The ident she described–Was it the same one that killed my parents?


    So, Hayden’s father… he was paid off?!


    Shock twisted inside me, but I forced myself to stay calm. I looked at Sasha, trying to keep my


    steady. “Who told you this? Is there any proof?”


    y voice


    She didn’t notice my agitation, just shook her head. “I don’t know. It’s just something people


    whisper. Anyone close to him is too scared to say it out loud. If Thorsten caught wind of it, they


    wouldn’t live to see another day.”


    “Could you… find out more?” I asked, barely able to hold it together.


    Sasha turned, finally sensing something was off, and gave me a curious smile. “Why are you so


    interested?


    I hesitated, staring at her, wondering if she could handle the truth. But then I decided she deserved


    it. Because those people… they were my parents. And that driver was my ex’s father.”


    Her eyes widened.


    I grabbed her arm, my grip tight. That’s why I need to know if it’s true. I need evidence.”


    Her falseshes fluttered, taken aback. “So… you want me to help?”


    I knew we weren’t close. She’d tried to befriend me once, and I’d brushed her off. And now here I


    was, asking her for help–it felt humiliating.


    But she hated Thorsten, and she was close to him, close enough to know things.


    Rumors like this didn’te out of nowhere. Someone out there had to know the truth.


    Swallowing my pride was the least of my worries–I needed answers, and I’d do whatever it took to


    get


    them.


    “Ms. Grey, please… help me.


    Sasha paused, then gave me a faint smile. “We’re not even friends. I could just say no, you know.”


    Yep, women can be petty. She definitely hadn’t forgotten that I brushed her off before.


    But from the glint in her eye, I knew she was just testing me.


    “If you help me, then we’ll be friends,” I replied, meeting her tone.


    She smirked. “That how you usually ask for favors?”


    “It’s not a favor. It’s a request,” I said, keeping my cool, I needed her help, but I wasn’t about to


    o beg.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Even with friends, if youe across as too desperate, you’re bound to lose ground. Sasha


    wanted to be close, and if she helped me now, I’d repay her in a way that actually meant something


    to her.


    She studied me. “Raised by the Johnstons… yeah, I can see you don’tck confidence, Fine, I’ll


    see what I can do. But no promises.”


    Her agreement didn’t exactly settle me. If anything, my stomach tightened. Thorsten had no


    personal reason to go after my parents. And yet, he did.


    There had to be something bigger, something I wasn’t ready to face.


    The rest of the evening passed in a blur of cake and candles for Milly’s birthday. As I was heading


    out, I turned back to Sasha. “What are you going to do about the baby?”


    She rested a hand on her still–t stomach. “I’ll do my best to keep it.”


    Her resolve was clear. I leaned in. “My best friend’s an OB–GYN. If you need anything, let me


    know–I can set something up.”


    She nodded. “Be careful getting back.”


    Her driver took me home. The rain was stilling down, like it hadn’t stopped all day. Parts of the


    road were flooded, and he mentioned other areas had beenpletely submerged.


    But I was too wrapped up in my thoughts about my parents to really listen.


    As we neared my ce, Yuna called. “Keira, where are you?”


    “I’m almost home,” I replied, my voice sounding distant even to myself.