"Why?"
"Because he refused to participate in something he believed was wrong."
Edward's eyes became distant.
"Your grandfather was involved in selling counterfeit pieces through a private network."
Noah stared.
"My father told me about that."
Edward nodded.
"He discovered it."
"What happened?"
"He confronted our father."
"And?"
"Our father told him to stay quiet."
Edward's voice became bitter.
"Michael refused."
"So he left."
Edward nodded.
"He left with nothing."
Noah looked down at the watch.
"Except this."
Edward smiled sadly.
"That watch was given to him by our mother."
Noah looked at him.
"She died before I was born."
"Yes."
"She wanted him to have it."
Edward nodded.
"She told him never to sell it."
Noah looked confused.
"Why?"
"Because it represented honesty."
Edward looked toward the watch.
"Our mother said that if the family ever became wealthy by sacrificing its principles, then the wealth wasn't worth having."
Richard stood frozen.
He looked at Noah differently now.
But Noah wasn't interested in Richard.
He was looking at Edward.
"Why didn't my father ever tell me about you?"
Edward's eyes filled with tears.
"Because he was ashamed."
"Of you?"
"No."
"Of himself."
Edward shook his head.
"He believed he had failed."
Noah looked down.
"He didn't."
Edward nodded.
"I know."
Then he noticed something.
"May I see the watch?"
Noah hesitated.
Then he handed it over.
Edward held it carefully.
His fingers trembled.
He turned it over.
On the back was an engraving.
Two initials.
E.S.
And M.B.
Edward smiled through tears.
"Edward and Michael."
Noah whispered,
"Our names."
Edward nodded.
"We were fifteen and eleven when our mother had these initials engraved."
He handed it back.
Noah stared at the watch.
Suddenly, the store didn't matter.
The expensive displays didn't matter.
The guards didn't matter.
All he could think about was his father.
A man who had worked construction jobs.
A man who had never owned a luxury car.
A man who had died in a small apartment.
A man who had never told his son that he had once belonged to a wealthy family.
Noah looked at Edward.
"Why did he never come back?"
Edward swallowed.
"Because I was too proud to look for him."
Noah stared.
Edward lowered his head.
"And he was too hurt to come looking for me."
Silence.
Then Edward looked at Richard.
"What were you doing to him?"
Richard's face turned pale.
"Sir, we thought he was stealing."
"You thought my nephew was stealing?"
Richard didn't answer.
Edward's voice became cold.
"Did anyone ask his name?"
Richard looked down.
"No."
"Did anyone ask where he got the watch?"
"We did."
"No."
Edward shook his head.
"You accused him before you listened."
Richard swallowed.
"I apologize."
Edward looked at Angela.