Chapter 13 - The Cost of Truth
The next week was ugly.
Carter Holdings lost two major partners.
Three investors demanded Emilia resign from the foundation.
Anonymous commentators accused her of destroying her husband’s company for attention.
Photographers waited outside Oliver’s school.
That ended after Carter arrived personally.
He did not yell.
He did not threaten.
He simply stood between the cameras and his son until every photographer lowered a lens.
Then he changed Oliver’s school routine.
Emilia hated that most.
Adults had created the problem.
Oliver had to lose freedom because of it.
One evening, she found him sitting beneath the dining table with Captain Pancake.
Marta had finally brought the enormous golden retriever for a visit.
Oliver was whispering into the dog’s ear.
Emilia crouched.
“What are you two discussing?”
“Business.”
“Oh.”
“Important business.”
Captain Pancake yawned.
Emilia smiled.
Oliver crawled out.
“Mommy, are people mad at Daddy?”
“Some people are.”
“Because he told the truth?”
“Yes.”
Oliver frowned.
“That’s stupid.”
Emilia nearly laughed.
“It can feel that way.”
“Does Daddy wish he didn’t?”
She looked toward the doorway.
Carter stood there.
He had heard.
He knelt beside his son.
“No.”
Oliver studied his face.
“Even if you lose money?”
Carter nodded.
“Even then.”
“How much?”
Emilia raised an eyebrow.
Carter smiled faintly.
“Enough that your mother is going to tell me not to answer that.”
“Correct,” Emilia said.
Oliver considered this.
Then he placed one hand on Carter’s shoulder.
“You can have my airplane money.”
Carter’s expression collapsed.
Oliver had been saving allowance for a model aircraft.
“Thank you,” Carter whispered.
“But I think we’ll be okay.”
That night, after Oliver slept, Emilia found Carter standing in the dark kitchen.
“You’re scared,” she said.
“Yes.”
It was one of the reasons she loved him.
He never performed invincibility for her.
“What are you scared of?”
“That I will destroy thousands of good people while trying to correct what a few powerful people did.”
Emilia moved closer.
“Then don’t confuse destruction with discomfort.”
He looked at her.
“Some things need to become uncomfortable before they become honest.”
Carter touched her face.
“When did you become terrifying?”
“I wore a nanny uniform once.”
That finally made him laugh.
For the first time in days, the house sounded normal.
Then Carter’s phone rang.
Alana.
May you like
Her first words erased the laughter.
“Lydia is missing.”
