clenched at his sides, his entire body coiled like a spring ready to snap. Sophia, however, couldn't look a

ng into the penthouse uninvited. His presence seemed to da

growled, his voic

o treat an old family friend? And after all the ef

ach twisted.

, but Ethan cut him off

ped. "You came here for a r

"Always so direct, Ethan. Very well. I want the

said, his voice icy. "Y

his coat pocket. "Your mother made sure of that before

anning the text. His jaw tightened, and Sophia cou

Ethan said, his voice

Charles re

afening. Ethan paced the room, his frustration palpable

ink he is?" Sop

hand through his hair. "He thrives on chaos

"Is there any truth to what he s

," he said carefully. "But she wouldn't have handed ov

him, but doubt gnawed a

s, determined to discredit Charles's claim. Sophia, however,

wling mansion had been left vacant since Eleanor's death

Ivy climbed the stone walls, and the gardens were ov

thick with the scent of decay. Sophia wandered throu

er earlier discovery in Ethan's office, she searched for a way to open it. A

Most were mundane, but one caught Sophia's attention. It was from Charle

ean

what we agreed upon, there will be consequences

arl

This wasn't just a busine

a hidden compartment in the study's bookshel

angerous web of deceit. Eleanor had been desperate to protect Ethan from the fallout

try st

e dangerous than I realized, and now I fear I've only put Ethan in

ed the journal. Eleanor had been tr

to the penthouse, Eth

emanded, his tone hars

phia said, holding up the

from her. He flipped through the pages, his

everything,"

sk what he meant, the

han said, his

rough the speaker. "Let me

hen pressed the bu

s smug demeanor as

field trip?" he asked, hi

between Charles and Sophia. "We know the

"And? That doesn't change the fact that she mad

m. "I'm not giving

ned cold. "Then you

o the coffee table. Inside were photogra

ophia demanded, h

oesn't cooperate, I'll make sure these end up i

s palpable. "Yo

, but you know I'm not bluffing. The clo

-

ophia turned to Ethan

et him win,

grim. "We won't. But there'

ha

arles is targeting you... it's not just be

confused. "Wha

than said. "You're the key t

is as Ethan's words sank in. Wh