Chapter 3: The Viremont Legacy
The name at the bottom of the document felt like a wound reopening.
Lucien Viremont.
Theron's father.
The man who had spent thirty years building the Viremont empire.
The man who believed emotions were weaknesses.
The man who had once told his son:
"A family survives when someone is strong enough to control it.""
Theron stared at the papers.
He had not spoken to Lucien in nearly two years.
Not since the argument that ended with Theron walking away from the family company.
Now the old man had returned.
And he wanted his granddaughter.
"No.""
The word came out quietly.
But firmly.
His lawyer, Marcus Hale, sat across from him.
"I expected that reaction.""
"Why is he doing this?""
Marcus looked at the documents.
"According to the petition, he believes both parents are unfit.""
Theron laughed bitterly.
"Both?""
"He is using the footage.""
"The footage?""
"The pool incident.""
Theron's expression darkened.
Marcus continued.
"He claims your reaction proves you are unstable.""
Theron stood and walked to the window.
Outside, Eirlys was playing with a nanny in the garden.
She was laughing.
A sound he feared he would lose.
"He doesn't care about her.""
Marcus was silent.
Because they both knew.
Lucien cared about the Viremont name.
Not the child.
A knock came at the door.
The nanny entered.
"Mr. Viremont?""
"Yes?""
"Eirlys wants to speak with you.""
Theron immediately went downstairs.
She sat on the floor surrounded by crayons.
When she saw him, she smiled.
"Daddy.""
He sat beside her.
"What are you drawing?""
"A house.""
He looked at the picture.
Three figures stood outside a large home.
"Who are they?""
She pointed.
"Me.""
Then another.
"Mommy.""
Then another.
"Daddy.""
Theron's throat tightened.
"Do you want Mommy to come back?""
Eirlys looked at the drawing.
"I don't know.""
The honesty hurt.
"She was nice sometimes.""
Theron nodded.
"Sometimes?""
"Sometimes she sang.""
A pause.
"Sometimes she got angry.""
He gently moved a strand of hair away from her face.
"Did Mommy scare you?""
Eirlys looked down.
Then she whispered:
"She said pretty people don't go to jail.""
Theron froze.
"What?""
"She said nobody would believe me.""
The room became silent.
He held her hand.
"Your voice matters.""
She looked at him.
"Even if I'm little?""
"Especially because you're little.""
For the first time in days, she smiled.
But the moment was interrupted.
The front door opened.
A deep voice echoed through the mansion.
"Still teaching weakness, I see.""
Theron stood.
Lucien entered.
Older.
Silver-haired.
Still carrying the same cold confidence.
Eirlys immediately moved behind her father.
Lucien noticed.
"She fears too easily.""
Theron's eyes hardened.
"Get out.""
Lucien smiled.
"You always were emotional.""
"You filed for custody of my daughter.""
"I filed to protect her.""
"From what?""
Lucien looked at him.
"From you.""
The accusation was so absurd that Theron almost laughed.
Almost.
"You don't know anything about her.""
"I know exactly what happens when powerful men lose control.""
Theron's jaw tightened.
"You mean men like you?""
The smile disappeared.
For a moment, the old man's mask cracked.
"You are my son.""
"No. I am the man who escaped being you.""
Lucien stepped closer.
"Eirlys needs discipline.""
Theron moved between them.
"She needs love.""
"Love doesn't build an empire.""
"No.""
Theron looked back at his daughter.
"But it builds a person.""
Lucien left without another word.
But before the door closed, he said:
"You should ask your wife why she chose yesterday to make a mistake.""
Theron frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Lucien only smiled.
"Ask her what she was afraid I would find.""
After he left, Theron stood frozen.
Because suddenly the story no longer made sense.
Corisande had always cared about appearances.
But why slap Eirlys that day?
Why risk everything?
Why provoke the one person who would destroy anyone who hurt his daughter?
That night, Theron searched through old family records.
He found something strange.
A transfer.
A payment made three days before the incident.
From Lucien Viremont.
To Corisande.
His hands went cold.
Then another file appeared beneath it.
A message.
One sentence.
*"Once the child is removed, the inheritance problem disappears.""*
Theron stared at the screen.
The room seemed to tilt.
Because suddenly he understood.
The slap was never the beginning.
May you like
It was the first move.
And his daughter had been the target all along.
