Chapter 6 - ROBERT BENNETTRobert requested a private meeting.
Michael refused.
Attorneys present.
Neutral office.
No Sophie.
Robert arrived furious.
“You've turned your mother against me.”
Michael said nothing.
“You've destroyed your brother.”
Still nothing.
“You're going to destroy the company your grandfather built.”
Michael finally answered:
“No.”
Robert waited.
“You and Andrew did that.”
Robert leaned forward.
“Companies survive accounting problems.”
“Fraud isn't an accounting problem.”
“Rachel poisoned you.”
Michael almost reacted.
Then stopped.
There it was.
Robert still needed a dead woman to be responsible for his living choices.
Michael asked:
“Why the snowman?”
Robert looked confused.
“Don't.”
“What?”
“Pretend you forgot.”
Robert's expression hardened.
“She needed humility.”
“She is six.”
“She'll inherit millions.”
“She inherited her mother's shares.”
“She didn't earn them.”
Michael stared.
“Neither did Andrew.”
Robert went silent.
Andrew inherited his position.
His family name.
His access.
His protection.
Yet Sophie alone was “spoiled” for receiving what her mother intentionally left her.
Michael understood.
This had never been about teaching children gratitude.
It was about hierarchy.
Robert believed inheritance was legitimate when it reinforced his authority.
Spoiling when it escaped him.
Michael stood.
The meeting was over.
Robert asked:
“You'd throw away your whole family for one child?”
Michael turned.
“One child?”
He almost smiled.
May you like
“She is my family.”
Then he left.
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