“Rea, calm down. Let Matthew finish,” Lindey tried, her voice soft but strained.
Matthew adjusted his sses, looking almost… regretful. “Rea, if I told you I never intended for your
father to die… would you believe me?”
Thorsten had already told me everything. And now Matthew wanted to rewrite the story?
Fine. I’d hear him out.
“Your father had a gift for distribution, something I couldn’t match. But he didn’t want to partner with
me; he wanted to go solo. If he did, Seavora would’ve been his for the taking,” Matthew paused,
gathering himself. “People are selfish by nature–it’s unavoidable.
“So yes, I was jealous. More than that, I resented him. It felt like his refusal to work with me was a
judgment, like he was saying I wasn’t good enough.
“And when hended that contract with Thorsten–the one I’d been fighting for–it only proved his
talent.
“I knew that contract was the key to everything I wanted. Fueled by jealousy and a need to win, I
decided I’d take that project from him.”
Matthew pulled off his sses, rubbing his eyes. “So I hired someone to scare him, to push him
away from the deal with Thorsten.
“But… the person I hired went too far. He thought ‘solving the problem for good‘ was the best
option, and… he made your parents ‘disappear.”
I felt my blood run cold. He was shifting the me,
“Rea, while I never wanted your parents dead, my greed set everything in motion. I won’t absolve
myself I’m the one responsible for their deaths. Even with my sess all these years, I’ve carried
that guilt,” he said, but I couldn’t bear another word.
“So, you turned that guilt into kindness toward me, didn’t you?” I cut in, my voice bitter.
Matthew faltered, giving a small nod. Lindey stepped in, her tone gentle, almost pleading. “Rea, it’s
not like that. We really do love you. We’ve cared for you, truly.”
I scoffed, remembering how Jace and I shared the same blood type. “You cared for me so that if
Jace ever needed saving. I’d be there. Isn’t that right?”
“Rea,” Lindey shook her head, trying to deny it.
But Matthew was blunt. “We did consider that possibility… but that doesn’t mean our love for you
wasn’t.
Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.
real.
Love. Bought with my parents‘ lives. Their care was just a thin mask, barely hiding their guilt.
“Rea, every word I’ve told you today is the truth. And, honestly, saying it out loud… it’s been a relief.
Now! can die in peace,” he said, looking oddly calm.
I felt my control slip. “You feel relieved? You think you can just rest in peace? And my parents–how
are they supposed to rest?” My voice cracked, myposure shattering.
Lindey was already in tears. “I’m so sorry… Matthew has suffered with this guilt for ten years. He
rarely sleeps through the night, wakes up in terror half the time. And now he’s sick… It’s his
punishment.”
“So what? My parents are gone. Their lives, their futures–all stolen by your selfishness,” I spat, my
voice heavy with anger.
Losing them ruined my life too. No matter how they tried to make it up, nothing could heal the pain
of growing up without my parents.
“I know nothing I say can change anything. I’m ready to ept any punishment, anything you
need,” Matthew said, coughing hard. Lindey reached out to steady him.
He waved her off, took a breath. “Rea, Lindey knew nothing about what I did. She only found out
today, right before you both arrived. She had no part in it. Please… don’t hold her responsible. Can
you do that for me?”
“Matthew…” Lindey sobbed, clutching his arm, burying her face against his shoulder, shaking her
head.” Please… don’t…”
Matthew patted her hand. “Stop crying. Go ahead and call the police.”
Lindey hid her face in his arm, fists weakly thudding against his back.
The room felt like it was drowning in sorrow, every breath thick and heavy, like I couldn’t find
enough air.
Then, Hayden, who’d been silent through it all, finally spoke, breaking the tension. “Mr. Johnston,
there’s someone missing in your story.”