Page 169 of Temporary Vows

“You make it sound as if I took everything for myself and my children,” Dad counters. “I told you I wanted to honor the way the company has worked for all generations, but everyone would have a fair share of the wealth.”

“It wasn’t enough!” Richard balks. “You control New York. “Each of your children is a billionaire. Mine fucking aren’t. Why should your children have all the prestige and mine go without.”

“My boys work hard,” Dad shouts back. “What they have didn’t come from me. They earned it themselves.”

“They got their feet through all the right doors because of you. The great Jeremiah Vale.”

“You are way out of line. It’s you and your children who have benefited from me. You control and take all the earnings from the European and Japan offices of the company. I gave Parker a fucking diamond company when he turned twenty-one, bought Rosie a chain of hotels in Bora Bora and the Caribbean, and Pam got a theme park in L.A. All of those were perfect opportunities to build billions.”

He was fucking right. My father had given and given more than his fair share. That’s why this is so shocking.

“I don’t care what you say, you all still had an unfair advantage,” Richard answers in a muted tone. “All I could do in the end was what I did.”

“Try to destroy my children, so yours could step in.”

“Yes.”

Few things shock me, but this… it’s a lot to take in.

Parker was almost expected, but I would never believe his father could ever be part of something like this.

But everything is fitting together now. Parker got his mean streak from his father.

My father is many things, but mean was never one of them.

“I planned to take them all down,” he adds as if we needed the clarification.

It started with Knox eight years ago. He nearly lost everything and almost went to prison. Then they lay in wait to trap me. Opening the door for Parker, because Knox was cleared. In both instances, Richard didn’t just strike. He waited for the perfect opportunity for something that could ruin us for good.

“Okay, Richard. I’ve heard enough. I’m done with you now.” Dad holds up a hand. “Both of you.” He glances at Parker.

I nod at Albert to open the door and let the police in.

The door opens and four officers file in.

When Richard sees them, he looks like a man who always knew this hand would be called eventually. He stands before they reach him, straightening his jacket with composure.

He really doesn’t care.

Parker is a different story. He shoves back from the table and glares at me. "You can't be serious." His eyes dart from me to my father to the officers. "Father, say something."

Richard doesn't even look at him.

The first officer reaches Parker and takes his arm. He tries to wrench free but there's nowhere to go. "Get the fuck off me."

The second pair approaches Richard. He extends his wrists without being asked. Quiet and dignified in a way that makes my skin crawl, because even now, he's performing.

Knox sits rigid, his face radiating with barely controlled fury. I can feel the tension rolling off him in waves as he stares at Richard.

The officers lead them away. Parker is still running his mouth as he goes through the door. Richard hasn't said another word.

The door closes behind them and no one speaks.

For a moment, the silence reigns. Until Dad straightens and clears his throat.

“Give us a moment,” he says to the assistants. They all dip their heads and leave us—my father and his four sons.

“I’m sorry,” I say, feeling like I should say something first.