“Transferred from the Graves family trust to an offshore account registered under Arthur Dunleavy’s name.”

“The memo line reads: ‘For the relocation and permanent silence of Claire Ellis.'”

I stared at the screen, the numbers blurring before my eyes.

Ruby looked up at me, her small hand pulling on my sleeve.

“Mom?” she whispered. “What does that mean?”

I couldn’t answer her.

My throat felt dry, and my knees felt weak.

Nathaniel turned his head to look at me.

His expression was no longer cold or professional.

It was filled with a deep, painful regret.

“Is it true, Claire?” Nathaniel asked, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

“Did my father pay you to disappear?”

I looked at Arthur, who was now staring at the floor, his key fob hanging uselessly from his hand.

He knew he was finished.

“He didn’t just pay me to disappear, Nathaniel,” I said, my voice shaking.

“He threatened to destroy my family if I didn’t.”

“And Arthur was the one who delivered the threat.”

The silence that followed was absolute.

The only sound was the soft, steady hum of the emergency generator in the walls.