CHAPTER 5 – THE LAWSUIT THAT NEVER HAD A CHANCE
CHAPTER 5 – THE LAWSUIT THAT NEVER HAD A CHANCE
"Your brother owns this family now."
Dad regretted the words the moment they left his mouth.
I saw it in his face.
Because that wasn't what he meant.
He wasn't talking about control.
He was talking about responsibility.
For decades, he had believed he was the one holding our family together. In less than one evening, he had learned that the son he'd barely noticed had quietly become the person protecting everyone from behind the curtain.
Paige heard something entirely different.
Her eyes widened with outrage.
"What did you just say?"
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Paige—"
"No!"
She pointed at me.
"So this is the plan? Buy everyone?"
"I didn't buy anyone."
"You bought Grandma!"
Grandma stepped out of the restaurant just in time to hear that sentence.
"No," she said firmly. "He paid my medical bills after I begged the insurance company for help and they denied me."
Paige ignored her.
"You bought Dad's house."
"I forgave a debt."
"You made everyone feel guilty."
"I never told anyone."
She opened her mouth—
Then stopped.
Because she realized the truth.
No one had known.
Not Grandma.
Not our parents.
Not even Uncle Dennis.
Every act had been done anonymously through attorneys and trusts.
The only reason anyone knew now was because Dad had asked for money.
Paige's confidence cracked for the first time.
But instead of admitting she was wrong...
She doubled down.
"You think you're smarter than everyone."
"No."
"You think money makes you better."
"No."
"Then prove it."
I waited.
"Give me the same opportunities Mom and Dad gave you."
The parking lot went silent.
Even Mom stared at her.
"...Paige," she whispered.
"What?"
"You had every opportunity."
"No, I didn't!"
She spun toward all of us.
"Do you know how hard it is to be expected to succeed?"
Uncle Dennis blinked.
"You graduated debt-free."
"You had a car."
"You lived in Los Angeles."
"You've never paid your own rent."
"You've never had a job outside acting."
Each sentence landed harder than the last.
Paige looked cornered.
Then she smiled.
It wasn't a happy smile.
It was the smile she wore whenever she thought she'd found a loophole.
"You know what?"
She pulled out her phone.
"If you're such a successful businessman..."
She held it up.
"...then you won't mind explaining why half your company says you stole their ideas."
I recognized the headline immediately.
A gossip blog.
Three years old.
Already disproven.
She shoved the screen toward everyone.
Mom gasped.
Dad frowned.
The headline screamed:
TECH CEO ACCUSED OF STEALING EMPLOYEE SOFTWARE.
Paige folded her arms triumphantly.
"There."
I looked at the article for exactly three seconds.
Then smiled.
"You should scroll down."
"What?"
"The update."
She hesitated.
Then slowly scrolled.
Halfway through the page...
A bold correction appeared.
UPDATE:
Federal court dismisses all claims with prejudice. Plaintiff ordered to pay legal fees after evidence showed allegations were fabricated.
Below it was another link.
The former employee had admitted to forging emails.
The judge had sanctioned him.
The case had become mandatory reading in several law schools discussing fraudulent intellectual-property claims.
Uncle Dennis let out a low whistle.
"You didn't just win."
"No."
"The judge destroyed him."
"Yes."
Paige's cheeks flushed crimson.
She refreshed the page.
Again.
Again.
As though reality might change if she pressed hard enough.
It didn't.
She threw her phone into her purse.
"This isn't over."
Before anyone could answer, she climbed into her Audi and sped out of the parking lot, tires screeching loud enough to echo through the neighborhood.
Grandma watched the taillights disappear.
Then she looked at me.
"She's scared."
"I know."
"Not of losing money."
"I know."
"She's terrified she was never as important as she believed."
I looked toward the empty road.
"No."
Grandma frowned.
"She's terrified she's going to have to become someone without applause."
Two mornings later, I was back in New York.
Life returned to normal.
Board meetings.
Investment calls.
Coffee that cost too much.
Then my attorney called.
"Morning, Jaden."
"Morning, Claire."
"You've been sued."
I almost laughed.
"For what?"
She sighed.
"Your sister."
That got my attention.
"What did she file?"
Claire paused.
"You'll want to sit down."
"I'm sitting."
"She claims your company was secretly funded with money that rightfully belonged to your parents."
I blinked.
"...What?"
"She says family resources were unfairly diverted to you."
I actually laughed.
Out loud.
Claire didn't.
"It gets worse."
"There’s more?"
"She wants half your personal assets."
I leaned back in my chair.
"On what legal theory?"
"There really isn't one."
"So why file?"
"Public pressure."
I understood immediately.
This wasn't about winning.
It was about forcing a settlement.
Embarrassing me.
Creating headlines.
Unfortunately for Paige...
She had forgotten one important detail.
Every dollar I had ever earned...
Every investment...
Every tax return...
Every bank transfer...
Had been documented since I was nineteen.
I told Claire only four words.
"File everything."
May you like
She smiled.
"Already done."
