Chapter 9: The Last Move
We reached the airport twenty minutes later.
I didn't care about revenge.
I didn't care about humiliating my family.
I needed answers.
I needed to know how deep this went.
Security footage showed Ryan and Richard entering a private terminal.
James handled the legal side.
Olivia helped identify every person involved.
I watched the screen.
My brother.
The man who grew up beside me.
The man who sat at my dinner table.
The man who watched my daughter cry.
Running away with the person who planned everything.
Emily stood beside me.
"You don't have to do this alone.""
I looked at her.
"I'm sorry.""
She frowned.
"For what?""
"For bringing you into my family's mess.""
She shook her head.
"You didn't bring me into it.""
She looked toward Lily.
"They chose to hurt us.""
Those words stayed with me.
Because she was right.
The airport doors opened.
And suddenly, there he was.
Ryan.
He stopped when he saw me.
For a second, he looked like the brother I remembered.
Then his expression hardened.
"You shouldn't have come.""
I walked toward him.
"You almost destroyed my family.""
He looked away.
"Your family was already broken.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
He laughed quietly.
"Why?""
His eyes filled with anger.
"Because you always had everything.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"I worked for it.""
"You were always the favorite.""
I shook my head.
"You think this was about jealousy?""
Ryan looked at me.
"It was about finally getting what I deserved.""
Richard Vale stepped forward.
A calm smile on his face.
"Emotional conversations are unnecessary.""
I looked at him.
"You planned this.""
He adjusted his coat.
"I offered your family an opportunity.""
"An opportunity?""
"Your company was worth more under my leadership.""
I laughed.
"You mean under your ownership.""
Richard didn't deny it.
"You should have accepted my offer.""
"And if I didn't?""
He looked at Ryan.
"Then we created another path.""
I looked at my brother.
"Was Lily part of your path?""
Ryan's face changed.
For the first time, shame appeared.
Just for a second.
Then Richard interrupted.
"Don't pretend you care now.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
"You built your empire and abandoned your family.""
My anger rose.
"You don't know anything about me.""
Richard smiled.
"I know enough.""
He pulled out a folder.
My folder.
The one they used against Emily.
"You think you found everything.""
He opened it.
Inside were more documents.
Older documents.
Documents with my signature.
My blood went cold.
Because I recognized them.
But I didn't remember signing them.
Richard watched my face carefully.
"Three years ago, you unknowingly transferred something very valuable.""
I stared at the papers.
"What did I transfer?""
His smile widened.
"Your voting rights.""
The world seemed to stop.
Because if those documents were real...
I didn't control my own company anymore.
Ryan stepped closer.
And whispered:
"Michael, there's something else you don't know.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
He swallowed.
"Those papers were signed the day Olivia left.""
I turned toward Olivia.
Her face had gone pale.
Because she understood before I did.
Someone had planned this from the beginning.
Not three weeks ago.
May you like
Not three years ago.
Much longer.
