CHAPTER 1: THE SON EVERYONE THOUGHT WAS A TRAITOR
Three months before the boardroom confrontation, Ethan Grant returned to New York after six years of running the European branch of Grant Global Holdings.
He was not welcomed like an heir.
He was watched like a threat.
Everyone in the company knew the rumors. Ethan was cold, ambitious, and dangerous. Some said he had been sent to Europe because his father no longer trusted him. Others believed he had returned only to fight his younger brother for power.
Ethan heard all of it.
But he said nothing.
At Grant Tower, his father, William Grant, was waiting for him in the chairman’s office. Beside William stood Ryan, Ethan’s younger brother, the golden child of the family.
William did not stand up when Ethan entered.
“You finally came back,” William said coldly.
“You asked me to come back,” Ethan replied.
William placed a file on the desk.
“In three weeks, the board will approve Ryan as the new chairman. You may attend the meeting, but you will remember your place.”
Ryan looked at Ethan with suspicion.
“Don’t make this ugly, Ethan. Dad has already decided.”
Ethan looked at his father.
“Are you sure Ryan is ready?”
Ryan’s face darkened.
“You think I’m not good enough?”
“I asked a professional question,” Ethan said calmly.
William’s voice turned sharp.
“Ryan has something you never had.”
Ethan stared at him.
“What?”
“Loyalty to this family.”
The words cut deeper than William knew.
Since childhood, Ethan had always been treated like the difficult son. He worked harder, achieved more, and saved the company’s European branch from collapse. But none of it was enough.
Ryan was praised.
Ethan was judged.
Before leaving the office, Ethan stopped at the door.
“Dad,” he said quietly, “do you ever think about Mom?”
The room went silent.
Ryan frowned.
“Why are you bringing her up?”
William’s eyes turned cold.
“That woman is no longer part of this family.”
Ethan nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
But as he walked out, he knew one thing clearly.
May you like
His father was still hiding something.
And this time, Ethan would not let him bury the truth again.
