Chapter 8: The Truth My Father Buried
I didn’t sleep that night.
Not because of Laura.
Not because of Ryan.
Because of my father.
A man who had been gone for eight years.
A man I thought I understood.
But the photograph changed everything.
I printed it out and placed it on my desk.
The younger version of me stared back.
Twenty-three years old.
Naive.
Confident.
Standing beside my father outside a building I never knew existed.
The building belonged to Carter Holdings.
The company name I had spent years building.
The company I believed I created from nothing.
But apparently, that wasn’t the truth.
At 6 a.m., I called the only person who might know.
My father’s old attorney.
Samuel Reed.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Jason?””
His voice sounded surprised.
“I haven’t heard from you in years.””
“I need to ask you something.””
A pause.
“What happened?””
“Did my father leave something behind?””
Silence.
Not a confused silence.
A guilty one.
“You saw something.””
I sat down.
“How did you know?””
“Because I hoped you never would.””
My chest tightened.
“Mr. Reed, I need answers.””
Another pause.
Then:
“Come to my office.””
Two hours later, I sat across from Samuel.
He looked older than I remembered.
His hands shook slightly as he opened an old file.
“I promised your father.””
“Promised him what?””
“That I wouldn’t tell you unless it became necessary.””
I looked at him.
“My son was taken because of a secret. I think it’s necessary.””
Samuel slowly nodded.
Then he pushed a document across the table.
“This was your father’s original trust agreement.””
I read the first page.
My eyes widened.
“This isn’t possible.””
“It is.””
I looked up.
“The company wasn’t mine?””
Samuel corrected me.
“The company was always yours.””
“Then what don’t I know?””
He took a breath.
“Your father didn’t build Carter Holdings for himself.””
He tapped the paper.
“He built it for you.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“He knew people would try to take advantage of you.””
I looked at the document again.
A section had been highlighted.
Ownership protection.
Family inheritance clause.
I read slowly.
“No transfer can occur without approval from the original beneficiary.””
Samuel nodded.
“Your signature.””
I looked up.
“So that’s why they need me.””
“Yes.””
“They can’t take the company.””
“No.””
A strange calm entered my body.
For the first time in days, I felt like I understood the battlefield.
Ryan wasn’t trying to steal my company.
He was trying to force me to surrender it.
But why?
“Who told him about this?””
Samuel looked away.
And that scared me.
“Tell me.””
He sighed.
“There was one person who had access.””
“Who?””
“Your brother.””
Michael.
Again.
My own family.
When I left Samuel’s office, I called Michael.
He answered immediately.
“Jason.””
“Did you know?””
Silence.
“Know what?””
“About my father’s trust.””
I heard him breathe.
That was enough.
“You did.””
“Jason…”
“How?””
“Ryan showed me.””
My hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“When?””
“Before all of this started.””
“So you knew he was trying to take my inheritance?””
“I didn’t know the details.””
“You knew enough.””
Michael’s voice cracked.
“I thought he was just trying to negotiate.””
I almost couldn’t believe him.
“You thought a man having an affair with my wife was negotiating?””
“I made a mistake.””
“No.””
I pulled over.
“You made a choice.””
Michael went quiet.
Then he said something unexpected.
“Jason, you need to understand something.””
“What?””
“Ryan isn’t the one in control.””
My expression changed.
“What do you mean?””
“He’s working for someone.””
The world seemed to stop.
“Who?””
Michael hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Someone your father knew.””
That evening, I finally received a call from Laura.
Her voice was broken.
“Jason.””
“Where is Ethan?””
“He’s with me.””
“Let me talk to him.””
A few seconds later, I heard my son.
“Dad?””
I closed my eyes.
“Hey, buddy.””
“Can you come get me?””
Those five words nearly destroyed me.
“I’m coming.””
“I don’t like it here.””
“I know.””
“I want home.””
My throat tightened.
“I’m bringing you home.””
Then Ryan took the phone.
“You’re learning.””
My expression changed.
“What?””
“You finally understand what matters.””
I stayed silent.
“Your company means nothing compared to your son.””
“You’re right.””
He sounded surprised.
“I’m glad you understand.””
“But you made one mistake.””
“What?””
“You thought I would choose between them.””
A pause.
“I don’t know what you mean.””
I looked at the documents on my passenger seat.
“My father taught me something.””
“What?””
“Never underestimate a person who has nothing left to lose.””
Ryan laughed.
“You still think you can win.””
I looked at the road ahead.
“I don’t think.””
I ended the call.
Then I sent one message.
To Rachel.
“Start everything.””
Because I was done defending myself.
Now I was going after them.
May you like
And the first person I planned to expose…
Was the person standing closest to me.
