Matthew and Lindey had been like family to me, but I’d been terrified that all that love might’ve just


    been a lie.


    Could I really trust Thorsten’s word on this?


    I knew I shouldn’t have been so paranoid, but after losing my parents, it was hard not to be.


    I wanted to ask more, to get to the bottom of everything, but the words got stuck in my throat. So I’d


    stayed quiet.


    “You probably didn’t know this, but Matthew had a secret stash,” Thorsten said, catching me off


    guard.


    He chuckled softly. “Rx. It’s not what you think. Matthew and I arepletely different.”


    I couldn’t help but smile a little. So Thorsten did have some self–awareness after all.


    The inte had been full of gossip about his yboy antics. They said he’d had more girlfriends


    than he could count, but only one kid–Cole.


    “Matthew and Lindey had a great rtionship,” I’d said, trying to steer the conversation somewhere


    safer. Thorsten hadughed again, and I couldn’t tell if he’d found me amusing or just naive.


    “Matthew’s stash wasn’t just some rainy–day fund. It was the money from that big contract years


    ago, plus all the profits since.”


    He’d paused, giving me a look. “And it was all in n’s name. It was meant for him.”


    I was stunned. I’d been at RiverwaveCorp for years and had no clue about any of this. Matthew had


    never mentioned a word.


    “Matthew said that money was earned at the cost of n’s life,” Thorsten exined. “He doesn’t


    feel right using it.


    “Spending it would only remind him of the guilt, so every cent from that project went into n’s


    ount. *He said that one day, when you get married, it’ll be yours. Consider it a gift from yourte


    parents.” Tears spilled down my face as I listened.


    Guilt stabbed through me. Matthew had done all this for my dad and me, and I’d actually doubted


    them. “Keira, Thorsten said, his voice firm, “Matthew never let n down.”


    Not only did he not let my dad down, but he felt so guilty about that contract that he treated me


    better than his own son.


    “What a pity.” Thorsten sighed


    I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but I didn’t have the heart to ask


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    “Thank you, Mr. Drago,” I said, my voice shaky with emotion, before turning and walking away.


    I drove for what felt like forever before finally pulling over. I just sat there, staring nkly out the


    windshield.


    Dupter 291


    Even though everything Matthew had done really touched me, I couldn’t rely on Thorsten’s words


    alone.


    I needed to find out the truth for myself.


    ***


    I drove straight to the traffic police station to request the records of my parents‘ car ident.


    “Sorry, this file is too old. If you want to ess it, you’ll need to make an appointment and provide


    proof of y


    your rtionship with the victims,” the officer said.


    Proof of rtionship?


    Did I really have to prove my dad was my dad?


    Frustration bubbled up inside me, and I was about to shap when a voice cut in, “Register her


    information and get it done.”


    “Understood, Chief, the officer replied, suddenly all business.


    I turned to see who’d stepped in for me–and then I saw him.


    Jace was standing right there, next to the Chief.


    The Chief, who didn’t know me at all, had spoken up because Jace must have put in a word for me.


    “May I have your ID, please?” the staff member asked, snapping me back to reality. I quickly


    handed it


    Over.


    After registering my information, they started searching for the files on theputer.


    I stood there, nerves jangling, when I sensed someonee up beside me. I nced over.