My stepmother slowly turned toward him.
“You said you loved him.”
My father stared down at the floor.
She shook her head.
“You said he was difficult. You said he was ungrateful. You said throwing him out was for his own good.”
Her voice cracked.
“You never told me this.”
My father didn’t respond.
My stepbrother looked at me.
“Nathan…”
I met his gaze.
He somehow seemed smaller.
“I didn’t know,” he whispered.
I nodded.
“I believe you.”
He lowered his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
For a moment, I thought about all the years I’d spent believing he was the favorite because he was somehow better than me.
But the truth was much simpler.
My father had simply decided I was disposable.
I turned back toward the board.
“So what happens now?”
Margaret Ellis folded her hands together.
“That depends on you.”
I frowned.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
She slid a document across the table toward me.
“Your grandfather gave you controlling ownership of Brooks Holdings.”
I stared down at the percentage.
Sixty-eight percent.
Enough to control the company.
Enough to remove anyone.
Enough to change everything.
Margaret continued.
“But he also gave you authority to determine whether Daniel Brooks remains involved.”
