The Son They Found Too Late Chapter 02
Author: Anna Smith
The study fell silent again.
My mother spoke quietly.
“Sebastian may have what could have been yours, but he never took it from you. We believed you were gone, so we gave those things to him. If we take everything back now, he’ll feel as though his entire family has abandoned him.”
“What about me?”
She stared at me.
“What do you mean?”
“I gave up my career because I believed you truly wanted your son back. But every time you have to choose between us, you choose Sebastian.”
I looked at each of them.
“Do you think I can accept all of this because I spent more years on my own, so I’m used to being abandoned?”
Vivienne parted her lips.
“No one is abandoning you. We just know you’re stronger than Sebastian.”
I nodded.
“So the stronger son is always the one who has to give way.”
“Callum—”
“As long as I can survive it, you can keep asking me to wait. Sebastian might be hurt, while I’ll only be disappointed.”
No one argued.
My father tapped the table impatiently.
“Enough. We have given you money, shares, and your place in this family. Keeping Sebastian in charge is the most stable decision for everyone. You cannot expect this entire family to rearrange itself simply because you believe we owe you.”
“I understand.”
I picked up the trust agreement.
My father’s expression eased, believing I had finally given in.
Instead, I placed it back in front of the attorney.
“If everything about my return has to be arranged around protecting Sebastian, then I have no reason to be part of this agreement.”
My mother grabbed my arm.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You searched for me for twenty-five years. But since I came back, every time giving me a real place might make Sebastian uncomfortable, you’ve told me to keep waiting.”
Sebastian’s eyes reddened.
“What do you expect me to do? Move out of Whitmore House and give you the company and all my shares?”
“I finally understand that you can have two sons, but you only love me when loving me costs Sebastian nothing.”
“As long as I ask for nothing and change nothing, I can remain the son you lost and found again.”
I looked at my parents.
The color drained from Sebastian’s face.
I picked up my coat and headed for the door.
My mother followed me.
“Callum, this is your welcome dinner.”
I stopped but did not turn around.
“I know. That’s why I need to decide whether the home I came back to is the one you promised me.”
My father called after me.
“If you walk out that door tonight, don’t expect us to beg you to come back.”
I stopped.
My mother and Vivienne watched me, certain I would give in as I had every other time that year.
They believed that after twenty-five years without a family, I must want the Whitmore name more than anything. They were sure I could never walk away from the parents and sister I had only just found.
They had mistaken my love for this family for a guarantee that I would never leave.
I looked at my father.
“All right.”
