Page 131 of What Goes Around

“There is also the matter of disclosure,” he added. “Miss Richards was never informed of the trust’s existence. Nor of its origin.”

Dad frowned. “Origin?”

“The trust was established by Ines Laurent,” Bowen said. “Immediately after Ashley’s birth.”

The name detonated the room.

Marissa’s hand flew to the back of the couch. Brandon went still.

Dad turned to me slowly. “You know.”

“I know,” I said. “About the trust. About the money. And about my mother.”

His voice came out hoarse. “How?”

I met his gaze without flinching.

“Does it matter?” I asked quietly.

Marissa’s face cracked, just slightly.

“An audit has been initiated,” Bowen continued. “All trust accounts are frozen pending review. Any mismanagement will be addressed legally. Miss Richards will assume full control going forward.”

He looked at Brandon and Marissa once, detached.

“I’ll be in touch.”

Then he left.

The door closed behind him.

Apple sat frozen on the couch, tears forgotten. Dad stared at the floor like he hoped it would swallow him. Marissa stood rigid, eyes locked on me.

Marissa was the first to move.

“Ashley,” she said, voice tight, “you had no right to do this. Bringing a lawyer into our home like that. Ambushing us.”

I laughed softly. Not because it was funny. Because it was obscene.

“Ambushing?” I asked. “You mean being informed that stealing from a minor has consequences?”

Dad rubbed his face with both hands. He looked older than he had an hour ago. Smaller.

“Ashley,” he said hoarsely, “I made mistakes. Terrible ones.”

“Mistakes?” I let out a short, humorless laugh. “You didn’t forget to file taxes. You didn’t miss a birthday. You erased my mother. You stole from me. You handed me over to her.”

I turned to Marissa.

“You’re not my mother,” I said flatly. “You’re a mistress. A homewrecker.”

She recoiled as if I’d struck her. “How dare you speak to me like that.”

“How dare you pretend you weren’t exactly that,” I replied. “You slept with a married man. You got pregnant. You moved into a dead woman’s house and pretended to be her.”

Dad flinched. “That’s enough.”

“No.It’s not.”