I looked up slowly.
“So my father loses everything?”
“If the evidence holds, yes.”
I couldn’t speak.
Richard leaned closer.
“And there is more.”
I almost laughed.
“Of course there is.”
He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a small black flash drive.
“Your grandfather left this for you.”
“What is it?”
“A recording.”
“Of what?”
Richard’s expression became serious.
“Your father.”
My heart stopped.
“When was it recorded?”
“Two months ago.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Your grandfather knew he was dying.”
I stared at the flash drive.
“What did he record?”
Richard didn’t answer.
Instead, he handed me his phone.
A video was already open.
I pressed play.
The screen showed a conference room.
My father sat at a long table.
Across from him was an older man I recognized immediately.
James Brooks.
My grandfather.
Alive.
Healthy.
Angry.
My father leaned forward.
“You’re making a mistake.”
My grandfather shook his head.
“No, Daniel. The mistake was trusting you.”
“You can’t leave everything to that boy.”
“He is my grandson.”
“He doesn’t know anything about business.”
“He doesn’t need to.”
My father slammed his fist onto the table.
“He’s weak.”
My grandfather smiled sadly.
“No. He’s unspoiled.”
My father’s face darkened.
“You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing.”
My grandfather leaned forward.
“And when I die, Nathan will receive everything.”
My father’s expression changed.
“Then I’ll make sure he never knows.”
The video stopped.
I couldn’t breathe.
Richard took the phone from my hand.
“That conversation was recorded six weeks before your father threw you out.”
I stared at the ground.
My father had known.
He had known the entire time.
He knew my grandfather was alive.
He knew about the inheritance.
He knew letters had been sent.
And when I turned eighteen, he took my savings and threw me onto the street.
Not because I was an adult.
Not because he wanted me to become independent.
Because he needed me gone before the estate could find me.
I looked at Richard.
