Chapter 16: Secrets To Be Uncovered

Shawn suddenly noticed something strange. “Sir.” Corey turned towards Shawn. “What?”

“The photograph.” He pointed toward the picture lying on the table, there are four children. Corey looked closer, his brows knitted together. He had only noticed himself and Kisha before. Now, he saw two other boys standing behind them. One looked exactly like Jethro, the other… Corey couldn’t recognize. “Who is he?”

Robert didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Kisha.

“Tell me.”

She stared at the photograph until her eyes blurred. “I…I don’t know.”

“You do, you’ve simply forgotten.”

“ I fucking said I don’t!” Frustration overwhelmed her. I spent years trying to remember pieces of my childhood!. Then why can’t I remember this place? Why can’t I remember that picture? Why can’t I remember him? Her voice broke, I don’t understand.

For the second time that evening Robert’s expression softened. “It wasn’t your fault, “The words surprised everyone, even Corey looked at him differently. Robert sighed deeply. When people are desperate, they make unforgivable decisions. He turned toward the large broken window overlooking the old mill yard..

“I made one.”

Kisha stared at him.

“Yes.” I thought I was protecting my family.

“What did you do?”

Robert closed his eyes. I separated two children who should never have been separated. Corey’s heart pounded. “What children?” Robert slowly turned back toward them, you, he looked at Corey..

“And you.” The room became deathly quiet. Outside, a cold wind slammed against the old windows. One shattered instantly, glass scattered across the floor. Shawn instinctively stepped in front of Corey and Kisha.

“Stay back!”

But Robert never moved, his eyes remained fixed on the journal. “I’ve carried this guilt for more than twenty years.” And tonight, you will finally learn why.”

The room fell into a heavy silence. No one dared to speak. Even the wind outside seemed to pause, as if waiting for Robert Prime to continue. Robert lowered himself into an old wooden chair. For the first time she Kisha had known him, he looked every bit of his age. His shoulder, once carried with pride, seemed weighed down by years of regret.

“I never imagined I would tell this story,” he said quietly. I prayed I would die before this day came.

Kisha stared at him. You’ve lied to me my whole life, treated me like an outsider and manipulated me in every way possible. You are despicable in all your ways as a father. You controlled every decision I made, you made my existence feel like a taboo.

Yes Kisha dear, I did all that you mentioned. I have no excuse for my actions and I truly regret it.

“Kisha scoffed, you made me believe Morgan Lawson was the reason everything fell apart.”

Robert lowered his eyes, I know.

A lump formed in Kisha’s throat. Then tell me the truth.

Robert looked toward the faded photograph lying on the table. It started long before you were born. Your grandfather and Morgan’s father built this mill together.

Corey squinted his eyes, “My grandfather?”

They were partners. They dreamed of turning Legacy Woodwork into the largest furniture company in the country. They were more than business partners and they were brothers in everything but blood.

Shawn listened in silence as Robert continued. “But success attracts greed.” There were investors, powers, money and eventually… distrust.

Corey’s hands slowly curled into fists. “So this feud wasn’t about love?”

“No.” Robert shook his head. The love story only became the spark and the fire had already been burning for years.

Kisha felt her heartbeat quickened. So…my mother and Morgan. They fell in love while trying to heal two broken families.

Robert nodded. “They believed love could end the hatred.” They were strong then they underestimated how deeply revenge had rooted itself. He smiled bitterly, and the rest you already know.

Corey stepped closer. “My father abandoned us.”

Robert looked direct emu into his eyes, no he didn’t.

“What?” Corey froze.

He never abandoned you. He left because he believed staying would put you in greater danger. The words struck Corey harder than he expected.

“My mother….”

Theresa knew.

Corey disagreed, causing his expression to change.

She knew why he left. Shawn's eyes widened by what Robert confessed. Then why didn’t she tell anyone?

Robert sighs. Because Morgan begged her not to.

Kisha’s voice trembled, “why?”

Robert reached for the journal again. There is another entry, he handed it over to Corey. Corey swallows before reading. If they ever discover the truth, they will hate me. But hatred is easier to carry than a coffin. His voice falters as he reads the final sentence. Forgive me, Corey.

Silence consumed the room. Corey closed the journal slowly as his hands began to shake. “My father… wrote this for me.” Kisha watched him carefully, she has never seen Corey look so vulnerable. The confident business man, the CEO, the man everyone respected. For the first time, he looked like a frightened little boy searching for his father.

Without thinking, she stepped closer. “Corey…” He didn’t look at her. I spent twenty years believing he chose another family over us. “I hated him.” His voice cracked.

Robert closed his eyes. “So did I.”

A sudden crack echoed from somewhere below, Shawn immediately became alert. “Did anyone hear that?” Another sound followed. Footsteps slow, measured and not just one pair, but several. Corey looked toward the doorway, “we are not alone.”

The old building groaned again, dust drove into the ceiling. Shawn quickly moved towards the entrance, I will go check. Before anyone could stop him, he disappeared into the hallway.

The long silence followed. Then_”Sir.” Shawn’s voice echoed from downstairs. “You need to see this.”

Corey hurries out, with Kisha behind. Robert followed more slowly. When they reached the main floor, Shawn stood beside an enormous wooden wall hidden behind stacks of broken furniture.

“There was a draft coming through here,” Shawn explained. I thought it was another window.

He brushed away years of dust. A carved emblem appears. The original Lawson family crest. Corey’s breath caught, I’ve never seen that before.

“There should be a latch,” Robert murmured. After searching for a moment, Corey pressed against one of the carved wooden panels. A loud click echoed through the mill, the entire wall shifted. Slowly… a hidden doorway opened. Cold air rushed out from the darkness beyond, Kisha instinctively stepped back.

“What is this place?”

Robert stared at the opening, his expression unreadable. “Morgan’s workshop.” No one has entered it in twenty-three years. Corey picked up Shawn’s flashlight, I’ll go first. He stepped into the darkness and the beam of light swept across the room. Old woodworking tools, half-finished furniture and dust-covered shelves. Everything remained exactly as Morgan had left it.

The flashed light stopped. In the center of the workshop stood a beautiful carved wooden cradle. Inside it rested a small silver locket. Kisha’s heart pounded. Without understanding why, she walked towards it. The money she touched the locket, a memory flashed across her mind.

Laughter, a little boy chasing her through the sunlight, a man lifting both children onto his shoulders. “Morgan….” She whispered. Her knees nearly gave away, tears filled her eyes. “I have been here before” Corey stared at her in disbelief.

“What did you remember?”

Before Kisha could answer_ A long metallic clang echoed somewhere deep beneath the workshop. Everyone turned toward the sound, there was another room hidden below the floor.

Robert’s face drained of colour. “No….” He whispered. It shouldn’t be open.