Chapter 6: What Michael Was Too Ashamed to Say
Grant closed his laptop.
“Device identifications can be copied.”
“Then give Daniel your computer,” I said.
“No.”
Lauren’s voice came through the screen.
“This is pathetic.
Margaret lost the vote.”
“You have not won the company.”
“I have enough votes to sell it.”
Michael stepped away from her.
“End the call, Lauren.”
“No.
Your mother needs to hear my offer.”
“What offer?” I asked.
“Resign permanently and approve the sale.
In return, Michael keeps his position, and I won’t make the children part of a public family dispute.”
“You already used Emma to carry your lies.”
“I never asked her to interfere.”
Emma appeared behind Lauren.
“You told me Grandma was too confused to travel.”
Lauren spun around.
“Go to your cabin.”
“You said Dad would lose everything if Grandma talked to him.”
“Emma, now.”
Captain Reyes stepped into view and placed himself beside the child.
“She may remain here until her father comes.”
Lauren stared at him.
“You work for me.”
“No, ma’am.
And children are not bargaining tools.”
Michael crossed the cabin and stood beside Emma.
Noah followed and wrapped both arms around his father’s waist.
“Mom is trying to take your phone,” Emma said.
“I recorded her.”
Lauren lunged for the device in Emma’s hand, but Michael took it first.
“What did you record?”
“Last night.
I heard Mom and Mr.
Keller talking in the kitchen.”
Lauren’s voice dropped.
“Give me that phone.”
“No,” Michael said.
She reached again.
Captain Reyes opened the cabin door.
“Mrs.
Harrison, step back.”
Lauren pointed at Michael.
“If you play that recording, our marriage is over.”
Michael’s thumb hovered above the screen.
Then he looked at me through the video call.
“Before I play it, Mom needs to know something.”
“Tell me.”
“I borrowed against my shares two years ago.”
The board members began whispering.
“How much?” I asked.
“Four million.”
My knees pressed against the edge of the table.
Michael’s voice cracked.
“Lauren said we needed it for property investments.
Half of them failed.
I kept quiet because I thought you’d look at me the way Dad did whenever I made a mistake.”
“Your father never stopped loving you.”
“He stopped trusting me.”
“And I made you feel watched instead of helped.”
He wiped his face.
“I let her speak for me because I was ashamed to speak for myself.”
I gripped the table.
“You pushed me away this morning.”
“I know.”
“You let your children watch.”
“I know, Mom.”
My breath broke.
Daniel pulled out the chair, and I sank into it.
Michael pressed his palm to the screen.
“I’m sorry.
I was a coward when you needed your son.”
Tears blurred his face, but I could still see Emma lean against him.
“I’m still here,” I said.
“But I will never pretend this morning didn’t happen.”
“I don’t want you to.”
Lauren folded her arms.
“Beautiful.
Now play the recording and destroy your family.”
Michael pressed the button.
Grant’s voice filled the boardroom.
“Once Vale owns the company, the loan disappears in the restructuring.”
Lauren answered, “And Margaret?”
“She loses the chair, the house held by the company trust, and access to the accounts.”
“You promised me control.”
“You’ll get it after the factories are sold.”
Lauren’s face drained of color.
May you like
Then Emma’s recording captured one final sentence.
Grant said, “Just make sure Michael never learns the yacht was bought with money taken from Harrison Manufacturing.”
