hroat. Ethan's words hung in th

voice barely above a whisper

means Charles has been after you since before we met. He orchestrated

sank onto the couch. "That doesn'

a. Your parents... your family... they were connected to Charles in ways I never under

she was young, leaving her with fragmented memories and unanswered q

have answers: Margaret Hayes. She convinced Ethan to let her go alone, se

her home once again, her kin

nts," Sophia said without pre

ression weary. "I was af

do you

venture together-something high-risk, highly profitable. But it went sour. Your father tried to back out,

churned. "What

sn't an accident. It was Charles's doing. He wanted

had been ripped out from under

"She wanted to keep you out of his reach. But when you

vertently placed her direc

house, she found Ethan pacing th

e demanded, his ton

eady despite the turmoil inside her. "I know what h

unreadable. "I didn't want

r bubbling to the surface. "You

id, his voice strained. "I thought if I

"Charles is using me as leverage, and now I know

ened. "You don't

esn't matter to him. He won't s

through the penthouse. The front door burst op

shouted, pulling

ts rehearsed. Within seconds, Ethan and Sophia

ped forward, his prese

fiance, Ethan?" Charles sai

even for you

You underestimated

in a way that sent chills down her spine. "And you, my

ing to let her fear show. "

to sign over everything your parents left behind-their

them," Sophia said, her voice t

t to reveal a document bearing her father's signature. "Your father set up a tru

known about the trust, and now C

his fists clenched. "Yo

how do you plan to stop me? You'

ounte

ne's surprise, Soph

steady despite the chaos around her. "Fi

ead, intrigued. "And

ever," Sophia said. "No more threa

"You think you can

aze, her own unw

t, the tension crackling like a

he said. "You

a mixture of shock and disbelief. "S

said, her voice fi

ft, Ethan turned to Sophi

'm tired of living in fear. If this i

r. You know that, right? Charles do

ardened. "Then

an standing together, united in thei