without finding another way to verify it.
We were looking at the consequences of all those failures.
Sloane Merritt appeared beside the wedding arch.
She wore a beautiful ivory gown with pearl buttons along the sleeves.
She had been watching quietly, her expression growing more troubled with every sentence.
‘Julian,’ she said, ‘is what Nora is saying true?’
‘I didn’t know about the children,’ he replied.
Sloane studied him, then turned toward Evelyn.
‘And you did?’
Evelyn looked at her with obvious relief.
‘Sloane, darling, surely you understand that some people will do anything to attach themselves to our family’s money.’
Sloane’s expression changed.
‘You should stop talking.’
The tone was so unexpected that Evelyn blinked.
‘Excuse me?’
Sloane turned to an assistant standing near the doorway.
‘Please bring the blue folio from the bridal suite.’
I knew nothing about the folder, but Evelyn visibly stiffened.
‘What is this about?’
Sloane folded her hands.
‘Our families have been discussing a proposed shipping investment.
My family’s advisers asked me to review the Ashford accounts before we committed anything.
I noticed several unusual payments.’
Julian frowned.
‘What payments?’
‘Those described as family security and beneficiary administration.’
Evelyn’s voice sharpened.
‘Those are private records.’
‘Not when you ask outside investors to rely on them,’ Sloane replied.
The assistant returned with the folder.
Sloane opened it and selected a page.
‘For three years, the family office has paid a private investigation firm to monitor Nora and her children.’
My stomach tightened.
‘What?’
She showed me a copy of an invoice, followed by several printed photographs.
Milo outside his preschool.
Theo and Kit at a park.
All three boys standing beside my car during a family outing.
The dates stretched back years.
Somebody had been watching us while I believed we were safe from the Ashfords.
My first instinct was to pull the boys closer.
Isabel noticed immediately and came to stand beside them.
Julian examined the documents.
‘Who approved this?’
Sloane pointed to the authorization.
‘The payments are linked to your executive account.’
Julian stared at the signature and shook his head.
‘That isn’t mine.’
Evelyn took a step backward.
‘You don’t understand how complicated this business is.’
Julian raised his eyes.
‘Then explain it.’
‘Not here.’
‘You keep saying that.
You didn’t want Nora to speak to me.
You didn’t want the children here.
You don’t want anyone to see these records.
When, exactly, were you planning to tell me the truth?’
Evelyn had no answer.
I turned to Isabel.
‘Please take the boys into the garden.
Get them some juice and call the driver.
I need to handle something.’
Milo caught my hand.
‘Are we in trouble?’
‘No, sweetheart.
None of this is your fault.’
He looked toward Julian.
‘Will we see him again?’
I glanced at Julian, who seemed to be struggling to breathe normally.
‘I hope so.
But we’ll talk about it at home.’
Julian knelt again.
‘I would really like to see you again, if that’s okay with your mom.’
Kit considered this, then held up the sailboat.
‘Next time I’ll show you the big one.’
Julian nodded.
‘I’d like that.’
The boys followed Isabel outside.
Only after the doors closed did I turn back to the adults.
Sloane had another document in her hand.
‘There’s something more important
