“Dave, how dare you!” Rupert shouted, his face red, but Lucas’s sudden shout stopped him before he could say anything more.

“Both of you, be quiet!” Lucas yelled, his anger and sadness clear as he stood between them, leaning on his cane. He shook his head in disbelief. “You’re family, yet you’re both trying to destroy each other. How did I raise such heartless people? I can’t believe this is what you’ve become. A family bond? It’s a complete failure!”

Lucas’s fury sparked a fit of violent coughing.

His already rough voice now sounded like the rasp of sawed wood, and his body trembled with the force of his rage....