Chapter 19
Vanessa came around the desk and took my hand.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
I squeezed her fingers.
“So am I.”
Dominic remained where he was.
He looked at me, waiting without asking for anything.
That restraint mattered.
I picked up the ledger page.
“What happens now?”
“I can contact a lawyer,” he said.
“Someone independent.
We can determine what these records are and whether anything remains actionable.”
“After thirteen years?”
“Some things may be beyond legal deadlines.
Some may not.
But we can find out.”
“And your father’s companies?”
“I’ll cooperate with whatever investigation is necessary.”
Vanessa turned toward him.
“All of it?”
“All of it.”
“You could lose everything.”
Dominic looked at the study around us—the books, the furniture, the carefully preserved remains of a man who had controlled everyone near him.
“I already lost the part that mattered,” he said.
“I just didn’t admit it.”
Vanessa’s eyes filled, but she blinked the tears away.
“What about me?”
I asked.
His gaze moved to mine.
“I want to help you find out what happened to your father,” he said.
“But I understand if you don’t want me beside you.”
The room fell silent.
For three years, I had wanted Dominic to see me.
Now that he did, I had to decide what I wanted him to see.
Not a forgiving woman who erased the past because he had kissed her beneath fireworks.
Not someone who confused love with absolution.
I wanted him to see the anger, the grief, and the uncertainty.
I wanted him to understand that trust was not a door that opened because someone finally found the key.
It was a house rebuilt board by board.
“I don’t forgive you yet,” I said.
“I know.”
“I may not forgive every choice you made.”
“I understand.”
“And I will need answers that may hurt you.”
“You deserve them.”
I studied his face.
“Then I want you beside me.”
His breath caught.
“Are you sure?”
“No,” I admitted.
“But I want to find out.”
Something in him eased—not relief exactly, but permission to hope carefully.
He took one step toward me.
“I can do carefully.”
“That would be new for both of us.”
A quiet smile touched his mouth.
This time, I returned it.
Vanessa wiped beneath one eye and glanced at the clock.
“Alex is going to wonder whether I was kidnapped by my own family.”
“Call him,” I said.