Samuel gave him time.
Then the amounts increased.
When Eleanor became ill, Richard saw an opportunity.
He began telling Marcus that Samuel was wasting the company's resources and making irrational decisions.
He suggested that Marcus should take control.
He offered to help him remove his father from management.
Marcus remembered those conversations.
He remembered Richard telling him that he deserved more than to spend his life under Samuel's shadow.
He remembered agreeing.
And he remembered signing documents he hadn't fully understood.
His face went pale.
"What did I sign?"
Samuel looked at him.
"An authorization allowing Richard to transfer certain company assets."
Marcus stood.
"Why didn't you stop me?"
"I tried."
"You should have told me!"
"I did."
Marcus remembered.
Samuel had warned him.
But he had dismissed the warning as jealousy.
He had told his father that he was afraid of losing control.
Now he understood.
Richard had used him.
He had used Marcus's ambition, his resentment, and his grief.
He had turned a son against his father because it made the theft easier.
Marcus walked toward the window.
"I helped him."
Samuel didn't answer.
"I helped him steal from you."
"You didn't know what he was doing."
"I should have."
Samuel stood.
"Marcus, listen to me. You were young. You trusted someone you had known your entire life."
"That's not an excuse."
"No. But it is the truth."
Marcus turned around.
Tears filled his eyes.
"I accused you of destroying Mom's life while I was helping the person who threatened her."
Samuel crossed the room.
This time, Marcus didn't stop him.
His father placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We cannot change what happened."
Marcus looked down.
"But we can decide what happens next."
Two days later, Olivia arrived at the Carter home.
She stood at the entrance holding a small handbag.
Vanessa opened the door.
"Olivia?"
The young woman nodded nervously.
"Yes."
Vanessa smiled gently.
"Come in. We've been expecting you."
Olivia stepped inside.
She looked around the house with a mixture of curiosity and sadness.
"This is where Eleanor lived?"
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes."
Olivia looked toward the staircase.
"My mother used to tell me stories about her."
Samuel appeared from the study.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he opened his arms.
Olivia stepped forward and hugged him.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Samuel closed his eyes.
"I wish I could have done more."
"You did more than anyone else."
Marcus stood near the doorway.
He felt awkward.
He wanted to say something meaningful, but every sentence seemed inadequate.
Olivia noticed him.
"Hello, Marcus."
He nodded.
"Hello."
She gave him a small smile.
"I know this is difficult."
He looked down.
"I owe you an apology."
Olivia shook her head.
"You don't owe me anything."
"I do. I spent years believing my father had betrayed my mother. I never questioned the things Richard told me. I never tried to understand why you were part of her life."
Olivia's expression softened.
"Your mother didn't want you to feel responsible for us."
"But I should have known."
"Maybe. But we cannot spend the rest of our lives punishing ourselves for what we didn't understand."
Marcus looked at her.
"How did you find the recording?"
Olivia sat down.
"My mother gave me a letter shortly before she died. She told me that one day I should contact Samuel. But she also told me not to do it unless I could prove what happened."
"Why?"
"Because she was afraid Richard would destroy the evidence and make it look like we were lying."
Marcus nodded.
"And the video call?"
Olivia smiled faintly.
"I almost gave up."
She explained that she had spent months trying to locate Samuel.
She had contacted the company's former employees, searched old records, and eventually found an address connected to the Carter family.
She had sent several messages.
None had been answered.
Then she discovered a photograph of Samuel at a charity event.
She recognized the man from her mother's old pictures.
She sent one final message.
This time, Vanessa received it.
And she had encouraged Samuel to respond.
Marcus looked at his wife.
"You knew?"
"I knew someone was trying to contact your father. I didn't know what it was about."
He nodded.
"Thank you."
Vanessa squeezed his hand.
Olivia reached into her handbag.
"There is one more thing."
She removed a small sealed envelope.
"My mother wanted you to have this."
Marcus looked at it.
"Me?"
"Yes."
He opened it carefully.
Inside was a short letter.
Marcus,
Your mother once told my mother that you were the most stubborn little boy she had ever known.
She also said you had the biggest heart.
I never met the boy she described, but I hope that somewhere inside the man you have become, he is still there.
Please don't let the mistakes of the people who raised us decide the kind of person we become.
Your mother loved you.
And my mother loved her.
Sometimes, that is the only explanation we need.
Olivia.
Marcus read the letter quietly.
Then he folded it and placed it beside Eleanor's.
For the first time, he felt that his mother's story was becoming complete.
Not because every question had been answered.
But because he was finally allowing other people to tell their side.
The following weeks brought more revelations.
The independent accountant Samuel contacted confirmed that Richard had transferred nearly two million dollars through fraudulent supplier accounts.
Some of the money had been used to purchase property.
Some had been moved overseas.
And some had been used to finance a lavish lifestyle that Richard had maintained while publicly criticizing Samuel's financial decisions.
The company had survived because Samuel had personally covered several payroll shortages.