Chapter 8 - Her Mother's Face
Fay opened the door before Conrad could stop her.
Kathleen Donahue stood beneath the broken diner sign.
Sixty-eight.
Gray threaded through auburn hair.
Older than every memory Fay possessed.
But alive.
Fay slapped her.
The sound shocked everyone.
Kathleen touched her cheek.
Fay began crying.
Then she slapped her again.
“You were alive.”
“Yes.”
“You were alive.”
“I know.”
“I buried you!”
Kathleen reached for her.
Fay stepped back.
“No.”
Conrad remained silent.
This was not his moment to control.
Kathleen explained that Victor and Adrian had threatened Fay.
Staging her death had seemed the only way to sever the trail.
She stayed hidden even after Victor died because Adrian remained powerful.
“Why now?” Fay asked.
“Because you married Conrad.”
“That happened eight months ago.”
“And I was terrified.”
“Of him?”
Kathleen looked at Conrad.
“Of what he might become.”
Conrad accepted the judgment.
Fay did not.
“You don't know him.”
“I knew his father.”
“He isn't his father.”
Kathleen studied her daughter.
“You love him.”
Fay's breath caught.
Conrad went very still.
Fay looked away.
“This isn't about that.”
“Isn't it?”
“No.”
It absolutely was.
And suddenly that frightened her more than conspiracies, ledgers, and guns.
Kathleen had manipulated the dress deliveries through Mallory at first.
Not to humiliate Fay.
She claimed she wanted Fay to reject Conrad's world.
But Vivienne later added crueler notes without Kathleen's knowledge.
A dozen people had manipulated Fay while claiming to protect her.
She was furious with all of them.
Especially the ones she loved.
Kathleen gave the authorities the remaining evidence.
Adrian was charged.
Several officials resigned.
The Harwick empire began dividing into legitimate companies and assets likely to be seized.
Conrad cooperated.
That shocked everyone.
Especially Fay.
“You're giving them everything?”
“Everything dirty.”
“You'll lose millions.”
“Yes.”
“Doesn't that bother you?”
“Less than losing you.”
She looked at him.
He did not smile.
Did not dramatize it.
That made it harder to dismiss.
Weeks passed.
Fay returned to the townhouse.
Not because Conrad asked.
He didn't.
She arrived carrying two suitcases.
He found her in the foyer.
“Are those permanent?”
“Don't ruin it.”
He nodded.
“Temporary suitcases.”
“Very temporary.”
“I understand.”
“You're smiling.”
“No.”
“You are.”
“Must be nerve damage.”
She laughed.
That night they ate takeout in the kitchen.
No staff.
No bodyguards within earshot.
Fay asked, “Why did you really marry me?”
Conrad considered lying.
She saw him decide not to.
“At first? Your mother's connection to Vivienne.”
“And after?”
“I didn't know there would be an after.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I expected you to tolerate me.”
“That sounds romantic.”
“I haven't reached the romantic part.”
“There is one?”
He looked at her.
“I started coming home earlier because you were there.”
Fay stopped teasing.
“I stopped eating dinner in my office because you complained.”
“You were getting sauce on contracts.”
“I started noticing when you laughed in another room.”
Her eyes filled.
Conrad continued.
“And when you returned the first dress, I was angry because I had chosen it myself.”
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“I thought your assistant did.”
“The others. Not the first.”
Fay remembered the emerald dress.
She had loved it.
It simply hadn't fit.
“I cried after trying it on.”
His face tightened.
“I know that now.”
“You didn't know then.”
“I should have asked.”
“Yes.”
He reached across the table.
Did not touch her.
Waited.
Fay placed her hand in his.
The gesture was small.
It changed everything.
Then Conrad's phone rang.
Luca.
Conrad listened.
His expression hardened.
“When?”
He stood.
Fay's stomach dropped.
“What?”
Conrad ended the call.
“Adrian made bail.”
“How?”
“Someone paid it.”
“Who?”
“An offshore trust.”
Fay already knew the answer would be bad.
Conrad looked toward the dark window.
“The trust belongs to my father.”
Fay whispered, “Victor?”
Conrad nodded.
May you like
“My father may still be alive.”
Then the security alarm began screaming.
