Chapter 8 - The Confrontation in the Dark
Edward felt a surge of rage so intense it burned away the last remnants of his old-age fatigue. He reached for the desk phone to dial his private security team, but before his fingers could touch the receiver, Richard stepped forward and smashed his hand down onto the cradle, severing the line.
"Don't be foolish, Edward," Richard sneered, dropping the title 'Uncle' entirely. "You're seventy-two years old. You have a failing heart. The board already considers you a figurehead. If you try to hand over your shares or Daniel’s stolen patents to that orphan upstairs, I will have you declared mentally incompetent by morning."
"You monster," Edward hissed, glaring into the eyes of the young man he had groomed to take over his empire. "I built this company. I will destroy it before I let you keep what belongs to Daniel's boy."
Richard chuckled darkly, pulling a small silver drive from his pocket and tossing it onto the desk. "It's already too late. I transferred the last of the core patents to my offshore holding company an hour ago. You have nothing left to give him except this old house. Keep the kid. Buy him some clothes. But if you try to touch the company, I will make sure the boy ends up right back where you found him—in the gutter."
Richard turned on his heel and walked toward the study door, confident in his absolute victory.
"Richard," Edward called out, his voice unnervingly calm.
May you like
Richard paused at the threshold, looking back over his shoulder with a smirk. "Yes, Uncle?"
"Look at the mantelpiece."
