Her smile was polished and completely empty.
Mark placed his arm around my shoulders.
“We’ve been given an incredible opportunity.
We need to be sensible about it.”
I stepped away.
“Who told you I won?”
He glanced at my phone.
“We share everything, remember?”
For a moment, the kitchen became unnaturally quiet.
That phrase had been his favorite explanation whenever I questioned his access to my accounts.
We share everything.
Except apparently his mistress.
Except the truth about his illness.
Except whatever secrets Vanessa believed were worse.
Celeste set the blue folder on the table.
“The first priority is protecting the money,” she said.
“Before you make any claim, we’ll establish a family investment structure.”
She opened the folder.
Inside were documents bearing my name.
Some had signature lines.
Others already appeared to contain my signature.
I recognized the looping capital E and the peculiar way I crossed the final letter of Carter.
