Chapter 9 - The Resurrection
Evelyn slowly turned her head toward the door.
Arthur Sterling stepped into the boardroom. He looked thinner, his hair completely silver, leaning heavily on a wooden cane. But his eyes burned with the fury of a thousand suns.
"Arthur..." Evelyn whispered, her knees buckling. She collapsed into her leather chair, trembling uncontrollably.
Preston looked like he was going to vomit. He backed against the floor-to-ceiling window, raising his hands in surrender. "Arthur! I didn't want to do it! She made me! It was her idea!"
My father ignored Preston. He walked slowly across the room, the thwack of his cane echoing loudly, until he stood directly in front of the woman who had tried to murder him.
"I gave you everything," my father said, his voice quiet but terrifying. "I gave you a home. I gave your pathetic son a job. And you repaid me by locking my only child in a cage."
"Arthur, please," Evelyn sobbed, grabbing his coat sleeve. "I loved you! I panicked! Please!"
My father looked at her with pure, unadulterated disgust. He pulled his arm away as if she were diseased.
"Arrest them," he commanded.
The police moved in. The sound of handcuffs clicking closed around Preston and Evelyn’s wrists was the sweetest music I had ever heard. As they dragged Evelyn away, she was screaming, her perfect hair ruined, her designer dress wrinkled. The facade was completely shattered.
The boardroom emptied rapidly. The corrupt executives scrambled out to avoid association, leaving just my father, Sloane, and me in the silent room.
My father turned to me, dropping his cane.
I walked forward, and for the first time in four years, I embraced him. He held me tight, burying his face in my shoulder. I felt him crying, and I didn't try to stop my own tears.
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"Welcome home, Julian," he whispered.
"It’s good to be back, Dad."
