The Man Behind The Empire

Chapter 2

Harvey turned the doorknob and stepped inside with deliberately calm steps. He worked hard to keep his face blank, as if he hadn’t overheard a single word of the insults that had just filled the living room.

He set the grocery bags carefully on the kitchen counter, the way he always did.

“Hey, Harvey! Don’t just stand there daydreaming!” Judy snapped the moment she saw him. She stood up from the couch, her face sour.

“Make lunch right now! Don’t let us starve just because you’re moving so slow!”

Leona was just as harsh. She folded her arms across her chest and sneered. “Move it, Harvey. Stop acting like the man of the house. In this home you’re nothing more than a free servant who’s only good for cooking and cleaning.”

Mason joined in with a mocking laugh. “That’s right. Tell him to cook something decent. Though it’ll probably just be edible at best. Let’s be honest, his brain and his skills are only good for housework. There’s not a single impressive thing a loser like him could ever do.”

In the middle of the nonstop insults, Lily suddenly looked up at her mother, eyes bright with curiosity. “Mom, when is Uncle Kane coming over again?”

Judy stiffened at the innocent yet cutting question. She glanced sideways at Harvey, a flicker of discomfort crossing her face.

A small sense of guilt rose because the topic of Kane was being discussed right in front of her husband. But before she could answer, Mason and Leona burst out laughing and immediately encouraged their granddaughter.

“That’s my smart girl! Uncle Kane will be here soon, Sweetheart. He’s a busy, successful man. Not like someone who just hangs around the house all day.” Mason said with a wide smile.

“That’s right, Sweetheart. Pretty soon Uncle Kane will be coming over a lot. He’ll bring you lots of fancy presents and spend time with us.” Leona added sweetly

Harvey stood at the edge of the kitchen, his chest tight. Still, he forced a stiff smile onto his face. He walked into the living room and looked at his daughter with a soft, almost pleading expression.

“Lily, tell Daddy the truth. Do you really like Uncle Kane more than your own dad?”

Lily met his eyes without a trace of guilt. She nodded firmly. “I like Uncle Kane better! He’s handsome, amazing, and rich. I want Uncle Kane to be my dad, not you!”

The honest, blunt answer from his own child hit Harvey like a lightning strike in the middle of a clear day. The forced smile on his face slowly collapsed, leaving only deep pain underneath.

Even so, instead of exploding in anger, Harvey took a long breath. A bitter smile touched his lips as he looked straight at his wife.

“All right. If that’s what my daughter wants, I’ll make it happen. So, when are you going to divorce me, Judy?”

His voice carried clearly through the room. His eyes stayed locked on Judy’s, calm, but sharp.

Instead of feeling pity or being moved by her husband’s willingness, Judy just scoffed and crossed her arms. She looked at him with pure contempt.

“Huh? Stop being so dramatic and childish! Don’t put on that tortured face like you’re the victim, here. You think that sounded cool? It just makes you look pathetic and ridiculous!”

Mason stood up and pointed hard at Harvey’s face, his anger boiling over.

“Listen up! Don’t you dare put on that arrogant look in front of my daughter! Know your place! You’re just freeloading in this nice home, eating off our hard work, and contributing nothing!”

Leona joined in. “That’s right! For years you’ve lived here as a useless son-in-law, a burden on the family, a parasite! You’re lucky we didn’t throw you out on day one!”

The anger Harvey had kept tightly bottled finally reached its boiling point. All the sacrifices, the quiet hard work behind the scenes, and the huge secret he had guarded for the sake of keeping this family together felt trampled underfoot by these ungrateful people standing in front of him.

Harvey straightened his back. The dull look in his eyes turned sharp and cold. He stared at Mason and Judy without the slightest fear.

“Freeloading? A family burden?” Harvey said in a low voice. A quiet, sarcastic laugh escaped him, one that sent a chill through everyone in the room.

He took a step closer. The presence he had hidden for so long suddenly rolled off him with every step.

“Do you people really think your family company got this big without me?”