Chapter 3

Dad had no idea I was planning to leave. The next day, he called me into the Sylvester Group conference room.

The Westside Data Center was our biggest project of the year. Cameron was in charge of getting it off the ground, while I was responsible for the risk assessment.

Dad said it was meant to help me get familiar with the family business as quickly as possible, but for the past three months, every risk report I prepared had been submitted under Cameron's name.

If the project went smoothly, it was because of his ability. If something went wrong with the paperwork, I was the one expected to sign off as the head of risk management.

This time was no different. Cameron slid the project commencement approval across the table. "Harry, sign here."

I went through the documents. "The fire safety inspection is forged. The contractor was blacklisted last month. I can't sign this."

Dad tapped his fingers against the table. "Start construction first. We'll sort out the paperwork afterward. The investors are already here. We can't afford to lose the upper hand."

I pushed the documents back. "Whoever approved it can sign it."

Cameron smiled bitterly. "I know you're still upset about what happened yesterday, but you have to learn to separate business from family matters."

"I'm not upset," I said, pointing at the inspection certificate. "The seal is fake."

Vivian, who headed the group's legal department, was also in the conference room. She took one look at the documents and closed the folder. "Sign it first. I'll figure out how to deal with the rest afterward."

"How?"

"We'll fix the paperwork."

"And if it can't be fixed?"

She was starting to lose patience. "I'm your sister. You think I'd put you in danger?"

I looked at her. "Precisely because you're the head of the legal department, you know better than anyone what signing this could mean."

She said nothing.

Serena was there representing Sadler Group. She tried to persuade me.

"Cameron has spent a year preparing for this project. Once the data center is up and running, he'll officially join the board. Don't hold him back at the very last step."

"What about me?" I asked her.

"What about you?"

"If the project succeeds, he gets a seat on the board. If something goes wrong, I go to prison. Do you think that's fair?"

She pursed her lips. "Nothing will go wrong."

"Then let him sign it."

Cameron's fingers tightened around the edge of the table. Zoe was also present, serving as the investment advisor.

She had watched Cameron grow up, so even now, she instinctively defended him. "Harry, it's not that Cameron is afraid to sign. He's the heir. He cannot afford to have anything questionable on his record."

I nodded. "But I can."

The conference room fell silent.

Dad slammed the approval document in front of me. "Our entire family supported you."

"No, you didn't."

His face darkened. "We gave you a place back in our family."

"No. My name is still not in the family records."

"We gave you money!"

"No. Haven't touched a single dime in the bank account you gave me."

With every answer, Dad's expression grew stormier. Finally, he gritted his teeth and asked, "Then tell me, what exactly have you gained from coming home over the past year?"

I looked at Vivian, Serena, and Zoe. "I'd like to know, too."

Cameron stood up, his eyes red. "Stop pressuring Harry. I'm not joining the board—that's it."

Just then, Mom happened to walk into the conference room. When she heard him, she rushed over and pulled him into her arms. "You've worked hard for this for a year. Why should you give it up?"

She whipped her head at me. "Harry, all you have to do is sign one document, while Cameron's future is on the line!"

I closed the file. "I understand."

Her expression softened as she assumed I had finally given in.

To their surprise, I pulled a resignation letter from my briefcase. "This is my resignation from Sylvester Group. As of today, this project has nothing to do with me."

Dad shot to his feet. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Why not?"

"Because you're family!"

"I'm family when you need someone to take the blame. But when it comes to giving me a room, putting my name in the family records, or giving me the right to inherit the family business, I'm supposed to be understanding because Cameron's lived there for 25 years."

I placed my employee ID on the table. "I can't live by those rules."

An exasperated laugh escaped Dad. "Where can you even go after this?"

My phone rang at that exact moment. Nathan only had one thing to say.

"Mr. Sylvester, the board just voted unanimously. The partnership agreement for the risk management firm is waiting for your signature once you get back."

I hung up. The smile on Dad's face froze.