The truth was beginning to crystallize, each new discovery adding to the picture of a man I thought I knew. My father had always been a figure of authority, someone whose word was law. But now, his decisions felt like betrayals, carefully orchestrated moves that left me on the periphery.
Conversations with family members were tense, each one a dance of politeness and probing questions. Most were as surprised as I was, their assurances of ignorance genuine. But there were a few who avoided my calls, their silence speaking volumes.
One evening, as I sat in the dim light of my study, my phone buzzed with a message from a cousin I hadn’t spoken to in years. « Heard about the will. Call me when you can. »
We spoke late into the night, his voice a comfort despite the distance and the years. « I don’t know why he did it, » my cousin admitted. « But I think it has to do with the company. Something about old debts and new deals. »
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