Without a word, Allison handed the document to Mike. He took it with a confused frown, expecting a sentimental card or perhaps a small check, and scanned the lines. The festive noise in the room died down instantly; even the DJ stood still with his microphone live.
The guests began to whisper as Mike’s face went through a range of emotions: from confusion to deep, visible distress. By the time he reached the bottom of the page, he sank into his chair as if his legs had given out. Eleanor rushed over, loudly demanding to know what was going on.
When Mike didn’t answer, she snatched the paper from his hand. As she read, the color drained from her face. The document revealed a devastating secret. It turned out that twenty-three years ago, Leonard and Bill had started out as equal business partners.
They had pooled their money to open a small auto parts shop in a rented garage, risking everything they had. Bill had invested his entire life savings, including the equity from his parents’ home and a personal loan. Leonard’s financial contribution had been much smaller, but he was the one with the “gift of gab” and the local connections.
The business took off quickly, but after two years, Leonard had orchestrated a massive fraud, illegally removing Bill from the ownership records. He had hired clever lawyers to find loopholes and push the paperwork through. One morning, Bill showed up for work only to find he had been “terminated” as a low-level employee for supposed misconduct.
Bill had tried to fight for justice in court, but he lost. Leonard’s growing wealth and influence ensured that the legal battle dragged on until Bill was penniless. Bill’s wife, Sarah, couldn’t handle the stress and the sudden poverty—the toll on her health was too much, and she passed away within months.
Bill was left alone with five-year-old Allison. But he wasn’t broken. He decided to play the long game. He took a job at the plant, raised his daughter, and spent his nights quietly building a case…
