Lindey put down her cutlery and turned to face me. “Yes, the contract was just about to be signed.”


    It was the same contract I’d found in my father’s notebook.


    “Was it because of the ident that it didn’t get signed?” I asked, my voice shaking.


    She nodded.


    My breath hitched, and I felt like a storm was brewing inside me. Then Lindey sighed. “That contract


    wa supposed to be the first for your father and Matthew’s joint venture.”


    Wait, what?


    I had always thought it was just my father’s deal. But Matthew was involved too?


    “n and Matthew worked so hard to lock in that partnership with Thorsten Drago from VastReach


    Group. They did everything–went fishing with him, raced cars, and he even made them go


    skydiving,” Lindey said, shaking her head at the memory. “Thorsten came from a tough background


    and was known for ying people.


    “But n and Matthew knew they had to secure that deal to make their mark, so they did whatever


    it took, even risking their lives just to keep him happy..


    “One time, Thorsten took them out to sea for fishing, but they got caught in a typhoon. There were


    only two life jackets on the boat, and both n and Matthew insisted on giving theirs to him and the


    other


    person.


    “After that incident, Thorsten stopped messing with them and agreed to give them the contract.


    Since n knew more about legal stuff, after Thorsten handed it over, Matthew asked n to


    review it carefully for any tricks or mistakes.


    “And n did find an issue. Thorsten had the contract redrafted and asked n and Matthew to


    sign it. But who could’ve guessed n would get into a car ident on his way there?”


    Lindey spoke slowly, her words heavy with detail, like she was painting the scene for me.


    So, that’s how it was. It wasn’t some conspiracy like I’d feared.


    That was a relief.


    Deep down, I’d been afraid my suspicions were true, even though I’d always seen Matthew and


    Lindey as parents to me.


    I let out a long breath and stayed quiet.


    Lindey seemed lost in the past. “Back then, the four of us had it all nned out.


    “n and Matthew would go sign the contract, and your mother and I would be waiting outside.


    “We’d even secretly arranged to surprise them with hugs and flowers once they came out with the


    signed


    contract…”


    So that’s why my mom would’ve been there, too.


    Everything made sense now, I’d almost let my doubts poison my view of people who had always


    treated me like family.


    I felt a wave of guilt wash over me for even thinking, for a second, that Matthew might’ve caused


    the ident just to take the business deal for himself.


    I knew how much they’d done for me, how they’d treated everyone with kindness and respect over


    the years. How could I have doubted them? I felt so ungrateful.


    “Lindey, I’m sorry,” I blurted out.


    Lindey looked at me and shook her head gently. “We’re the ones who should apologize. Maybe if


    Matthew. hadn’t partnered with your father, your parents wouldn’t have been in that ident.”


    Was that true?


    Maybe.


    Or maybe it was just how things were meant to be


    “My parents just didn’t have that kind of luck,” I said softly, looking at her. Even now, she radiated


    elegance and grace. If my mom were still alive, I imagined she’d be just as dignified.


    “Rea, I’ll say it again: you are our daughter,” Lindey said, squeezing my hand tightly.


    I knew she meant it, but I wasn’t truly their daughter. And with everything going on between Jace


    and me, it was impossible to be as close as we used to be.


    I gave a small nod, and Lindey shot me a warm smile. “Come on, let’s eat a little more.”


    I wasn’t really hungry, but I couldn’t say no to her, so I forced down a few more bites before


    iming I needed to wrap things up because Hayden was waiting for me.


    Hayden and Ron were still finishing their lunch when I dropped Lindey off at the Johnston’s. After


    that, I headed back to Signature Soirée and just sat in the car for a bit.


    It wasn’t really about waiting for Hayden; I just needed some space to process everything Lindey


    had told


    me today.


    I


    N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    When Hayden finally showed up, I was still lost in my own thoughts.


    “Have you been waiting long?” he asked, sliding into the passenger seat.


    “Not too long.” I said, spotting Ron waving at me from across the lot.