Chapter 9 - Marcus Told Tyler the Truth
Marcus’s cooperation cost him.
Ashford Academy removed him from its board.
His company clients left.
His father publicly called him unstable.
Tyler heard pieces at school.
One night, he asked:
“Did Lily’s dad ruin Grandpa?”
Marcus stared at his son.
That was the moment he could repeat the family pattern.
Or stop it.
“No.”
Tyler frowned.
“Grandpa said he did.”
“Grandpa lied.”
Tyler looked shocked.
Marcus continued.
“So did I.”
He told Tyler age-appropriate truth.
He had helped approve dishonest payments.
Daniel Caster discovered them.
Marcus allowed Daniel to be blamed.
Tyler stared at him.
“You were the bully?”
Marcus nearly broke.
“Yes.”
That word hurt more than “criminal.”
Because Tyler understood bully.
He had been one.
Tyler looked down.
“Like me?”
Marcus nodded.
“Yeah.”
Tyler started crying.
Marcus sat beside him.
“I’m sorry.”
“To me?”
“To you too. I taught you that being powerful meant people should move out of your way.”
Tyler whispered:
“I shoved Lily.”
“I know.”
“She could’ve gotten hurt.”
“Yes.”
Tyler cried harder.
Marcus did not rescue him from the discomfort.
He let his son understand consequence.
Then Tyler asked:
“Do I have to apologize?”
Marcus answered:
“You don’t apologize because you have to.”
Tyler thought.
“I want to.”
Sarah was cautious when Marcus called.
Lily decided herself.
She agreed to hear Tyler at school with staff present.
Tyler stood awkwardly.
“I shouldn’t have grabbed your bag.”
Lily crossed her arms.
“No.”
“I shouldn’t have shoved you either.”
“No.”
He swallowed.
“My dad said my family lied about your dad.”
Lily looked at Marcus.
Marcus nodded.
Tyler continued:
“I’m sorry.”
Lily waited.
Then:
“Okay.”
Not “I forgive you.”
Not friendship.
Just acknowledgment.
That was enough.
Outside the room, Sarah told Marcus:
“You’re doing one thing right.”
Marcus gave a humorless smile.
“Low bar.”
“Yes.”
He accepted that.
Then his attorney called.
Richard had been arrested.
Charges included fraud, conspiracy, obstruction, and charges related to Daniel’s death based on the developing evidence.
Frank Delaney was also charged and cooperating.
Sarah sat down when she heard.
Lily asked:
“Is that good?”
Sarah chose carefully.
“It means people are finally going to answer questions.”
Lily touched the patch on her backpack.
“About Dad?”
“Yes.”
Then she asked something Sarah wasn’t ready for.
“Will they give him his name back?”
Sarah stared at her.
Daniel Carter had died publicly with the shadow of the Caster scandal still attached to his past.
He had changed his name to escape it.
Lily wanted something simpler.
Truth.
May you like
Sarah kissed her forehead.
“We’re going to try.”
