Chapter 15 - Thomas Comes Home
Thomas completed sixteen months custody and supervision began.
He was sixty-eight.
He lost:
Board role.
Trust-protector role.
Part of wealth to settlements/surcharges/legal fees.
Control.
He did not lose:
Home.
22% company shares.
All money.
Family name.
Justice was not poverty.
Then he asked to meet Marissa.
She said no.
Asked Adrian.
I said yes eventually.
Neutral office.
Thomas looked older.
“Adrian.”
“Uncle.”
Then:
“Do you hate me?”
“Some.”
Fair.
I asked:
“Did you believe Patrick settlement erased trust rights?”
“At first, yes.”
“When did you stop believing?”
“When Richard showed me Henry’s 2001 trust language.”
Three years before declaration.
There.
“Then why continue?”
“Because I thought court would side with broader release.”
“That does not explain saying no descendants.”
He looked down.
“I wanted five-year clock to run.”
There.
If no confirmed descendant after five years, trust split between my branch and his.
“So you wanted Evan to disappear legally.”
“Yes.”
“Did you want him harmed?”
“No.”
No murder.
“Did you know he was struggling?”
“I didn’t know his finances.”
“Did you care?”
“No.”
Honest.
Then:
“North Ridge?”
“I believed deal good.”
“Your profit?”
“I disclosed badly.”
“You used trust vote.”
“Yes.”
“Because you controlled.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did grandfather ever tell you Patrick branch was supposed to survive?”
Thomas laughed bitterly.
“All the time.”
There.
“Then why fight?”
“Because I spent fifty years working company while Patrick left.”
Resentment.
“He signed out.”
“Of 1989 rights.”
“I know now.”
Then:
“I thought inheritance should follow labor.”
But trust followed Henry’s choice.
Then:
“Do you regret calling Owen bastard?”
Thomas looked sick.
“Yes.”
“Why say?”
“Because I wanted Marissa to feel illegitimate before documents made claim legitimate.”
Cruel strategy.
Then:
“Would you say to her now?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Then he asked:
“Will you forgive?”
“Yes.”
He looked surprised.
“But I don’t trust you in governance.”
“I know.”
“No board comeback.”
“I know.”
“No using me to reach Marissa/Owen.”
“I know.”
Then:
“Family dinners?”
“Not yet.”
He accepted.
Progress.
Then Thomas's probation prohibited certain fiduciary roles, and company standstill remained. He became passive shareholder.
At seventy-one he sold 7% of company shares to employee ownership trust at fair value to pay estate planning/settlements? He had already paid. Could simply diversify. Leaves 15%.
No forced.
May you like
Then over years, some family relationship returns.
Not with Marissa until much later.
