Chapter 7 - The Sweeper’s Son
An entire week passed, and the financial dust began to settle in the city.
Morgan Enterprises officially filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and its assets were brutally liquidated.
Daniel Morgan was recently seen working as a desperate used car salesman just to make ends meet.
Evelyn and Sofia had been forced to move into a tiny, rundown apartment on the dangerous side of town.
Meanwhile, I continued my quiet, powerful life at the top of the Vanguard Empire.
But the massive corporate tower felt incredibly empty and cold without my son.
I was silently looking over some new acquisition documents when Sarah knocked tentatively on my door.
"Sir, there is something I think you really need to see," Sarah said, looking slightly confused.
"It's on the live security cameras at the South Estate development site."
I frowned deeply and pulled up the camera feed on my large computer monitor.
The South Estate was a massive, undeveloped property I owned on the dusty edge of the city.
It was currently just overgrown brush, thick weeds, and old, dying trees waiting to be cleared.
On the screen, a lone, exhausted figure was swinging a heavy machete, clearing the thick brush in the brutal heat.
I zoomed in the high-definition camera.
It was Lion.
He was covered head to toe in dark dirt, heavy sweat, and bloody scratches from the thorny bushes.
He was wearing the exact same brand of cheap work boots I used to wear when he was a little child.
"How long has he been out there working?" I asked, my voice suddenly thick with emotion.
"Four straight days, sir," Sarah replied gently, watching the screen with me.
"He sleeps in a cheap canvas tent at night and starts working again at dawn."
"He specifically told the site manager he doesn't want any money, he just wants to clear the land."
I leaned back in my leather chair, a complex storm of intense emotions hitting my chest.
He was doing the exact same brutal, manual labor I had done to build my entire fortune.
He was literally sweeping the yard.
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"Bring my car around immediately, Sarah," I commanded, standing up abruptly from my desk.
"I need to go for a drive."
