Mommy told him to!”
I muted the television.
She stared at the screen like she wanted to break it.
“Why is Grandma standing there?”
I had no answer that would not hurt her.
Nathan’s lawyer spoke next.
They claimed Eli had stolen materials.
They claimed Grace’s photograph might have been obtained illegally.
They implied someone was attempting to extort the Hart family.
Eli’s face slowly lost all expression.
I recognized that look.
A child disappearing inside himself.
I stood.
“Turn it off.”
“I knew this would happen,” Eli whispered.
“No.”
“Yes.”
He picked up his backpack.
“Where are you going?”
“Away.”
Emma blocked the door.
“No.”
“Move.”
“No.”
“Emma.”
She spread both arms.
“You promised my mom.”
His face cracked.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have.”
The words hurt everyone.
He looked at me.
“If I leave, he stops coming after you.”
“You think Nathan is doing this because you exist?”
“He didn’t care until I came.”
“He cared three years ago when he threatened Grace.”
Eli said nothing.
“This is not your mess.”
“It became yours because of me.”
“It was already mine.”
I took the backpack from his hand.
“You didn’t create the truth, Eli. You just carried it farther than the adults did.”
Marcus entered.
“Good speech.”
“Were you listening?”
“The whole hallway was.”
Emma pointed at him.
“Arrest Uncle Nathan.”
Marcus looked at me.
I almost laughed despite everything.
“We’re working on it.”
“Work faster.”
“That,” Marcus said, “is definitely Michael’s child.”
His phone buzzed.
He read a message.
Then his face changed.
“What?”
“Caleb recanted part of his statement.”
My heart dropped.
“Why?”
“He says Nathan never ordered him to destroy evidence.”
“Yesterday he said he did.”
“I know.”
“Somebody got to him.”
“Probably.”
I paced.
“What does that mean?”
“It means the case becomes harder.”
I looked at Eli.
Of course Nathan’s strategy was simple.
Attack the weakest witness.
Intimidate the other witness.
Keep the family confused.
Wait.
Power loved patience.
But Grace had waited three years too.
And she had left records.
“What about the bank documents?”
“Forensics needs time.”
“The video?”
“Strong evidence of threats, but Grace recorded her account alone.”
“She was dying.”
“I know.”
“She had nothing to gain.”
“I know.”
“Then why—”
“Because court isn’t about what you and I know.”
I stopped.
Marcus stepped closer.
“It’s about what we can prove.”
My phone rang.
My attorney, Sarah Levin.
“Michael, Nathan filed an emergency motion.”
“For what?”
“Control of Hart Foundation records.”
“He already controls them.”
“He’s claiming a cyberattack and requesting permission to restrict access.”
“Why?”
“So nobody else can review internal files while the investigation continues.”
I laughed bitterly.
“He wants time to clean house.”
“Exactly.”
“Can we stop him?”
“We can try.”
“I’m going to the board.”
“Not alone.”
“I don’t care.”
“Michael.”
“I said I’m going.”
Emma stood.
“So am I.”
“No.”
“You said no more hiding.”
“Board meetings are different.”
“How?”
“Adults yell using expensive words.”
She crossed her arms.
“I’ve heard you talk to customer service.”
Marcus coughed into his fist.
I glared at him.
Then Karen arrived.
She needed to take Eli for an interview.
His face changed immediately.
“I’m going with him,” I said.
“You can’t be present for all of it.”
“Why?”
“Because he needs to speak independently.”
Eli looked terrified.
I crouched beside him.
“I’ll be outside.”
“You said I wouldn’t face him alone.”
“You won’t.”
“What if they believe Nathan?”
“Then we keep telling the truth.”
He stared at me.
“You really think that works?”
The question came from somewhere older than eleven.
I answered carefully.
“Not every time.”
He looked disappointed.
“But truth only needs enough people willing to stand beside it.”
Emma squeezed his hand.
“You have two.”
I nodded toward Marcus.
“Three.”
Karen smiled.
“Possibly four.”
Eli’s eyes filled.
He looked away quickly.
After he left with Karen, Emma and I went to the board meeting.
Nathan was already there.
Mother sat beside him.
Every chair was filled.
The moment I entered, conversation stopped.
Nathan leaned back.
“You brought Emma?”
“She asked.”
“This is not appropriate.”
Emma looked at him.
“Neither is stealing.”
Half the board nearly stopped breathing.
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
I almost felt proud.
Almost.
The meeting erupted.
Nathan accused me of emotional instability.
I accused him of fraud.
He called Grace confused during her final months.
That was the moment I lost restraint.
I slammed both hands on the table.
“Do not use her illness to erase what she found.”
Mother finally spoke.
“Enough.”
We both turned.
She looked exhausted.
“Your father built this foundation so our family name would mean something.”
I laughed.
“It means something now.”
She flinched.
Nathan leaned toward her.
“Mother.”
She looked at him.
Then at me.
For several seconds, I thought she would defend him again.
Instead, she removed a folder from her bag.
Nathan went white.
“What is that?”
She placed it on the table.
“Something I should have given Michael three years ago.”
My pulse stopped.
Nathan stood.
“Mother.”
She ignored him.
“Grace gave this to me two weeks before she died.”
I stared at her.
“You had something from Grace?”
Tears entered my mother’s eyes.
“She asked me to keep it safe.”
My voice broke.
“And you never gave it to me?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of Nathan?”
She looked at my brother.
“No.”
Her answer came softly.
“I was afraid of what it proved.”
Nathan lunged for the folder.
I reached it first.
Inside was a signed statement from Grace.
And beneath it was a photograph.
May you like
Nathan standing outside her hospital room.
His hand around her wrist.
