Chapter 2

Scott's POV

That same day, Yolanda got Dad's contact information, broke off her engagement, and went after him.

Yolanda was beautiful enough to rival a movie star, and she knew how to win Dad over. It took only a few months for the two of them to get married.

After the wedding, my grandfather, Robert Carson, got her a job at Carson Group. She soon became a manager, and after I was born, she was transferred to headquarters and promoted to executive director.

When Grandpa retired because of his health, Yolanda took his place as chairman.

The day Grandpa died, she dropped her act and showed her true colors.

"Paul, I'll be honest with you. I only married you because your dad owned Carson Group," she said.

"Now that Robert is dead, your family can't do anything for me anymore. There's no reason for me to stay."

Dad begged her through his tears not to leave.

Yolanda had the nerve to ask him, "When you took me away from another man, did you think about what you were doing to him?

"Back then, Karl had to let me go for the sake of my future. But over the past 15 years, he has tried to kill himself several times. If I hadn't gotten there in time, I might never see him again.

"Paul, you can't be so selfish. I've already given you the best years of my life. What more do you want? Are you still going to stand between us?"

That was when Dad realized that the woman he had cherished had never loved him. He let Yolanda go and gave her the chance to be with her former fiance, Karl Zeller.

The next day, Yolanda used the Carson family's money to buy Karl a house to make up for leaving him all those years ago. She even went out of her way to take Karl's son, Winston, as her godson.

Using her influence, she transferred Winston from the worst high school in town to the best class at the city's top high school.

As for me, all it took was Winston saying he didn't want to see me at school. Yolanda forced me to study in the worst high school in town instead.

Dad didn't want my future ruined, so he took me to confront Yolanda several times.

But she said I was mediocre to begin with and had only gotten into the top high school because of her. She even made sure the better high schools in town knew not to accept me.

Whenever my former teacher secretly brought me practice tests, he couldn't hide how heartbroken he was over what had happened to me.

"You were the top student in your grade," he said. "Now, you're stuck in a place like this. How could any mother do this to her son?"

Then, he shook his head and sighed. "As for Yolanda's godson, Winston, he's just not good at school. She told all his teachers to give him extra help, but you can't teach someone who refuses to learn."

I felt a pang in my chest. I thanked my teacher and hurried back to the classroom to study.

Yolanda could try to ruin me, but I wasn't about to give up on myself.

…

"Scott Carson, your father's remains have been cremated. Please come this way to collect his ashes."

The urn was small and square.

I couldn't accept that Dad, who used to carry me on his shoulders and had always seemed larger than life, was now in this little box.

I wiped the tears from my face and took him home one last time.

I thought, "Wherever you are, Dad, don't forget the way home."

…

Early the next morning, I gathered my things and prepared to go choose a burial plot for Dad.

When I opened the door, two police officers were standing outside.

"Are you Scott Carson? We've received a report that your father, Paul Carson, bribed someone to falsify your SAT scores. You're coming with us for questioning."