Chapter 12 - The Signature
My father finally told me what he had been trying to buy.
The folder contained a transfer agreement.
Control of Carter Restoration Services.
My 51%.
The Charger.
The remaining automotive assets.
Everything.
In exchange, my father offered to “assume all liabilities” of the company.
It wasn't an offer.
It was surrender.
I looked at him through the glass door.
“You think I'm signing this?”
“You don't have a choice.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“You always did this.”
Dad's eyes snapped toward him.
The color drained from his face.
For a second, he looked old.
Really old.
“Ethan.”
“You told them I was dead.”
“I told them you disappeared.”
“You hid my shares.”
“I protected the company.”
“You stole it.”
Dad looked at me.
“Don't listen to him.”
I laughed softly.
“That sentence is twenty-two years too late.”
He raised his voice.
“You have no idea what I've done for this family.”
I pointed at the documents.
“You forged my name.”
“You don't understand.”
“You used my car.”
“You were supposed to help us.”
“You threatened me.”
“I was desperate.”
“You involved Ava.”
His expression changed.
That was the first time I saw genuine shame.
I looked at Ava's empty place beside him.
“So you admit it.”
Dad didn't answer.
Ethan stepped closer.
“You know what the real problem is, David?”
Dad glared.
“You built a life around people who were afraid to tell you no.”
“And now?”
Ethan smiled.
“Now Willow has.”
Dad signaled to the men.
Elena immediately stepped forward.
“Any further action and everyone here will be identified on record as participants in an attempted coercive transfer.”
The men stopped.
Dad stared at her.
“You think paperwork will protect her?”
“No.”
Elena looked toward the driveway.
“Evidence will.”
Police lights flashed in the distance.
My father turned.
Too late.
He had crossed too many lines.
The officers approached.
Dad's lawyer arrived moments later.
Everything happened quickly.
Statements.
Documents.
Evidence bags.
I watched as Meridian Capital's representative was questioned.
Then something unexpected happened.
My father pointed at Ava.
“She started it.”
Ava appeared behind the officers.
She looked broken.
“You told me to.”
Dad's face hardened.
“I told you to protect the family.”
“You told me to lie.”
“You agreed.”
“You told me Willow would never fight back.”
Silence.
My sister looked at me.
“I was wrong.”
I didn't answer.
She came closer.
“I was jealous.”
My face remained still.
“You always had something I didn't.”
“What's that?”
“You didn't need people to like you.”
I almost laughed.
“I spent my whole life trying to make you like me.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I know.”
Then she handed Elena a flash drive.
“He has everything on here.”
“What?”
“Every invoice.”
“Every transfer.”
“Every message.”
I stared at it.
“You copied his files.”
She nodded.
“Before he knew.”
My father shouted her name.
The officers restrained him.
But before they led him away, he looked at me.
“You think this makes you free?”
I stared back.
“Yes.”
He smiled bitterly.
“No.”
He leaned toward me.
“You'll never understand what happened to Ethan.”
I looked at my uncle.
Then at Dad.
“Then tell me.”
He shook his head.
“Ask your mother.”
The officers took him away.
I turned toward Ethan.
He looked at my mother.
My mother was crying.
Then Ethan said quietly:
“Your father was right about one thing.”
I frowned.
May you like
“What?”
“We never told you the whole story.”
