Chapter 5 - The Family Secret
Thomas Whitmore had disappeared from the family decades earlier.
He had always blamed Harold for their father's decision to leave the majority of the business to him.
Harold had never fought back.
He had simply built his own empire.
But Thomas had never forgotten.
Edward found him at an old restaurant downtown.
The man was seventy-five.
He looked remarkably similar to Harold.
They could have been twins.
But their eyes were completely different.
Harold's were warm.
Thomas's were cold.
“You finally came,” Thomas said.
Harold sat across from him.
“Why are you doing this?”
Thomas smiled.
“You know why.”
“No.”
“You always had everything.”
“I worked for it.”
“You took Father's company.”
“Father gave it to me.”
“Because he loved you more.”
Harold sighed.
“You're still angry.”
“I have every reason to be.”
Edward sat beside his father.
“Then why attack the dealership?”
Thomas looked at him.
“Because your father cares about it.”
“You could hurt innocent employees.”
“I know.”
Edward stood.
“Then you're no better than Samuel.”
Thomas laughed.
“You're becoming like your father.”
Harold interrupted.
“Don't.”
Thomas looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because Edward isn't responsible for our mistakes.”
Thomas leaned back.
“You're right.”
He looked at Edward.
“You're better than both of us.”
Edward was surprised.
Thomas continued.
“That is why I need you.”
“Need me for what?”
Thomas placed a folder on the table.
“Your father has a trust.”
Edward opened it.
Inside was a document.
Harold's face changed.
“I thought that was destroyed.”
“What is it?”
Thomas smiled.
“Your grandfather left a condition.”
Edward read.
If the family could not maintain the business with integrity, ownership would transfer to a charitable foundation.
Edward looked up.
“So?”
“So the dealership isn't really yours.”
Harold nodded.
“I know.”
“What?”
Harold looked at his son.
“I always knew.”
Edward stared.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wanted you to run it as though ownership wasn't the point.”
Edward was silent.
Thomas smiled.
“Now you understand.”
The dealership was never just a business.
It was a test.
A test of character.
Thomas leaned forward.
“I have one offer.”
“What?”
“Sell the dealership to me.”
“No.”
“Then I'll expose everything.”
“Everything?”
Thomas smiled.
“The financial manipulation.”
“Samuel?”
“Elaine.”
“Victor.”
Edward's face tightened.
“You planned all of it.”
“I financed it.”
Harold looked heartbroken.
“Why?”
Thomas's expression finally cracked.
“Because I wanted you to feel what it was like to lose everything.”
Harold stared at him.
“I've already lost something.”
“What?”
“My brother.”
Thomas looked away.
For the first time, he looked ashamed.
But before anyone could speak, police officers entered.
Thomas stood.
“What is this?”
Edward smiled.
“Elaine confessed.”
Thomas's face went pale.
“She gave us everything.”
The police arrested him.
But as he was taken away, Thomas looked at Harold.
“I never wanted to hurt you.”
Harold nodded.
“I know.”
Then Thomas said something unexpected.
“I was just tired of being forgotten.”
Harold's eyes filled with tears.
“You were never forgotten.”
Thomas stopped.
For a moment, the brothers simply looked at each other.
Then Thomas was gone.
Edward turned toward his father.
“Are you okay?”
Harold nodded.
“No.”
May you like
He smiled sadly.
“But maybe one day I will be.”
