My Ex-Girlfriend’s Older Sister Got Stood Up At An Art Gallery… So I Asked, “Can I Sit with You ?
Chapter 4
That evening, Amelia brought me to her mother’s house.
I hadn’t been there in years.
The place felt exactly the same.
Large.
Quiet.
Expensive.
And somehow cold.
Sophie opened the door.
She froze when she saw me.
“Daniel?”
I nodded.
“Hi.”
She looked at Amelia.
Then back at me.
“What’s happening?”
Amelia answered.
“We need answers.”
Sophie stepped aside.
Our history suddenly filled the hallway.
I had once kissed Sophie beneath the staircase.
Now I was standing there beside her sister.
Awkward didn’t begin to describe it.
We entered the living room.
Clara Carter sat near the fireplace.
Amelia’s mother.
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then said,
“You shouldn’t be here.”
I smiled politely.
“I’ve heard that twice in twenty-four hours.”
Clara’s expression hardened.
“Amelia, go upstairs.”
“No.”
She sat beside me.
“We’re done keeping secrets.”
Clara looked at her daughter.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
Silence.
Finally, Clara looked at me.
“Your father and my husband were partners.”
I froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
I had never known.
My father had died when I was fifteen.
I’d grown up believing he was a mechanic.
Apparently, he had been an investor.
A wealthy one.
“Why didn’t I know?”
“Because he wanted you protected.”
“From what?”
“Your father discovered something.”
Amelia leaned forward.
“What?”
Clara looked at her.
“Your father’s business partner was stealing from the company.”
“Who?”
“Lucas’s father.”
I frowned.
“Then why is Lucas involved?”
“Because the theft continued after your father died.”
I looked at Amelia.
Her father.
My father.
Lucas’s family.
All connected.
“Why was Lucas at the gallery?”
Clara sighed.
“He wasn’t supposed to meet you.”
“Why?”
“Because he was following instructions.”
“Whose?”
Clara hesitated.
Then:
“Your father’s.”
The room fell silent.
“My father is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then how could he give instructions?”
Clara looked at Amelia.
Her daughter understood before I did.
“The photograph.”
Amelia pulled it out.
Clara stared.
“Where did you find that?”
“My father’s office.”
Her mother closed her eyes.
“Then it’s begun.”
“What has?” Amelia asked.
Clara stood.
“The people who took control of your father’s company are coming back.”
“Who?”
Clara whispered,
“Victor Grant.”
Lucas’s father.
“But he’s dead,” I said.
“So everyone was told.”
My chest tightened.
“Another fake death?”
Clara nodded.
“Your father didn’t die naturally either.”
I stared.
“What?”
“He was killed.”
Amelia’s face went white.
“And my father?”
Clara looked at me.
“They were both investigating the same people.”
I felt sick.
“My father didn’t work for them.”
“No.”
“He was trying to stop them.”
“Yes.”
I remembered every story my mother had told me.
My father had been ordinary.
Simple.
Maybe that had been a lie.
Clara continued.
“Your father hid something before he died.”
“What?”
“A ledger.”
“Where?”
“Your father never told me.”
Amelia looked at her.
“Then why did you know all this?”
“Because I was asked to protect you.”
“By whom?”
Clara didn’t answer.
Then Sophie spoke.
“Mom.”
Clara looked at her.
“You promised.”
Sophie stood.
“Stop.”
Everyone looked at her.
Sophie turned toward me.
“Daniel deserves to know.”
I stared.
“Know what?”
She took a breath.
“Why I really broke up with you.”
The room became silent.
I had thought our breakup was about distance.
About school.
About growing apart.
Sophie shook her head.
“I broke up with you because Dad told me if I stayed with you, he’d have you killed.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
Sophie began crying.
“He knew your father was investigating him.”
“Your father?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Victor Grant.”
The man who had been dead for years.
Apparently, he wasn’t.
And he had known who I was.
He had known about me long before I met Amelia.
