Skip to content 
Arthur nodded.
“You worked there because Ms. Morgan personally refused to interfere with family relationships.”
He looked toward me.
“Until today.”
Jessica suddenly stood.
“I don’t even work there.”
Arthur smiled politely.
“Correct.”
He handed her another document.
“However, the luxury apartment you currently occupy belongs to Morrison Corporate Housing.”
Jessica blinked.
“What?”
“Your access has been revoked.”
“My lease?”
“Cancelled.”
“My parking permit?”
“Cancelled.”
“My building access?”
“Cancelled.”
Her designer handbag slipped from her shoulder.
Brendan finally exploded.
“Cassidy!”
His voice cracked.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I met his eyes.
“Would it have changed how you treated me?”
He couldn’t answer.
The silence answered for him.
Arthur continued.
“The board has also approved a forensic audit.”
Diane frowned.
“What audit?”
“The one reviewing expense reports from the last eight years.”
Brendan’s breathing became uneven.
Jessica slowly backed away.
Arthur opened another file.
“Several irregularities totaling approximately forty-eight million dollars have already been identified.”
Diane gasped.
“That wasn’t our fault!”
Arthur simply replied,
“The investigators will determine that.”
Brendan grabbed my arm.
“Cassidy, please.”
One of the security officers stepped between us.
“Sir.”
He immediately let go.
For the first time since I had met him, Brendan looked frightened.
Not embarrassed.
Not angry.
Terrified.
“Cassidy…”
His voice shook.
“I was stupid.”
I said nothing.
“I was under pressure.”
Nothing.
“My mother…”
Still nothing.
“I never stopped loving you.”
That almost made me laugh.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
“You laughed,” I reminded him quietly.
“When she humiliated the mother of your child.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You’re sorry because you finally know who I am.”
I gently placed my hand on my stomach.
“But when you believed I was just a poor pregnant woman…”
I looked around the room.
“…you showed me exactly who you were.”
Arthur checked his watch.
“Our vehicles are ready whenever you are, Ms. Morgan.”
I nodded.
Before leaving, I walked over to Diane.
She looked twenty years older than she had an hour earlier.
“I have one question.”
She couldn’t meet my eyes.
“When you poured that bucket over me…”
I paused.
“Were you expecting kindness in return?”
She started crying.
“I made a mistake.”
“No.”