Chapter 7
The sound that came from Dominic was not a word.
It was something smaller.
Animal.
My father, Victor Sterling, walked down the aisle in a gray suit, thinner than before, but upright.
His face was pale.
His eyes were sharp.
The courtroom erupted.
The judge slammed his gavel.
“Order.”
Dominic backed away from him like he was seeing a ghost.
“No,” he whispered.
My father stopped beside me.
He rested one hand on Lucas’s head.
One on Leo’s.
Then he looked at Dominic.
“Hello, son-in-law.”
Gianna covered her mouth.
Mr. Vale sat down as if his legs had failed.
The judge stared.
“Mr. Sterling, this court was under the impression—”
“That I was dead,” my father said.
“Yes. I know.”
He handed another envelope to the bailiff.
“I apologize for the drama, Your Honor. But my daughter needed protection before I revealed myself.”
Dominic shook his head again and again.
“You died.”
“No,” my father said.
“You arranged for me to disappear.”
Every breath in the room vanished.
My stomach clenched even though I already knew.
Even though I had heard the recording.
Even though I had spent nights crying into a pillow so my sons would not hear.
My father turned to the judge.
“Six months ago, after I questioned Dominic about missing company funds, I was in a car accident.”
Dominic whispered, “Don’t.”
My father ignored him.
“The police called it mechanical failure. But I had already hired a private investigator. I suspected fraud. I suspected my life was in danger.”
He looked at me.
“My daughter didn’t know then.”
Tears blurred my vision.
“He let the world think I was dead while we gathered evidence.”
Dominic lunged forward.
“You can’t prove anything.”
My father’s face hardened.
Then the back doors opened again.
May you like
Two federal agents entered.
The entire courtroom rose into chaos.
