Chapter 14 - Wyatt Had Signed Landon’s NameBack at the lake house, police took Owen away.
Melanie received medical attention.
Wyatt sat at the dining table holding ice against his face.
Landon remained standing.
“What did you do?”
Wyatt looked at the floor.
“Nothing that can’t be fixed.”
Landon laughed.
“That phrase has never introduced good news.”
Nathan sat nearby.
“What did Owen mean?”
Wyatt sighed.
“The archive wasn’t enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“To challenge Landon.”
Landon’s voice became flat.
“So?”
“Owen needed documents showing Landon knew about Orchard transfers.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know.”
“Now.”
“Yes.”
Landon stared.
“What documents?”
Wyatt rubbed his face.
“I created board memos.”
Nathan stood.
“You forged board records?”
“Drafts.”
“That is not a legal distinction.”
“I never filed them.”
“Did you upload them?”
Wyatt went silent.
Nathan swore.
“Where?”
“Internal archive.”
“When?”
“Last month.”
Landon almost admired the scale of betrayal.
“You forged documents saying I knew Dad was moving money.”
“Yes.”
“Using my signature?”
Wyatt nodded.
Melanie closed her eyes.
Landon looked at her.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
Wyatt said:
“She didn’t.”
Good.
One less layer.
Landon asked:
“Who else has copies?”
“Owen.”
“Anyone else?”
“Maybe two board members.”
Nathan stared.
“You sent forged evidence to directors?”
“Anonymously.”
“This could trigger federal investigation.”
“I know.”
Landon stepped closer.
“You were willing to frame me for financial misconduct because you wanted my job.”
Wyatt looked up.
“Yes.”
No excuse.
No resentment speech.
Just yes.
Landon found that almost worse.
“What did you think would happen?”
“You’d step down.”
“And then?”
“I’d take over.”
“You own twenty-four percent.”
“Owen said he controlled proxies.”
“He lied.”
“I know.”
“Again.”
Wyatt looked away.
Landon continued.
“Did Melanie know any of this?”
“No.”
“Did you use her card to upload forged records?”
“Yes.”
Melanie stood.
“What?”
Wyatt looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
She laughed.
“You put my name on it.”
“The login logs show the card.”
Her face drained.
“So it looks like I accessed the archive.”
“Yes.”
“And if this blew up?”
Wyatt didn’t answer.
Melanie understood.
“You were going to let me take the blame.”
“No.”
“You just created the evidence.”
“I thought I could control it.”
Landon finally exploded.
“You thought you could control everything!”
His voice shook the room.
“You thought you could control my wife by convincing her I cheated.”
Wyatt flinched.
“You thought you could control me by manufacturing evidence.”
Another step.
“You thought you could control the board.”
Another.
“You thought you could control Owen.”
Landon pointed toward the door.
“And when it failed, everyone else was supposed to absorb the damage.”
Wyatt stood.
“I know.”
“No.”
Landon’s voice broke.
“You don’t get to say that and make it smaller.”
Wyatt’s eyes filled.
“I don’t know what else to say.”
“Nothing.”
The room went silent.
Landon turned toward Nathan.
“What happens now?”
“We preserve everything.”
“Then?”
“Internal counsel. Outside forensic firm. Board notification.”
“Police?”
“Yes.”
Wyatt nodded.
“I’ll cooperate.”
Landon laughed bitterly.
“How noble.”
“I deserve that.”
“Yes.”
Melanie sat again.
She looked exhausted.
“What about me?”
Nathan answered carefully.
“You gave Wyatt access credentials.”
“I didn’t know he would forge records.”
“That matters.”
“But?”
“You still participated in unauthorized access.”
Melanie nodded.
“I’ll cooperate too.”
Landon looked at her.
She had lost everything in less than forty-eight hours.
Marriage.
Wyatt.
Possibly reputation.
Maybe legal consequences.
Part of him wanted that.
Another part hated himself for wanting it.
Then he thought of Eli.
“What happens to our son?”
Melanie looked up.
Landon continued.
“He does not become collateral.”
“No.”
“He does not hear this from news.”
“No.”
“We tell him age-appropriate truth.”
“Yes.”
“And you do not let Wyatt around him without me agreeing.”
Wyatt looked hurt.
Landon stared.
“You told my son I didn’t love him.”
Wyatt’s face collapsed.
“I know.”
“That may be the part I forgive last.”
Wyatt whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
Landon looked away.
Nathan’s phone rang.
He answered.
After a moment, his expression changed.
“What?”
Everyone looked at him.
Nathan ended the call.
“Owen’s attorney just contacted police.”
Landon frowned.
“He already has an attorney?”
“He retained one years ago.”
“Of course.”
Nathan continued.
“Owen is offering evidence in exchange for cooperation.”
“Evidence of what?”
“Everett’s death.”
The room went silent.
“What evidence?”
“A recording.”
Landon felt cold.
Nathan continued.
“Owen claims Wyatt was right about one thing.”
Wyatt looked up.
“What?”
“The Reed estate was changed before Everett died.”
Landon stared.
Nathan’s next sentence landed harder.
“But not to give Wyatt more.”
Wyatt went still.
“Owen says Everett planned to remove Wyatt from the company entirely.”
Nobody spoke.
Then Nathan added:
“And the reason is in a letter Everett wrote after discovering Wyatt was sleeping with Melanie.”
Landon slowly turned toward his brother.
Wyatt looked horrified.
“What?”
Melanie whispered:
“He knew?”
Nathan nodded.
“Apparently, Everett knew about the affair before he died.”
But Everett died eighteen months ago.
The affair supposedly began fourteen months ago.
Landon stared at Melanie.
Then Wyatt.
The timeline was impossible.
Unless they had lied again.
“How long?”
Neither answered.
May you like
Landon’s voice became almost a whisper.
“How long has this really been going on?”
Related Stories
