Chapter Seventy Nine

When Ryan Carter came back into Sophia's office, the name on the contractor's statement was still hidden.

Emily looked away from her workstation. She momentarily forgot about the investigator's message that was still on her phone because Ryan's arrival was so unexpected. They all thought he had left for good because of what happened between him and Damian.

"I told you to talk to Sophia about the divorce," Emily reminded him.

"I know," Ryan said in return. "I'm here because you have to hear what I have to say."

Damian rose from his seat next to the window. "You've been heard by her."

Ryan narrowed his eyes. "I was not speaking with you," he said.

Damian responded, "And she doesn't want you talking over her."

Emily placed herself between them. "Stop turning each room into a battleground if you really want to assist me."

Ryan's expression softened, but his urgency remained. "I'm pleading with you to wait until the merger is complete before divorcing happens. I just a little while."

Emily said, "You still haven't given me a cause to."

"There are problems," Ryan stated. "Matters that could have an impact beyond only myself."

"Then explain them to me," she said.

Ryan turned his eyes away. He couldn't muster the courage to inform her that his business was crumbling under a huge pile of debt, that irresponsible investments had depleted its assets, or that their marriage's benefits were essential to the merger. Even though he had come to ask for her assistance, he concealed the truth.

Ryan said, "I'm trying to protect what's remaining."

"Of our marriage?" Emily inquired.

He paused.

Damian cut through the calm with his voice. You're not allowed to ask her to protect you from the effects of your decisions.

Ryan turned about. "Do you believe you know her well just because you've been around her recently?"

"Well, I know that she said no,” he replied."

"You have no idea what it's like to lose everything," Ryan retorted.

Damian came nearer and said, "Do you think that justifies you continuing to steal from her?"

“Stop!’ Emily said, her voice shaking with rage. "You're both speaking about me as if I am a trophy to earn."

Ryan's face flushed. "I wasn't trying to say that."

"Then say what you really mean," said Emily.

She caught a glimpse of the terror lurking beneath his pride for a brief second as he glanced at her. Nevertheless, he continued to withhold the truth from her.

"I need more time," Ryan said.

Emily shook her head. "I've given you years. My future won't be given to you as well."

"You heard what she said," Damian said as he tightened his fists.

"You can't act as if you've never wounded her," Ryan said with a hardened face which implied that he was ready to fight.

Damian was still. Emily was aware that the charge had landed precisely where he kept his worries about their child, the queries he had once let stand between them.

"You're correct," Damian said. "I have harmed her. But I'm not requesting that she stay in a marriage that she wishes to leave."

For a little moment, the room was quiet.

Ryan gazed at Emily as he turned around. "You'll be sorry for this," he said.

"I won't," Emily said. "My remorse will be for how long it took me to make a decision about myself."

__

The silence that had set after Ryan's departure was shattered by the investigator's phone conversation.

Then Sophia opened the folder that was sitting on her desk. She stated, "The contractor is willing to verify his identity." "He will testify that he got the second authorization and was advised to report any effort by your parents to call the police. He claims to know who brought it."

Emily's heart rate grew faster. "Will he name that person now?"

"He will officially identify the person." "But the investigator warns that the original document and the other records must be taken into account when assessing the evidence. It does not establish who gave the order to kill your parents by itself," Sophia said.

Emily said, "I understand." "I want the truth, not another estimate."

Damian positioned himself next to her. "I'll join you," he said.

"Will you stand next to me?" She asked as she looked at him.

"Right next to you," he pledged.

She wanted to have faith in him. She wished to tell him that his presence meant more to her than she could adequately describe. She only nodded, though.

Sophia's phone rang once again. She lifted it and listened, and her face changed.

"What is that?" Emily asked.

Sophia gradually ended the discussion. “Until the approval is examined, Victor's attorney has submitted an emergency motion to prevent the contractor from providing additional testimony,” she explained.

Damian's expression became stern. “He's looking to block the identification,” he said.

"Can he do it?" "Emily asked.

"Not if the detective behaves lawfully," Sophia replied. "But it may delay us."

Emily looked at the sealed document on the table. Someone tried to push the truth out of reach every time it came close.

"Let's go now," Emily said.

As Sophia gathered the files, Emily stopped next to Damian as he held the door open for her.

She whispered, "I don't want you fighting Ryan for me."

"I'm aware of that," Damian replied.

"You need to understand why I'm not putting off the divorce, though."

He kept his eyes glued to hers. "Indeed."

She needed to know if he could trust her without fear, and he needed to know if she would still pick him once the truth finally emerged, but neither expressed what they were actually wondering.

Suddenly, the investigator sent Sophia a new text message.

The contractor is here. According to him, the person who delivered the second authorization is already waiting inside.