Part 12: The Brothers
Thomas Harrington had always known exactly who he was supposed to be.
The eldest son. The responsible one. The one who would eventually take over parts of Harrington Capital. He had spent his entire life measuring himself against his father’s expectations and, more often than not, falling short in his own mind.
Maya’s existence threatened that carefully constructed identity.
One evening, after a board meeting, Thomas asked to speak with his father privately.
Thomas
“I want to know what your plans are for her.”
Edward looked up from his desk.
Edward
“Plans?”
Thomas
“Are you going to give her shares? A position in the company? Are we supposed to pretend she’s always been part of this family?”
Edward set his pen down.
Edward
“I have no intention of forcing her into this world if she doesn’t want it. But I will not erase her either. She is my daughter.”
Thomas laughed without humor.
Thomas
“She’s also the reason Mother has been walking around this house like a ghost for the past year. Do you know how many times I’ve had to listen to our own family friends ask if the rumors are true?”
Edward’s expression hardened.
Edward
“If you have a problem with how I’m handling this, Thomas, say it clearly.”
Thomas met his father’s gaze.
Thomas
“I think you’re trying to fix something that can’t be fixed by suddenly playing the role of the good father. Some mistakes don’t get rewritten just because you feel guilty.”
Edward stood up slowly.
Edward
“You’re right about one thing. I can’t rewrite the past. But I can choose what I do with the present. Maya didn’t ask to be born into this. The least I can do is not make her feel like a mistake twice.”
May you like
Thomas didn’t reply. He simply turned and left the study.
William, meanwhile, had started following Maya’s work quietly. He liked her photographs on social media under a private account. He never commented. He never reached out. But he watched.
