going to restructure the board! He was going to cut me out of the trust, and—and if you inherited everything while hating him, I could convince you to sell the assets, to give me control!"
Richard didn't yell. He didn't gloat. He simply walked over to his son, placing a heavy, warm hand on Ethan's rigid shoulder.
"Greed makes people do ugly things, son," Richard said softly. "Including turning a son against his own flesh and blood."
Ethan looked down at his trembling hand—the hand that had struck the man who loved him most. The rage that had consumed him moments ago was entirely gone, replaced by a crushing wave of remorse and a silent vow to make things right.