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“Pretty sure I’ve already done that,” I say. “I own a nonprofit that has national recognition, I own a condo, survived a life-altering injury, and have several Olympic medals. Maybe your continued absence from my life has caused you to miss some of those milestones.”

He doesn’t say anything initially, opening a file on his desk and taking the time to scan it instead. “You’re throwing away the trust fund your grandparents left you for this silly little project of yours. I will not sit back and watch you throw away their hard work.”

“That fund was left for me to do with what I pleased. Besides the age restriction, there were no stipulations placed on it. How do you even know any of this? You haven’t had access to my finances in years.”

He laughs mirthlessly. “Don’t look so surprised, son. You may have taken me off your accounts, but there are still ways around it. I’m one of the richest men in the country and you’re my son. Money is power, my boy, you know that.”

I hate that he’s right. Time and time again, I’ve witnessed what money can do in the hands of someone who only loves power. It hurts, it ruins, and it destroys. Long ago, I vowed to never be like the man in front of me.

I keep my tone even. “What I do with my money is not your concern. I will be taking extra precautions going forward to ensure you’re denied access to that information. I’m well aware of the power money gives you, Declan, but it doesn’t give you power over me. Not anymore.”

His whole body seems to freeze with a tension I’ve never seen before, and it’s exhilarating. All the things my therapist has said to me over the years about deserving to be free of the power he has over me is making sense. This feeling is intoxicating.

“You don’t know what you’re saying. Don’t be ridiculous.” There’s a quiver to his voice, the restrained anger threatening to burst through.

I step around the chair to take a seat, a move that makes his eye twitch.

Leaning forward with my elbows resting against my arms. “I know exactly what I’m saying.

The only reason you called me here is because I’m not following whatever precious plan you had for me, where you could use me to help make you richer. ”

The corners of his mouth pinch the same way they always did before he started screaming at me; but I’m not a kid anymore, so he can’t banish me to my bedroom. “You are wasting your money. You don’t take a paycheck from this place. If you put your face on the company more—”

“Nonprofit,” I correct. Nonprofit and charity were the equivalent of swear words in my house.

My father could never fathom why someone would care about something that didn’t immediately benefit him.

“I don’t need to take a paycheck; I’m doing just fine.

I invested the money I made swimming correctly, so that’s more than enough to live off.

I would rather pay my employees fairly for the amazing work they do, then make myself richer at their expense. ”

The anger was manifesting itself in the splotchy redness creeping across his cheeks and up his bald head. “You’re a disappointment to this family, Ronan.”

I lean back in my chair with a casual shrug. “That’s not the first time you’ve said that to me, but here’s something I’ve never said to you: I’m embarrassed to be part of this family, so your disappointment can’t hurt me anymore.”

“You ungrateful little—”

“On that note”—I stand, ready to be done with this conversation—“there’s nothing else for me here. Thanks for the chat—hope it cleared some things up.”

I take a step toward the door. I hear things on my father’s desk jostle, then a hand is squeezing my arm so hard, I can almost feel a bruise forming.

I look down at the hand, then up at my father, who is staring me down.

Up this close, I can see the signs of his aging—the wrinkles around his eyes and jaw, the slight sagging of his skin, but I also realize I’m not looking him in the eye anymore.

The man who always towered over me and made me feel small even when our heights were matched was now an inch—maybe even two—shorter than me.

“You will regret this. You won’t get a damn penny from me! ”

I wrench my arm from his grip, watching as it causes him to stumble slightly. “I don’t want anything from you. Either of you.”

I’m at the door when he speaks again, voice shaking. “You’re no longer part of this family, Ronan. Do you hear me?”

The last shred of hope I’ve spent my whole life hanging onto snaps. “I can’t lose what I was never part of, right? You made that decision a long time ago, Declan. I hope life treats you better than you treat it.”

The door shakes when I slam it shut behind me.

I can hear him screaming my name, followed by a loud crash.

His secretary, a woman I’ve known most of my life because she’s never stood up to him, is staring at me with wide, stunned eyes.

I stop at her desk, giving her a tight smile.

“You might want to add me to the list of banned visitors, Gina.”

Her face relaxes, offering me a small smile. “Heading home, dear?”

I smile down at her in return. “I am. Have a good day.”