Chapter 8
“You’re destroying my brother because you’re angry with me.”
Tove’s voice came through Cullen’s speakerphone.
His attorney sat across the desk recording notes, not the call itself.
“I suspended a foundation deal.”
“You know Chase needs that financing.”
“That isn’t the foundation’s problem.”
“It becomes your problem when half the board walks.”
Cullen leaned back.
“Why do you care about a commercial deal more than the fact that you withheld my daughter’s inhaler?”
Tove paused.
“You’re twisting what happened.”
“No.”
Cullen looked toward his attorney.
“I’m separating what happened from what you want it called.”
Tove hung up.
Within twenty-four hours, three foundation directors demanded an emergency meeting.
Chase claimed Cullen was retaliating over a domestic dispute.
Tove’s attorney accused Margaret of creating a hostile environment and manipulating Mireya’s medical care.
That accusation forced Cullen’s next decision.
He could keep the conservatory incident private and allow the family board to treat everything as personal drama.
Or he could report exactly what happened.
He chose the second.
With his attorney present, Cullen gave a full account to the appropriate authorities.
Tove taking the inhaler.
Margaret being shoved.
Chase attacking him.
Cullen striking Chase.
Cullen slapping Tove.
He included his own actions.
His attorney warned him before the statement.
“You understand this may create consequences for you too.”
“Yes.”
“And once it’s outside the family, you lose control over how it proceeds.”
Cullen looked toward the conservatory through the office windows.
For most of his life, losing control had sounded like failure.
Now it sounded necessary.
He signed the statement.
By evening, Tove knew.
So did Chase.
Chase sent one message.
You have no idea what your mother has been hiding from you.
Cullen stared at the screen.
May you like
For eight parts of the conflict, every road had led toward Tove and Chase.
Now Chase was pointing back at Margaret.
