Chapter 7
Graham was not Julian’s cousin.
He was Celeste’s son.
And according to Cross family records, he should not have existed.
Julian’s father had married Celeste after Julian’s mother died. Celeste had arrived elegant, grieving, and childless.
Graham was introduced years later as her nephew.
But Julian’s reaction told me he had always suspected more.
Celeste recovered quickly.
“You have no right to discuss private family matters in front of her.”
Julian looked at me.
“Abby stays.”
My stomach tightened.
Powerful families hate witnesses.
I knew that now.
Graham threw the bracelet onto a table.
“It was a joke.”
“No,” I said. “It was a test.”
Julian’s eyes shifted to me.
I almost regretted saying it.
Almost.
“They wanted to see if you would protect me,” I continued. “If you doubted me, they would use it. If you defended me, they’d know your old system is gone.”
Celeste stared at me with new attention.
Not contempt.
Concern.
That was more dangerous.
Julian dismissed everyone except me.
When the room emptied, he stood by the window.
“I almost believed her.”
“I saw.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“That is not forgiveness.”
“No.”
He nodded.
“My family has been waiting for me to become my father.”
“Was your father cruel?”
“He called it realism.”
I thought of the cash on the dresser.
“Runs in expensive circles.”
Julian looked at me.
Then laughed once, quietly.
The sound startled us both.
That night, I found the first real clue.
A relief fund payment had been rerouted to a company named Pearl Holdings.
May you like
My mother’s duster leaned in the corner of my office.
I whispered, “Well, that’s rude.”
