The way he had looked at me like he wanted to say something but couldn’t.
“He didn’t leave because he didn’t love me.”
Elena shook her head.
“He left because he thought staying would get you killed.”
I covered my mouth.
Samuel reached for my shoulder.
But I pulled away.
I was angry.
Not at Ethan.
Not even at Samuel.
At the years of lies.
At the people who had decided what I was allowed to know.
At the fact that everyone had been protecting me by keeping me in the dark.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked Samuel.
“Because I promised your father.”
“Promised what?”
“That you would never be involved.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You failed.”
“I know.”
I picked up another document.
It was a recent bank statement.
There was a large transfer.
From Sterling Holdings.
To an account belonging to Ethan Vale.
I looked at Elena.
“Was Ethan working for them?”
“No.”
“Then why did they pay him?”
“They weren’t paying him.”
She pointed to the transaction.
“That was Ethan’s money.”
“What?”
“He inherited part of Daniel’s estate.”
Samuel stared at the paper.
“Daniel left him money?”
“And evidence.”
