Chapter 13: The Real Target
I read the sentence again.
Then again.
"The real target was Michael Callahan himself.""
The words didn't make sense.
Not at first.
For years, I believed everything was about money.
My company.
The land.
The contracts.
The millions of dollars at stake.
But that sentence changed everything.
"What does that mean?"" I asked.
James looked through the document carefully.
"It means the company was only a tool.""
I stared at him.
"A tool for what?""
Nobody answered.
Then Olivia stepped forward.
"To destroy your reputation.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
She took the paper from James and examined it.
"Because Richard didn't just want your company.""
She pointed to a section near the bottom.
"He wanted to prove something.""
I frowned.
"Prove what?""
Olivia looked at me.
"That you were never capable of building it.""
The room went silent.
It sounded impossible.
A man worth billions had spent years trying to prove something personal?
But then I remembered.
Richard's words at the airport.
"You built your empire and abandoned your family.""
He wasn't just after my business.
He hated what I represented.
Success.
Independence.
A person who didn't need him.
James found another page attached to the document.
"This is a psychological profile.""
My stomach tightened.
"Of who?""
He looked at me.
"Of you.""
I took the page.
It contained information about my childhood.
My relationship with my father.
My personality.
My decisions.
Things nobody outside my family should know.
Then I saw the source.
"Ryan.""
My voice became quiet.
My brother had given him information.
Emily stepped beside me.
"He used your own family against you.""
I looked at the papers.
The betrayal felt heavier than anything else.
Money could be replaced.
Companies could be rebuilt.
But trust?
That was different.
A police officer entered the room.
"Mr. Callahan.""
I turned.
"Yes?""
"We found Ryan.""
Everyone became silent.
"Where?""
The officer looked at the folder in his hand.
"He was preparing to leave the country.""
"Did he say anything?""
The officer hesitated.
"Only one thing.""
"What?""
He looked at me.
"He said he wanted to speak with you before he was arrested.""
I didn't want to.
Every part of me wanted to walk away.
But I knew I needed answers.
Not for revenge.
For closure.
Ryan was brought into a private room later that evening.
He looked exhausted.
Not like the confident man from the airport.
Just a person who finally understood the consequences.
He sat across from me.
"You hate me.""
I didn't answer.
Because I wasn't sure.
Hate required energy.
And I was tired.
"Why, Ryan?""
He looked down.
"I thought you forgot about us.""
I almost laughed.
"Forgot about you?""
"You built everything. You became someone everyone respected.""
His voice cracked.
"And I was always just your brother.""
I stared at him.
"So you tried to destroy me?""
"No.""
He looked up.
"I tried to prove I mattered.""
I shook my head.
"You hurt my wife.""
His face changed.
"I never wanted that.""
"But you helped create the situation.""
He closed his eyes.
"I know.""
For the first time, I saw regret.
Real regret.
Not fear.
Not guilt because he got caught.
Regret.
"Richard told me it would be clean.""
I looked at him.
"And you believed him.""
He nodded.
"I was stupid.""
I leaned back.
"Yes.""
Ryan swallowed.
"But there is something you need to know.""
I waited.
"Richard had another person helping him.""
My eyes narrowed.
"Who?""
Ryan looked toward the door.
Then whispered:
"The person who gave him information about you before anyone else.""
My heart slowed.
"Who?""
May you like
Ryan looked directly at me.
"Someone who has been inside your company from the beginning.""
