Chapter 5

Charles sat to Dad's right, dressed in an immaculate dark suit. Fastened at his cuff was the Peay family's crest, the symbol of the designated heir. That crest had originally been meant for me.

Once the meeting began, Dad announced the project losses.

Then he formally appointed Charles as executive vice president of the company, established him as the Peay family’s sole heir, and named him the family’s representative for all future cooperation and marriage arrangements with the Grant family.

As applause filled the room, Charles rose to his feet, his expression carefully composed.

“I bear responsibility for the project’s failure as part of management. I’ll do everything I can to recover the losses and live up to my father’s and the board’s trust.”

Several directors immediately called for the police to be notified, and every camera in the room swung toward me.

“The Peay family raised him for more than 20 years, only for him to end up a traitor.”

The whispers made no attempt to stay quiet. That was when Charles stood up. He walked over to me, still deliberately keeping half a step of distance between us.

“Henry, I never wanted things to come to this.” He turned toward our adoptive father. “I’m willing to use part of my personal shares to cover the losses. He has lived with the Peay family for more than 20 years. Please, Dad, don’t send him to prison.”

Charles turned back to me. “Sign the agreement and leave Peay Corporation. At the very least, don’t make the last thing Dad remembers about you be your betrayal.”

I looked at the family crest on his cuff and suddenly smiled. His gaze slightly darkened.

Dad said in an impatient tone, “Security, get him out of here.”

Two security guards started toward me.

I did not argue. Instead, I slid a document I prepared in advance onto the center of the table. “Before I leave, I want three things put on the record.”

I looked at the compliance officer. “First, can you confirm that the report submitted to the board yesterday was complete, with no key information removed?”

Dad’s gaze bore down on him. The compliance officer had no choice but to nod.

“I can confirm that.”

I turned to Charles. “Second, can you confirm that you never copied the final bid and never instructed anyone to use my account?”

“No.”

“You’ve concluded that I was the one who leaked the files and that I was the one who received the 20 million dollars?”

Charles did not answer immediately.

Every camera in the room turned toward him. He replied in a low voice, “Based on the evidence we have at this point, that’s the only conclusion we can draw.”

“I want a clear answer.”

I stared at him. “Yes, or no?”

After a brief silence, he finally answered, “Yes.”

Finally, I turned to look at Dad. “Third, you revoked my position and inheritance rights and changed the marriage arrangement based entirely on this investigation report?”

Dad had completely lost his patience. He shot to his feet. “You think dragging this out for a few more minutes will change anything?”

“No. I’m only worried that once the truth comes out, some people might suddenly forget what they said today.”

Dad stared at me for a few seconds before finally giving a heavy nod. “Can you get the hell out now?”

“Of course.”

Just then, the conference hall doors were pushed open from outside.

Elizabeth walked in with Grant Corporation’s legal counsel and representatives of the project’s investors. She did not approach the head table. Instead, she looked directly at security.

“The leaked information concerns a joint project between our two companies. Grant Corporation has the right to participate in determining responsibility.”

Dad’s features tightened with displeasure. “Ms. Grant, this is an internal Peay family matter.”

Elizabeth took her seat with Grant Corporation’s representatives. “ Who the Peay family chooses to deal with is none of my concern. Grant Corporation only requires that the evidence be complete.”

I pulled my arm free from the security guards and connected my laptop to the main screen. “Since all three of you have given clear answers, let’s take a look at the original records.”