Chapter 3

Jonah's fiftieth birthday party filled the Gautier estate's main hall.

I left the new suit pants in the closet.

Instead, I pulled a white shirt and my old dress pants from the canvas duffel, then headed downstairs.

The place was packed.

Liam stood beside Jonah in a custom navy suit, greeting guests like he owned the room. A few polished lines had several socialites laughing.

The second he saw me on the stairs, he came over with a glass of champagne.

His eyes dragged over me.

"Troy, didn't the family have a suit made for you?" He spoke just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. "Why are you wearing that?

"Not used to nice clothes? Or just don't know how to wear them?"

Two women nearby traded a look.

Anya pushed through the crowd.

Her eyes dropped to my old shirt, and her face tightened.

"Where's your new suit? The maid said it was delivered."

"It didn't fit."

"Didn't fit? It was custom-made." She stared at me. "Do you even know what today is? It's Dad's fiftieth birthday, and you're standing here dressed like that with everyone watching."

Liam sighed beside her.

"Anya, let it go. Troy's probably just not used to events like this—"

I turned and went upstairs.

When I came back, I had the suit pants in my hand.

I shook them open in front of everyone.

Under the chandelier, the inside seam had been neatly ripped apart.

The tear ran straight up from the hem.

I hooked my fingers into the tear and pulled it open nearly six inches.

"Custom-made." I tossed the pants onto the coffee table. "So who did this?"

Anya stared at the rip.

Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Liam's face tightened for half a second.

"Troy, maybe—"

"Maybe I ripped them myself?" I looked at him. "I ruined a brand-new suit just so I could show up in old pants? You think I'm crazy?"

The room went dead quiet.

Guests stood frozen, drinks in hand, staring at the torn pants on the coffee table.

The rip faced up for everyone to see.

Only then did Jonah turn around.

He looked at the pants. Then at me.

Finally, he motioned to Gary.

"Get rid of those."

Then he pulled me aside and lowered his voice.

"Don't make a scene today. Stay in a corner for now. After we cut the cake, I'll send someone for you."

He went right back to chatting with a real estate developer.

Liam followed, wineglass in hand.

No one looked at the pants again.

I found a quiet corner and stayed there.

A middle-aged man with a glass of red wine clapped Jonah on the shoulder.

"Jonah, you've got a fine son."

He pointed at Liam.

Jonah's grip tightened around his wineglass.

He didn't correct him.

I slowly turned my teacup between my fingers.

Halfway through the party, a maid rushed into the hall and whispered in Diana's ear.

Her face changed.

"The watch," the maid said, her voice shaking. "Mr. Gautier's antique watch—the one he gave Liam for his eighteenth birthday. It's missing."

Liam shot to his feet, his face going pale.

"That's impossible. I saw it this morning."

Gary searched the house with a few staff members.

They found the watch under my pillow.

He set it on the coffee table.

Every eye in the room swung to me.

Just like my first day.

Liam stood beside Diana, his voice shaky. "Mom, Troy couldn't have stolen it. He was probably just curious. Maybe he only wanted to look at it."

Anya frowned. "We're not exactly short on valuables. Couldn't you at least ask before taking it?"

Jonah said nothing.

Diana looked like she wanted to speak, but no words came out.

Rory stood among the guests with a glass of red wine.

She looked at the watch.

Then at me.

She turned to the woman beside her and smiled. "What did I tell you?"

I smiled back.

Then I set the voice recorder on the coffee table and hit play.