Chapter 39

Knoxville POV

I sat at my desk, surrounded by stacks of files and documents, my eyes scanning the papers as I worked. Henry stood beside me, his helpful presence a welcome respite from the chaos of the day.

"I've been wondering," Henry said, his voice low and thoughtful. "Are you absolutely sure your dad didn't know about the KT company?"

I looked up, meeting Henry's inquiring gaze. "Of course not," I replied, my tone confident. "It was registered under my name and my mother's."

Henry's eyebrows furrowed. "But what does KT stand for?"

I leaned back in my chair, a mix of emotions swirling within me. "K stands for Knoxville, my name, and T stands for Tiana, her first name."

Henry's eyes widened. "It's a family legacy, then?"

I nodded. "Yes. It's actually a foundation started by my mother. She wanted to tell Dad about it, but..." My voice trailed off, memories flooding my mind.

"She found out something, didn't she?" Henry prodded gently.

I sighed. "Yes. She discovered something that made her question Dad's intentions. She never got the chance to tell me what it was, but it made her keep the foundation a secret."

The room fell silent, the only sound the soft rustling of papers.

Henry's expression turned contemplative. "I see. That changes things."

"That's amazing," Henry said, his eyes wide with wonder. "But how did your dad not find out over the years? And why did your mom put someone with a Chinese surname in control?"

I chuckled, clarifying the misunderstanding. "The person handling it isn't Chinese; she's my mom's cousin, Rachel. They're incredibly close, more like sisters. Rachel married a Chinese man, which is why she goes by Lee now."

Henry's expression transformed from confusion to clarity. "Oh, I see! Everything makes sense now. Your mom must have really trusted you to put everything under your name with her handling that company."

He paused, pondering another question.

"Didn't your dad know this cousin of hers, though?" Henry asked.

I leaned forward, my elbows on the desk.

"Actually, my dad and Rachel's families have been friends for years," I explained. "But my mom kept the foundation private, even from family friends. She wanted to ensure its independence and protect her legacy."

Henry nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense," he said. "Your mom was a clever woman."

I smiled, nostalgia washing over me. "Yeah, she was," I agreed. "And she trusted Rachel completely."

The room fell silent once more, filled with the weight of family secrets and legacy.

"And she handled everything so perfectly that your father never suspected you're the owner," Henry said, a hint of admiration in his voice.

"He didn't know, and there's no way he'll find out," I replied, my tone dripping with disdain. "Not until I've gained control of his company, transferring ownership to my name where it rightfully belongs."

My eyes narrowed, memories of my parents' tumultuous past flooding back. "My mother worked tirelessly to build his company from scratch. She transformed him from a nobody into a success. And how did he repay her? By cheating on her with his secretary, that home-wrecker."

I spat the words, my voice heavy with resentment. "Now, that idiot is a competitor, trying to undermine my family's legacy. But I won't let him. I'll make sure he pays for what he's done."

""Sometimes you sound like you hate your father, and sometimes it sounds like you love him," Henry said, his brow furrowed in confusion. "It makes me doubt how you truly feel about him."

I took a deep breath, my eyes clouding over with memories. "It's complicated, Henry. If only you knew what he did to my mother... You would understand why I feel this way."

My voice cracked as I recalled the painful past. "It's unfortunate we only connected after my mother's passing. You would have seen the pain he caused her, and you'd understand why he deserves my hatred."

My hands clenched into fists, emotions swirling inside me. "But I couldn't shake off her words, even now. She was on her sickbed, the doctors said she had only hours left, with a 30/70 chance of survival..."

I paused, the memory still raw. "She grasped my hand, looked me straight in the eye, and whispered, 'Forgive your father, but never let him forget.' Those words haunt me"

I continued, my voice cracking with emotion. "She said, 'Knoxville, be a good boy, even if I don't come back alive. You should know I'll always be with you, no matter what. Don't be disobedient to your father.'"

I paused, remembering the anguish that filled my heart. "I asked her, 'Mum, why are you talking like that now? He's one of the reasons you're lying here. If only he had given you attention, maybe your condition wouldn't have worsened.'"

Tears streamed down my face as I recalled her response. "'Common boy, this is a fight between me and your father. I've always told you not to get involved in our fights. So, even if I don't come back alive, be an obedient boy.'"

I took a deep breath, struggling to contain my emotions. "She knew her time was running out, and she was still worried about me, about my relationship with him. I felt so helpless, Henry. I couldn't do anything to save her."

I swallowed hard, the memory still raw. "She made me promise to take care of myself, to not let my anger consume me. But it's hard, Henry. The pain and anger still simmer inside me."

"Hmm, I think you had to obey your mum, those souls can't be disobeyed," Henry said with a gentle smile.

I nodded, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. "You see why I can't bring myself to hate him completely. I don't understand why my mum loved him so much; he just doesn't deserve it."

Henry's expression turned sympathetic. "You know I'm always here for you, Knoxville. We'll get through this together."

I smiled, gratitude filling my heart. "You're the only one I confide in, Henry. You're more than just my PA – you're a brother."

I teased, playfully rolling my eyes. "Even though you suffocate me with your obsessive organizatio

n and constant reminders."

Henry chuckled. "Someone has to keep you in line, boss.”