That answer was worse than no.
Celeste snapped, “For God’s sake, Andrew, stop talking.”
But Andrew’s control had cracked. “I didn’t know they would hurt him. I thought it was about the foundation. I thought Grandfather was paranoid.”
Richard shouted, “Enough.”
Harrison lifted his cane slightly, and the room quieted.
“No,” Harrison said. “Let him speak. Cowards often confess only when they feel abandoned.”
Andrew swallowed hard. “Dad said the foundation was ours. He said Grandfather was giving everything away to strangers. He said if I married Claire, it would help the family image when the board questioned the changes.”
You felt something inside you go very still.
“You were going to use me,” you said.
Andrew’s eyes filled. “At first.”
“At first,” you repeated.
He reached for you again, but you moved away before his hand could touch you. The space between you felt wider than the room.
Harrison nodded to Marianne.
She removed several documents from the folder. “Effective immediately, Mr. Whitmore has revoked all management authority previously granted to Richard Whitmore, Celeste Whitmore, and Andrew Whitmore regarding the Whitmore Charitable Trust, Whitmore House Holdings, and associated voting proxies.”
Richard lunged to his feet. “You can’t do that.”
“I already did,” Harrison said.
“You’ll destroy this family.”
Harrison looked around the foyer, at the marble, the portraits, the staircase, the people who had mistaken inheritance for immunity. “No, Richard. I am simply refusing to finance its rot.”
Marianne continued. “The trust will now be overseen by an independent board pending investigation. Mr. Whitmore has also created a new emergency housing initiative in partnership with local nonprofit networks.”
You looked up, confused.
Harrison turned toward you. “If you want it, the first director’s seat is yours.”
The room erupted.
Celeste shouted that you were a gold digger. Richard accused Harrison of senility. Paige sobbed that everyone was ruining her life. Andrew said nothing.
You raised your hands. “No. I didn’t help you for a job.”
“I know,” Harrison said. “That is why you are qualified.”
You shook your head. “I can’t accept something like that just because I found you.”
“You are not accepting it because you found me,” he said. “You are accepting it because every day, you choose to see people this family trained itself to ignore.”
That silenced you.
