“Mr. Brantley was very thorough in his self-preservation.”

“He saved the text messages.”

She pulled out another sheet of paper from the folder.

“The messages where you offered him a twenty percent commission to bypass the court-appointed estate administrator.”

The silence in the room was absolute now.

Even the vibrating phone on the table had stopped, leaving only the distant sound of traffic outside the window.

Vivian looked at the paper in Lydia’s hand, her lips trembling slightly.

“That’s… that’s not possible,” Vivian whispered.

“Cole wouldn’t betray us.”

“He didn’t betray you,” I said, stepping closer to my husband.

“He saved himself from going down with you.”

Evan looked at me, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and realization.

“Claire, please,” he said, taking a step toward me. “We can work this out.”

“There is nothing to work out, Evan,” I said.

“You took my father’s legacy and tried to sell it to fund your new life.”

“And you did it in my name.”

Malcolm closed his notepad with a soft click of his pen.