“I am not taking the interim director position.”

“The board reached out to me, and I am declining their offer tomorrow morning.”

“I am going to cooperate fully with the federal prosecutors.”

Vanessa’s face went completely pale, her mouth parting in shock.

The desperation in her eyes turned into something much colder.

“You can’t do that,” she whispered.

“They will destroy Dad.”

“They will destroy Ethan.”

“They will uncover what they actually did,” I corrected her.

“And they will uncover what you helped them hide.”

She shook her head, backing away toward the open elevator.

“You were always supposed to be the strong one,” she spat, her voice suddenly sharp with venom.

“You were supposed to protect us.”

“The sister who protected you died the day you let them blame me,” I said.

The rain continued to lash against the glass behind her, blurring the lights of the city.

Gabriel walked to the elevator panel and held his hand over the door sensor.

“It is time to go, Vanessa,” he said.

She looked at me one last time, her lips quivering, before she stepped backward into the cab.