"This is what happened to my health."
Nobody spoke.
I looked directly at Trevor.
"Your proposed successor did this."
My son's face went white.
One director pushed back his chair.
"Gloria, we weren't told—"
"I know."
My voice remained steady.
"That's why I'm telling you now."
***
The meeting ended quickly.
The directors refused to approve the proposed transition without independent review.
Daniel had arranged for the company's governance records to be secured, and Patricia had already suspended Malcolm's access to certain financial systems pending investigation.
But I didn't feel victorious.
I felt exhausted.
As the others left, Trevor remained seated.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered, "You humiliated me."
I turned.
"Trevor, you struck me."
His jaw tightened.
"You could have handled this privately."
I stared at him.
"That's what people say when they want the victim to carry the shame."
His expression changed.
For a moment, I saw the boy he'd once been.
