Kingdom Fall

“How much do you know about Charles’s firing?” Kalen asked.

“Only the email that went around and the little you and Dad told me.”

“You did ask not to be involved.”

“I’m not complaining,” I said. “What does this have to do with the divorce?”

“I’m getting there. I’m the one who fired him. I figured out what he was doing and why.”

“And you’re just telling me now?”

“I hadn’t put all the pieces together.”

“And now you have?” I asked.

“I have indeed.”

“Care to share, big brother?”

“Charles has been jealous of Royce since they were kids.” I didn’t know this but wasn’t surprised. “He’s wanted everything Royce had including his wife.”

“He got her,” I muttered.

Kalen nodded. “That might have been enough, but his family lost their wealth a few years ago.”

“How did you find that out?” I asked.

And where had I been? Dad had an enemy and I’d been too busy in my own world to be there for him. Had I hated him that much for the past? Kalen hated him too, yet he’d taken the time to figure this out.

“A little digging. He’s been hiding by covering the loss with sketchy deals and loans. He’s stolen money from the company and tried to make it look like I did it. Thus, giving him the funding he needed and leaving him next in line for control of the company if something happened to Royce since you didn’t want to be in the line of succession.”

Shit. Had I been too selfish about wanting out of the family business? Charles always rubbed me the wrong way, but I hadn’t suspected all of this. “How much does Dad know?”

"Most of it, but not all.”

“About Charles’s relationship with Mom?”

“Yes. I didn’t tell him that I suspected Charles was having an affair with your mother.”

If Kalen suspected the affair, Dad did too. He wasn’t a stupid man. “You don’t think he knew?”

He shook his head. “Royce wouldn’t have put up with both of them this long.”

“Why didn’t you tell him?”

“For you.”

“Why do that for me? If I’m not in the picture, you’re the sole heir.”

Never in my life had anyone had my back and I struggled to trust Kalen had mine.

“You don’t deserve the fallout. Royce accepted you as his and it doesn’t matter whose blood runs through your veins. Besides, that man wouldn’t claim you unless he was sure. Though I should warn you, I baited Charles by telling him Royce had a vasectomy before he met your mother. That’s how I confirmed the affair.”

Mom had kept the affair secret. I’d only figured it out in the last year. That just showed how good of a liar she was.

“Why are we talking about this now?” I asked.

“Because I don’t know if Royce told you something that led you to marry Lizzy.”

“What does she have to do with anything?”

“He hasn’t told you?”

“Told me what?” I didn’t know what Kalen was getting at. “The only thing he asked me to do was get his lawyer to move quicker on the divorce. What do you know?”

Kalen sighed. “That should come from him. I will tell you this—knowing our father, he would have had us both checked for a DNA match to him.”

I shifted the phone so I could move the salmon to the stove. “And if he didn’t?”

“Then he’s accepted you as his no matter what. Even if Charles is your father, you’re a better man than him.”

“You didn’t think that always,” I said.

“I didn’t know you. I was angry. After growing up wondering when we’d eat next, I learned I’d been replaced. So of course, you were the evil brother. I know better now.”

“Wondering what to eat would have been preferable to the hell I endured,” I grumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing. I guess both of us had the wrong idea about each other.”

“Yes. And don’t think I would prefer Griffin as a brother over you. We grew up together, but you’re one of us now.”

There was a pause as I struggled with the wash of emotions that ran through me. “You know what. Can you give me the lawyer’s phone number? I’ll call.” Dad had asked me to do it. I could be a better son.

“Are you sure?” Kalen asked.

“Yeah.”

“I’ll text you the lawyer’s details.”

“Thanks.”

“And I hope you’ll trust me with the truth about why you and Lizzy got married. I don’t like knowing something Bailey doesn’t know about her best friend. That puts me in a bad spot.”

“I get it. But I think that’s Lizzy’s story to tell Bailey.”

“I’ll let it go for now. But I can’t keep this secret forever.”

I understood that. Lizzy had her rules about lies by omission.

Kalen asked, “Have you told Royce?”

“No.”

“You should tell him,” he said cryptically. “I’ll be at the hospital tomorrow and we can talk then.”

He hung up before I could question him further.

I found Lizzy in the library. “Lunch is served.”