Richard leaned back in his leather chair, his breathing shallow.

“I paid a physician in upstate New York to falsify the birth certificate,” Richard admitted.

“We registered you as our biological child born at home.”

“I spent millions keeping those doctors quiet over the last thirty-four years.”

I watched Nathan’s face crumble as the reality of the deception settled over him.

His entire existence, his name, his position at the company—it was all a carefully constructed lie.

“You lied to me,” Nathan said, his voice dropping to a dangerous register.

“Every single day of my life.”

“I gave you everything!” Richard snapped, slamming his cane against the floor.

“I gave you the best schools, the best clothes, and a seat at the head of the table!”

“But you are not a biological Whitmore,” Mr. Hayes said, pointing to the documents.

“Which means you have never legally held a single share of this company.”

“And neither does Richard.”

I looked down at the papers, my eyes scanning the elegant cursive of the old registry.

“Then who owns it?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.