Chapter 14: The Choice of a Father
The folder sat on the table.
Nobody touched it.
Nobody wanted to.
Because everyone knew whatever was inside would change everything again.
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“You came into my house.””
Adrian said nothing.
“You scared my daughter.””
“I never touched her.””
“You watched her.””
Adrian’s expression tightened.
“I watched because I had to.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“No.””
His voice was low.
“You wanted control.””
Adrian smiled slightly.
“You always were like this.””
Marcus frowned.
“Like what?””
“Your father’s favorite.””
The sentence cut deeper than Marcus expected.
Adrian continued.
“You got everything.””
Marcus laughed.
“Everything?””
“You had his attention.””
“I had a father.””
“And I had nothing.””
The anger in Adrian’s voice surprised everyone.
For a moment, Marcus saw something beneath the arrogance.
Pain.
But then he remembered Maya on the floor.
And the sympathy disappeared.
“You don’t get to hurt my daughter because you were hurt.””
Adrian looked at Maya.
“I never wanted her hurt.””
Maya held onto Marcus.
“Then why did you do this?””
Her small voice silenced the room.
Adrian looked at her.
For the first time, he seemed unsure.
“Because I thought if I didn’t act, everything would disappear.””
Maya frowned.
“What?””
“The trust.””
Marcus shook his head.
“This is about money.””
“No.””
Adrian looked at him.
“It’s about family.””
Marcus almost laughed.
“You don’t get to say family after what you did.””
Adrian opened the folder.
Inside were legal documents.
“The trust was designed to protect Maya.””
Daniel examined them.
“These are original documents.””
Adrian nodded.
“From your father’s attorney.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Can you verify?””
Daniel carefully reviewed the papers.
After several minutes, his face changed.
“What?””
Daniel looked up.
“He’s telling the truth.””
The room became silent.
Marcus stared.
“No.””
Daniel pointed to a section.
“The trust names Maya as the primary beneficiary.””
Marcus looked at the document.
“And Adrian?””
Daniel swallowed.
“He is the appointed trustee.””
Marcus turned.
“So he controls everything.””
Adrian shook his head.
“Not everything.””
“Then what?””
“The trust activates only if Maya’s legal guardian meets certain requirements.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What requirements?””
Adrian didn’t answer.
Evelyn did.
“The guardian must be approved by the family trust.””
Marcus looked at his mother.
“And who approves them?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Marcus understood.
The family office.
The same office controlled by Evelyn.
The same office Adrian now wanted access to.
“This entire fight…”
Marcus looked around.
“It was never about Maya.””
Adrian’s face hardened.
“It was always about Maya.””
“No.””
Marcus pointed at the papers.
“It was about who gets to control her.””
Adrian didn’t respond.
Maya looked between them.
“I don’t want money.””
Everyone turned.
She looked at the adults.
“I don’t care about the trust.””
Marcus knelt beside her.
“Maya…”
She shook her head.
“I just want people to stop making decisions about me.””
The sentence broke the tension.
Even Adrian looked away.
Marcus held her hand.
“You’re right.””
He stood.
Then faced everyone.
“No more.””
Adrian frowned.
“What are you saying?””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“I want the trust reviewed.””
Daniel nodded.
“That can be requested.””
“I also want the guardianship hearing canceled.””
Daniel looked uncertain.
“That may not be simple.””
“Why?””
“Because the emergency petition is already active.””
Marcus looked at the papers.
“Then we fight it.””
Adrian watched him.
“You would risk the trust?””
Marcus looked at Maya.
“Yes.””
“You could lose everything.””
Marcus smiled sadly.
“I already know what matters.””
Adrian studied him.
“You really are like him.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at Maya.
“I’m not like my father.””
A silence followed.
Then Adrian’s phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?””
Marcus noticed.
“What happened?””
Adrian looked toward the door.
“Nobody was supposed to know.””
“What?””
Adrian slowly lowered the phone.
“The emergency hearing.””
Daniel frowned.
“What about it?””
Adrian looked at Marcus.
“It was moved.””
Marcus felt uneasy.
“When?””
Adrian answered:
“Tonight.””
Everyone froze.
“That’s impossible,” Daniel said.
Adrian shook his head.
“It’s already happening.””
Marcus stared.
“Where?””
Adrian looked at the blue envelope.
Then at Maya.
“The judge is waiting.””
The room went silent.
Marcus grabbed Maya’s jacket.
“No.””
Adrian looked at him.
“You don’t understand.””
Marcus stopped.
“What?””
Adrian’s face was serious.
“The person who requested the emergency hearing…”
A pause.
“Wasn’t me.””
Marcus felt cold.
“Then who?””
Adrian looked at the documents.
At the signature.
At the authorization.
Then whispered:
May you like
“The person who has been controlling this from the beginning.””
Everyone turned toward Evelyn.
