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“I was traveling.” Nathan shrugs.
“And now, you’re conveniently here, in time to claim a part of the family fortune?” Knox growls.
“I’m independently wealthy.” Nathan’s lips twist, “I’m here because—”
“I asked him to come,” Arthur interjects. “Turns out, before your father met Edward’s mother, he had a son with his childhood sweetheart. She was sixteen when Nathan was born. Your father refused to step up to his responsibilities.”
“What a surprise.” Knox snorts.
“Greta paid off Nathan’s mother, so she could leave with him and bring him up far away from us.”
Nathan’s jaw tics, but he doesn’t comment.
“Apparently, your father knew if he came clean to me, I’d disinherit him. Greta didn’t want that for him either. The two kept this a secret, but Greta wanted me to do right by Nathan.”
“How did you find him?”
“His mother didn’t keep her promise. She couldn’t help but name your father on his birth-certificate.” Arthur glances around the table. “Nathan grew up with the Davenport surname.”
“A name I never wanted to be associated with. A name I should have gotten rid of the first chance I had,” he says in a matter-of-fact voice.
“But you didn’t.” Arthur turns to him. “Family ties, dear grandson, can’t be broken that easily.”
“You trying to convince yourself or me?” Nathan drawls.
“You’re here, aren’t you?” Arthur puffs on his cigar.
“Grandma sure kept a lot of secrets from you.” Knox lowers his chin to his chest.
Arthur’s shoulders tense, then he seems to get a hold of himself. “And she wanted to make amends for it.
“By asking you to split the family fortune amongst those who don’t deserve it?”
“You will apologize to your brother,” Arthur booms.
“That’s half-brother, and I will not,” Knox shoots back.
Arthur sighs. “When you reach my age, you’ll realize, family is all that matters.”
“Good thing I’m not your age yet,” Knox sneers.
Nathan looks like he’s about to say something, then firms his lips.
“Any other long-lost relations we need to know about?” Knox tips up his chin in Arthur’s direction, “Any other ‘grandsons’"—he makes air-quotes—"lurking in the background with whom we’ll need to split control of the company?"
“No grandsons,” Arthur murmurs.
“But there areothers?” I ask.
“My oldest son is Edward’s adoptive father. And you’re aware of my middle son, your biological father." He directs this statement at me and Knox before looking around the table. " The one you haven’t met is my youngest,” he murmurs.
“I knew it.” Knox slaps his hand on the table with such force, the cards jump.
Arthur purses his lips. “We, uh…had a falling out, which caused him to leave home. It also resulted in me wiping all traces of him from my home, which is why you didn’t know of his existence. I’m sorry to say, I hurt your grandmother deeply with that.” The old man swallows.
“You’re hurting us with these revelations,” Knox points out.
“I promised Greta, on her deathbed, I’d reunite my family.” He sets his jaw.
