“I came looking for answers.”
He looked at Dad.
“I found Edward first.”
Dad’s eyes filled.
“I offered to bring him home.”
Samuel snapped, “You offered me money.”
“I was ashamed.”
“You were afraid.”
“Yes.”
Dad did not defend himself.
Samuel continued.
“Then Vance found me.”
“How?”
“He represented investors who had researched Grant land.”
Vance told Samuel the family had deliberately erased him to protect the fortune.
“He showed me trust documents.”
“Real?”
“Some.”
“Forged?”
“Some.”
Samuel smiled sadly.
“I wanted to believe him.”
Because rage is easiest to manipulate when somebody tells you exactly who deserves it.
Samuel joined Bellmore.
At first, his job was simple.
Find weaknesses in Grant ownership.
Then Rachel discovered what he was doing.
“She hated me.”
Rachel spoke quietly.
“I didn’t hate you.”
“You should have.”
“I hated what you were becoming.”
Samuel’s face softened.
“That was worse.”
Melissa had found Rachel investigating
