Thomas looked down at his hands.
"Because he believed he was protecting me."
Michael's expression changed.
"Protecting you from what?"
Thomas stood and walked toward the window.
"Daniel had been having trouble breathing for several days. His mother called me, asking me to take him to the hospital. I promised I would come."
His voice became quieter.
"But I was preparing for an important meeting. I thought I could finish my work and visit him afterward."
Michael lowered his eyes.
"Then what happened?"
"Daniel became worse that evening. His mother called an ambulance, but the nearest hospital was far away. Richard happened to be nearby and offered to drive them."
Thomas stopped speaking.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the ticking of an old wall clock.
"On the way, their car was struck by a truck."
Michael covered his mouth.
"Richard was driving?"
"Yes."
"Was he injured?"
"Not seriously. Daniel was taken to the hospital, but he died before the doctors could save him."
Michael looked at the photograph again.
"Was Richard responsible?"
Thomas shook his head.
"At the time, the police concluded that the truck driver had crossed into their lane. Richard told me he had done everything he could."
"Then why did you say it might not have been an accident?"
Thomas returned to the table.
"Because several years later, Richard confessed that he had received a warning about the truck before the accident."
Michael's eyes widened.
"What warning?"
"Someone had reported that the truck had faulty brakes. Richard had seen the report, but he never passed it to the authorities."
Michael stood.
"Why?"
Thomas looked devastated.
"He was afraid the company would lose a major contract if the report became public. He thought the problem could be fixed the following morning."
Michael stared at his father.
"So Daniel died because someone ignored a safety warning?"
Thomas nodded slowly.
"That was what Richard believed."
Michael walked toward the photograph.
"And he kept that secret for twenty-eight years?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Thomas's eyes filled with tears.
"Because he was ashamed. And because he knew that if I discovered the truth, I would never forgive him."
Michael sat down.
For a long time, he could not speak.
Then he asked:
"Did you ever forgive Richard?"
Thomas thought carefully.
"I forgave him as a human being. But I never stopped wishing he had told me the truth sooner."
Michael looked at his father.
"Did anyone else know?"
Thomas shook his head.
"Not that I know of."
Michael looked at the photograph one last time.
He realized that the company he had spent his life building was connected to a tragedy that had haunted his father for nearly three decades.
And if Richard had concealed such a terrible truth, Michael wondered what else had been hidden inside Sterling Global.
He picked up his phone.
"Dad, I need to investigate this."
Thomas nodded.
"Just remember one thing, son."
"What?"
"Finding the truth is important. But don't allow the truth to turn your heart into something cruel."
Michael looked at him.
"I won't."
But neither man knew that someone else had already begun searching for the same documents.
And that person was Victoria Harrington.
The following morning, Michael arrived at Sterling Global earlier than usual.
He had barely slept.
Daniel's photograph remained in his mind.
He could not stop thinking about the boy who had died because someone had ignored a safety warning.
He entered his office and immediately called James Whitmore, the company's legal director.
"I need every document connected to the original Bennett Capital investment and Richard Cole's administration."
James nodded.
"How far back?"
"Twenty-eight years."
"That's a substantial amount of material."
"I know. Start with the earliest records. I also want the original safety reports involving any company transport contracts during that period."
James looked surprised.
"May I ask why?"
Michael hesitated.
"Because I believe there was a serious incident that was never properly investigated."
James became serious.
"Understood."
After ending the call, Michael opened his laptop.
A notification appeared.
It was an email from the company's board secretary.
URGENT: SPECIAL BOARD MEETING REQUESTED.
Michael opened it.
Several directors had requested an emergency meeting to discuss allegations involving Thomas Bennett and the original investment agreement.
He immediately understood what was happening.
Victoria was moving faster than he had expected.
At ten o'clock, the directors gathered in the conference room.
Victoria sat beside Daniel Reeves, her financial consultant.
She appeared composed.
"Thank you for coming," she began. "I believe we need to discuss a situation that could seriously affect the company's reputation."
Michael entered.
"Then let's discuss it."
Victoria looked toward him.
"Michael, nobody wants to make this personal."