Chapter 14: Arthur’s Final Choice
Nobody moved.
Harold Jenkins stood near the back of the chapel.
The same man who had cried during Arthur’s funeral.
The same man who had placed the key beside the folder.
The same man who claimed he wanted the truth.
Now everyone was staring at him.
Nia couldn’t believe it.
“Harold?””
The old man looked exhausted.
“I never wanted it to happen this way.””
Marcus stared.
“You were at Arthur’s house.””
Harold nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Harold looked at the coffin.
“Because Arthur called me.””
Nia felt confused.
“If he called you, why are you hiding?””
Harold looked down.
“Because I failed him.””
Lena stepped forward.
“You lied.””
Harold looked at her.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“By hiding the truth?””
His silence answered.
Nia felt anger rising.
“Everyone keeps saying they protected us.””
She looked around.
“But all you did was keep us in the dark.””
Harold nodded.
“You’re right.””
The admission surprised her.
He continued.
“Arthur spent his whole life believing he could control every problem.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What happened that night?””
Harold took a breath.
“I went to his house because he asked me to destroy something.””
Everyone froze.
“The folder?””
Harold shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at the screen.
“The evidence inside the folder.””
Nia stared.
“Why would he ask you to destroy it?””
Harold looked at her.
“Because he knew someone would come looking for it.””
Marcus frowned.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
Harold nodded.
“Because I refused.””
The room went quiet.
Harold continued.
“I told Arthur he needed to tell his daughters the truth.””
Nia’s eyes filled.
“What did he say?””
Harold looked at her.
“He said he was scared they would hate him.””
Those words hurt more than she expected.
Because despite everything, Arthur had been human.
He had made mistakes.
He had hidden things.
But he had loved them.
Harold looked toward Veronica.
“And then she arrived.””
Everyone turned.
Veronica’s face went pale.
Nia looked at her.
“You?””
Veronica shook her head.
“I didn’t kill Arthur.””
Nobody spoke.
Harold nodded.
“She didn’t.””
The room froze.
Veronica looked at him.
“What?””
Harold continued.
“Veronica came after Arthur collapsed.””
Marcus frowned.
“Then why did you let everyone think she was responsible?””
Harold looked ashamed.
“Because she was responsible for something else.””
“What?””
Harold looked at the red folder.
“She changed Arthur’s documents.””
Veronica closed her eyes.
Nia looked at her.
“Why?””
Veronica whispered:
“Because Arthur was going to expose me.””
“Expose what?””
Veronica looked broken.
“The money.””
Marcus listened carefully.
“The stolen money?””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
The confession shocked everyone.
“But I didn’t kill him.””
Nia looked at her.
“Then who did?””
Nobody answered.
The chapel screen suddenly turned on again.
Everyone turned.
Arthur appeared.
A final recording.
His face was calm.
“Nia.””
She stepped closer.
Arthur continued.
“If you are watching this, then you know the truth is bigger than one person.””
A pause.
“I spent years looking for someone to blame.””
He looked down.
“Then I realized I needed to look at myself first.””
Nia’s tears fell.
Arthur continued.
“I made mistakes.””
He took a breath.
“I hurt people by hiding the truth.””
The screen flickered.
“But the greatest mistake I made was believing I could fix everything alone.””
He looked directly into the camera.
“Nia, Lena…”
Both women looked up.
“You are my daughters.””
Lena covered her mouth.
“And nothing anyone did can change that.””
Arthur smiled sadly.
“The folder contains my final decision.””
Marcus looked at the red folder.
Arthur continued.
“I didn’t leave my legacy to the person who deserved it most.””
Everyone waited.
“I left it to the people who could repair what I broke.””
The video ended.
Silence.
Then Marcus opened the folder.
For the first time.
Inside were documents.
Not inheritance papers.
Not money transfers.
A plan.
A legal agreement.
Marcus read silently.
Then looked up.
“What?””
Nia asked.
Marcus smiled slightly.
“Arthur transferred ownership of the company into a foundation.””
Maya frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked at Nia and Lena.
“It means neither of you inherits his empire.””
He held the papers.
“You inherit the chance to rebuild it.””
Everyone stood silent.
Then Marcus noticed one final page.
His expression changed.
Nia saw it.
“What?””
Marcus turned the page.
At the bottom was a name.
A name Arthur had written himself.
The person who helped him create the foundation.
The person who knew the entire truth.
May you like
Marcus whispered:
“This can’t be.””
