chapter 12: Web Of Secrets.

I stared at the empty space where the envelope had been, my father’s note mocking me. The truth about my mother, about everything—gone in an instant.

“He was here.” My voice cracked. “The whole time, my father was here.”

Alex was already barking orders into his phone. “Full lockdown. No one in or out. I want every inch of this building searched.” He turned to me, reaching out, but I stepped back.

“Don’t.” The word came out sharp as broken glass. “Just… don’t.”

“Sonia—”

“Did you know?” I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold in the silk pajamas that felt like a costume now. “When you hired me, did you know who I was? Who my mother was to your father?”

“No.” His eyes held mine, pleading for belief. “I swear I didn’t know until after… after everything with James. When I started digging.”

“But you knew something was wrong when my mother died. You saw her that night, saw her crying, and you did nothing.”

“I tried to talk to Father, but—”

“But what?” Anger felt better than g