Thorsten leaned in, his gaze fixed on my face as he chuckled softly.


    I had no idea what he found so amusing, but I held his stare, demanding an answer. I wasn’t about


    to


    back down now.


    Finally, after hisughter faded, he said, “Alright, I’ll let you die with the truth. Your father got in the


    way of someone else’s money.


    My mind shed to the contract my father had been negotiating.


    “He blocked someone else’s profit–not yours. So why did you go after my parents?” I pressed, still


    not understanding.


    Thorsten smirked. “Have you forgotten what I do? How I made my fortune?”


    The answer hit me. He’d done it for money–someone had hired him.


    “Who was it?” I demanded, my voice tight with desperation.


    Thorsten didn’t answer directly. Instead, he leaned back, watching me. “Who do you think it was?”


    The pieces fell into ce, each one hitting like a blow. My parents‘ death was tied to that contract,


    which eventuallynded in Matthew’s hands. So… it was him


    a


    I’d suspected it before, but Thorsten had brushed off my suspicions, even saying Matthew had set


    up a special ount with the contract’s profits just for me.


    Now, with Thorsten’s words, doubt crashed over me.


    “Are you losing your memory?” I managed, my voice shaky. “You were the one who told me-


    But I trailed off as he just kept smirking, that familiar, twisted smile reminding me of one thing: he


    was a hired gun, a professional liar paid to make problems disappear. Who knew how many stories


    he’d over the years?


    I didn’t want to believe it, but his words nted seeds of doubt everywhere.


    spun


    “So… am I here now because someone paid you, too? asked, searching his face for any hint of


    truth.


    Thorsten chuckled, “See? You’re smarter than most…”


    His twisted praise struck like a bolt of ice. I shook my head. “No, I don’t believe you. You’re lying.”


    He shrugged, unbothered. “I’m about to send you to meet your parents. What would be the point in


    lying now?” He extended his hand, and a bodyguard stepped forward, slipping a cigar into his grip.


    Thorsten took a slow drag, blowing a ring of smoke into the stale air. “Since you’re someone I don’t


    particrly dislike, I’ll let you go with the truth.”


    He paused, watching me, then continued. “When your parents first came to Seavora, they were


    struggling. They worked so hard to make ends meet, they barely had time for you, which is why you


    got sick so often.


    “By chance, the Johnston family’s younger son–the one who almost became your husband–was in


    the hospital for an injury and ended up sharing a room with you.


    “Jace, being your age and a little chatterbox, kept youpany, and through that, your parents met


    his.”


    His smile was chilling. “Once Matthew found out you shared Jace’s blood type, he had an idea–to


    have you and Jace engaged, so you’d always be nearby in case he ever needed blood.”


    I felt the blood drain from my face. So it all came down to my blood.


    “After that, Matthew saw potential in your dad. He noticed he was sharp, able to seal deals Matthew


    couldn’t. Your father was talented, and Matthew saw an opportunity. He invited him to go into


    business together.


    “But your dad turned him down–he wanted to make it on his own.


    “Then one day, your father approached me about securing a contract. We’d juste to an


    agreement when someone hired me to take out two people.


    “I didn’t know it was your parents until that contract ended up in Matthew’s hands. That’s when I


    realized who I’d killed.”


    Thorsten took another drag on his cigar, looking almost bored. “Later, Matthew exined the


    situation- about the poor orphan you’d be. Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “I felt a bit of guilt, so I agreed to his partnership, and he even created that special ount to save


    all the profits from that contract for you.”


    I felt frozen. “So, when did you finally confirm Matthew was the one who hired you?”


    He sneered. “You think I’m stupid? Once we started working together, I put the pieces together and


    looked into it. Found out it was him who hired me. That’s when I made my move–I ckmailed him.


    For the next ten years, he worked with me to clean up my business.”


    I stared at him, struggling to process it all. “He must have some leverage over you, too, doesn’t he?


    Otherwise, why go after me now?”


    Thorsten’s smile faded, his eyes narrowing. I’d struck a nerve.