Silent Heir

Chapter 3 Enough

That afternoon, I was sitting in the lounge outside my dad's office, building a Lego castle.

The office door was slightly ajar, and bits of the meeting next door drifted out.

The first to speak was Vincent. His voice was calm and deliberate, as if every word had been carefully planned.

"Marcus, you've seen the Q2 financial report. The real estate division's profits are down forty percent. The smart home project has already burned through over eight billion, and it still hasn't shown any results. Since the beginning of the year, the Ashford Group stock price has dropped thirty-seven percent. Investors keep calling me, asking if the Ashford family is about to collapse."

The conference room fell silent, leaving only his voice hanging in the air.

"Vincent's right."

Damien spoke next.

"The overseas business isn't doing any better. The Singapore project is under investigation by local regulators. If we default, we'll owe one and a half billion in penalties."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Then Vincent spoke again, his voice lower this time, but every word reached me clearly.

"Marcus, we're not trying to force your hand. We're thinking about what's best for the Ashford Group. If you keep insisting on doing things your way, you're not protecting the company. You're destroying it."

"So what are you suggesting?" Dad asked.

His voice was steady, but I knew he was gritting his teeth.

"We've prepared a proposal. You'll remain chairman, but step down as CEO. Damien and I will serve as co-CEOs for the next three years. During that time, you can take Julian overseas for proper treatment without worrying about the company. Once he's recovered, we'll hand everything back to you."

It sounded reasonable.

But anyone with common sense knew that once you gave up the CEO position, there was no getting it back three years later.

The room went quiet.

Then one executive after another began speaking.

"Marcus, we've worked together for years, so I'll be frank. I think Vincent's proposal makes sense."

"I agree. We can't keep absorbing losses like this."

"Why not enjoy life as chairman? Let Vincent and Damien take care of the business."

Voices overlapped across the room.

Every one of them was urging my dad to step aside.

Dad never said a word.

I quietly set my Lego pieces down and walked to the c***k in the door.

Inside, Dad sat at the head of the long conference table.

Senior executives filled both sides.

Every pair of eyes was fixed on him, waiting for his decision.

His hand gripped his fountain pen so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.

Not one person in that room was on his side.

Mom walked out of the conference room with red, swollen eyes.

She leaned against the hallway wall and took several deep breaths, trying to hold herself together.

Then she noticed me.

"Julian? What are you doing here?"

She crouched down and forced a shaky smile.

"It's nothing. The adults are just having a meeting. Why don't you go finish your Legos?"

She gently stroked my hair.

Her hand was trembling.

I looked at her tear-filled eyes and the smile she was struggling so hard to maintain.

Then I looked back through the doorway.

Dad's back was stiff and straight.

Across from him sat a room full of people wearing cold smiles, circling him like a pack of wolves.

Enough.

No more pretending.

I pushed the unfinished Lego castle aside and climbed off the couch.

"Julian?" Mom called, confused.

I walked past her and pushed the heavy conference room door open.

Creak.

One step.

I left the shadows of the hallway and walked into the brightly lit conference room.

Every head turned toward me.

Vincent sat directly across from Dad.

When he saw me, he smiled the indulgent smile adults reserved for children they thought knew nothing.

"Well, Julian. The grown-ups are discussing business. Why don't you go outside and play for a while?"

I looked him straight in the eye.

Then I slowly opened my mouth.