Chapter 2: The Thirty-First
Marcus pulled the tape from his father's mouth himself.
His hands were not steady either.
Arthur's first word was not a name.
It was a number.
"Thirty-first."
Marcus didn't understand.
He crouched lower.
"Dad, we need to get you out—"
"The thirty-first." Arthur's voice was barely there, cracked at the edges.
"That's when the transfer goes through.
The whole company.
Everything."
Marcus stood up slowly.
He turned and looked at the table.
Four folders.
The page with the blue tab.
He walked to it.
"Marcus, don't." Susan's voice was still level.
Still careful.
He opened the top folder anyway.
The document inside had his father's name on it.
Arthur James Carrow.
Signature line at the bottom, blank.
Date typed above it: August 31st.
Tomorrow.
He looked at the second folder.
Transfer of primary holdings.
He looked at the third.
Power of attorney, backdated to August 14th — two weeks before anyone said Arthur had gone into care.
He looked at Susan.
"He never signed any of this."
She said nothing.
"You told me he was in a facility.
You told me he chose to go."
Still nothing.
Eli was still standing at the elevator doors.
He had not moved.
Arthur's eyes were on Marcus, steady now, watching his son put it together piece by piece.
Then Vincent's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Something left his face.
Susan saw it too.
She crossed the room in four steps and took the phone from his hand before he could answer.
What Marcus found inside that fourth folder is why neither of them has spoken since.
May you like
The full story is in the link below.
What Susan had planned for after the 31st will leave you speechless.
