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Legacy. From as early as Emmanuel could remember, his father would tell him the Scott name and company was everything, and he had to live up to it. It struck him when reading Concetta’s journal.

What if I gave up my son to fulfil his father’s legacy, and he has an unhappy life?

It was then what was staring him in the face the whole time became clear. There was no way Larson Scott would allow an adopted child to take over the helm of the Scott industry. A child without Scott’s DNA coursing through his veins would never be allowed to run the company that announced to the world the Scott’s dominance.

A question popped into his head, and Emmanuel forgot all manners. He wasn’t sure where they were in the conversation, but he had to ask. “How did you decide which son to keep?”

The question must have caught Larson off guard, because he answered without thinking. “Obviously, the firstborn came to me.”

It was probably the most honest thing he had said since he entered the room. Again the answer should have been obvious to him. Of course, Larson would have wanted the firstborn. If one of his children had to be dispensable, it would have to be the youngest.

“My God.” Both Ivy and his Mom gasped.

“Grace, I did what my father would have wanted.”

“Yes, of course. I’ve had a lot to take in.” His mom announced as she stood. “If you all would give me a moment.” She excused herself from the room as Manny and Ivy stood.

“I’ll be back,” his Mom called over her shoulder.

She was gone for a minute when Larson turned on him. “You! After everything your mother has been through. You had to push. Dig up all of this… Unpleasantness.”

Larson was completely and utterly delusional. Emmanuel turned to Ivy to see if he really had heard him correctly. From her wide, rounded eyes, she also was surprised by his accusation.

“Unpleasantness!?” Emmanuel questioned as he turned towards Larson. He took a step back so he wasn’t tempted to wrap his hands around his neck. “There would be no unpleasantness, as you put it. If you had been faithful to my mother. Once! My ass. You knew I was sitting right here having read Concetta’s journal, and you still continued to lie to her face. I know it wasn’t once. You carried on with your affair for months. Concetta didn’t want to give me up. It wasn’t an agreement. You bullied her and caused her… her sanity.”

“Don’t you dare blame me because she was weak! Why do you think I was so hard on you!? If it wasn’t for me, you would have ended up like her. Made nothing of your life. Do you think you would be the upstanding family man who looks down on me for a moment of weakness if I didn’t push you beyond her weakness? Her mental failings? You owe me, and this is how I’m repaid.”

Emmanuel’s blood was boiling. “Fuck you, Larson!”

Now it was Ivy who was squeezing his hand. Pulling him from the brink of putting his hands on the old pathetic man before him.

“Go straight to hell. Doc, I can’t stay here. We need to go.”

He rushed them towards the front door. Just as they entered the foyer, he heard their names.

“Emmanuel, Ivy,” his mother called. “Wait.” She held a bag. “I’m coming with you.”

“Mom?” he questioned.

“I can’t stay here. It will just be for the night.” She all but pleaded.

“Of course, Mom,” Ivy spoke as she finally let go of Manny’s hand and walked over to his Mom.

Ivy moved in for a hug, but his mother shook her head. “Darling girl, if you touch me right now, I’ll fall apart. I have to walk out of here on my own steam with my head held high.”

The butler entered the foyer and took the bag from his Mom. “Mrs. Grace, let me have your bag. I will put it in Mr. Emmanuel’s and Dr. Ivy’s vehicle.”

“Thank you, Becker.” His Mom inclined her head as she passed the bag over to him.

Larson entered the foyer then and stopped short at the exchange.

“Grace?” He questioned.

“Larson. I’m going to visit with the children for the night. We will talk, because you have a lot to tell me, Emmanuel and I am sure, what was it, Leonardo?” His mother looked at Emmanuel as she ate up the space between them. Ivy followed closely behind her.

“Yes, Mom. Leonardo.”

“We all will need answers. The truth, of course. All these years, Larson, you fooled me, but I know most of what you told me in there was complete bullshit.”

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