David implored, “Dad, please, you said you wanted to reconnect. This isn’t the right way.”
“Shut up, idiot,” said Jared.
“Don’t use that word with me!” said David.
“Or what? You’ll force me to listen to one of your songs?”
“Ah, there it is,” said Dominic. “That’s why.”
“What? You left me nothing because I’m oh-so-mean to my precious little brother?” Jared asked, pointing a jeering pout at his father. “I’m no more cruel than you.”
“You are a mean-spirited fool,” said Dominic. “You’re the stupidest of my three children, and you’ve always punished your brother for your own deficiency. It was such a damn painful thing to witness that I began looking at you with no love. Cutting you from my will was the final show of it.”
“I’m a lawyer, just like you! I’m not stupid! I don’t even need your money like David does. I’m already rich. But you still can’t do this to me!”
“Plenty of idiots practice law. Their king is standing in front of me now. Plenty of idiot doctors and undertakers, too.” Dominic sat tranquil on the stool.
“Don’t call me that!” Jared stood. He bared his teeth as his face reddened.
“Jared, please sit down,” said David.
“Don’t you dare talk to me right now! You meant for this to happen!” Jared howled at his brother. He asked his father, “And this is your chosen child? This? When all I ever did was for you?”
“I do love David, yes, but I also left things to Jane and Martha, didn’t I?”
“And you don’t think Jane feels the same towards David as I do?”
“Jared, you and Jane can hate me, but please stop fighting with dad,” said David. His brother and father disregarded him.
“So what, you come back to see me atone for my sins? So I could grovel at your feet?” Jared asked Dominic.
“You brought me back, Jared,” his father said.
“I wish I hadn’t, you old bastard!” Jared wailed. One hand in a choking grip, he lunged.