Page 124 of Forty, Flirty & Framed

"The viral catastrophe, I assume," Richard interrupts cheerfully."Quite the spectacle you've created, brother.Though I suppose any publicity is good publicity these days."

Sheila's eyes dart between us, clearly recalibrating her article in real-time."Mr.Abernathy—Richard—your departure from the company was rather abrupt, wasn't it?"

"Creative differences," he replies with a smarmy grin."I've always believed in a more...flexible approach to business.Callum prefers rigid structures.Speaking of rigid structures, I hear Karina's digital house of cards finally collapsed."

My jaw tightens."Richard?—"

"Such a shame.”She always did have ambition beyond her qualifications.Though I suppose we were both deceived, weren't we, Callum?Her with her fabricated resume, me with her apparent loyalty.Though perhaps you shouldn't feel too bad—she had years of practice presenting herself as something she's not."

The calculated cruelty in his casual dismissal of Karina stirs something primal in me.

I've spent a lifetime managing Richard's messes, protecting him from consequences, making excuses for his behavior.

When your father fucks up and your mother leaves, and the two abandon you, you feel a responsibility to keep what family you have left together.

You tell yourself that control—over your image, over other people—equals safety.

That if you maintain perfect control over your emotions, your company, public perception, that you can prevent betrayal.And failure.

That holding everyone else to impossible standards of integrity means never having to be betrayed again.

But life doesn’t work like that.

Especially when love is involved.

I blink.“Actually," I say, my voice carrying quite far in the hushed restaurant, "I think there's an important distinction to be made here."

Richard's smirk falters slightly."What's that?"

"The difference between someone who lies to survive and someone who lies to exploit."I place my napkin deliberately on the table."Karina Peters falsified credentials to overcome systemic barriers after spending her youth supporting her family.You embezzled funds from a company that employed hundreds of people because you wanted a more luxurious lifestyle."

Sheila's pen freezes mid-note, her eyes widening.Richard's smug expression dissolves into shock.

"Careful, brother," he warns quietly."You're on record."

"Good."I meet his gaze steadily."Then let me be perfectly clear.My brother has always found it easier to lie about others than tell the truth about himself.The fact is, Richard deliberately manipulated Karina's credential verification after she discovered evidence of his embezzlement.He created this situation as insurance against her exposing him."

"That's absurd," Richard sputters, though the color draining from his face suggests otherwise.

"Is it?We have the emails, Richard.We know about your communications with Duncan MacTavish.The entire scheme is unraveling."

Sheila is scribbling frantically now, clearly aware she's gotten far more than the controlled narrative she expected.

Richard leans forward, voice dropping to a hiss."You're defending her?After she lied to your face for months?What happened to the great Callum Abernathy moral code?"

"It evolved.”My fists clench at my sides.“Something you might consider trying."

"Since when do you make excuses for liars?"he demands, loud enough to draw attention from nearby tables.

The question hangs in the air, forcing me to confront the underlying truth I've been avoiding.

My voice, when it comes, surprises even me with its clarity:

"Since I realized there's a difference between someone who lies to protect themselves and someone who lies to hurt others."

The confession shifts something fundamental inside me.

Richard's expression cycles through shock, anger, and finally, a bitter resignation.