CHAPTER 2: THE MANUSCRIPT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
CHAPTER 2: THE MANUSCRIPT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The auditorium fell silent.
Grant Harlan's smile disappeared.
William Harlan calmly placed the worn leather folder on the signing table.
"I won't take much of your time," he said.
His voice was steady.
Not angry.
Not bitter.
Simply tired.
Reporters leaned forward.
Grant forced a laugh.
"This is a publicity stunt."
William slowly opened the folder.
Inside lay yellowed manuscript pages.
Every page carried handwritten edits.
Every correction was dated.
Twenty-two years earlier.
He placed the first page beneath a document camera.
Across the top were the words:
The Last Winter
Grant's bestselling novel.
The audience murmured.
William turned another page.
Original drafts.
Publishing correspondence.
Copyright registration.
Every document carried William Harlan's name.
Grant's hands began to shake.
"This proves nothing."
William quietly nodded.
"You're right."
He reached into the folder once more.
Then placed a small cassette recorder on the table.
"I expected you to say that."
He pressed play.
A younger Grant's voice filled the auditorium.
"Dad... your publisher rejected it again."
William's voice answered softly.
"That's all right."
"Maybe one day you'll write something even better."
Grant's younger voice laughed nervously.
"Or maybe... I'll borrow yours."
The recording ended.
No one laughed.
May you like
No one moved.
The silence became unbearable.
