Page 186 of The Royal Art of Revenge

He chuckles. “That, too. Are you still going to make sure Jasmine’s birth certificate is released?”

“Yeah. They’ve lied to too many people. We don’t even need to share it, just have someone tip off a reporter that she was born in London. They’ll do the rest.”

“Will you rest then?”

I pause. “What do you mean?”

“When the truth is out.” He runs his fingers through my hair. “You deserve to be truly happy, Hattie. I want you to have something to live for once you’ve achieved everything you wanted to with that family.”

“I have something.” I tilt my head back and meet his questioning haze. “I have my family. The one I chose. The one that chose me.”

He smiles and brushes his thumb across my cheek.

“And the charities,” I continue. “I can help people.”

“You can, and you will.” Finn’s voice is impossibly tender. “I believe in you wholeheartedly.”

I press my lips to his, and warmth floods my body.

Yeah.

I believe in me, too.

***

The past four weeks have been some of the messiest, most chaotic of my life.

Jasmine was questioned, charged with aiding and abetting a crime, and bailed out shortly after. My father—and by extension, Rosalyn—have kept to their word. Neither one of them have tried to get Jasmine out of the situation she’s put herself in, much to her chagrin. Part of her bail conditions are that she can’t contact me, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t heard of her endless complaints thanks to Valentina.

Zachary was charged with a slew of things I couldn’t name if you asked me to. It seems he wasn’t the clean-cut victim he portrayed himself to be. After he was reported to have been the source and my statement was broadcast, three of his exes went to the police and reported how he’d abused them during and after their relationships.

He’s probably going to jail. Jasmine is anyone’s guess. Oscar is pretty certain she’ll try to claim a similar story, but she’ll have it harder given their messages. Either way, there’s a quiet belief within the palace that she’ll get off largely scot-free thanks to her surname.

The name everyone now knows has been hers since birth.

I will never forget hearing that my father was screaming at the police officers at the entrance to the palace. After Valentina gave her reporter friend Victoria a nudge in the right direction, the media blew up with the truth of Jasmine’s birth.

It was, to quote Alec’s mother, the ‘scandal of the century,’ which I’m led to believe is really quite the statement. She’s promised to fill me in on what it beat out, so I’ve been invited for lunch, much to Alec’s chagrin.

Apparently, the last thing Arabella Kilon needs to know is how to produce a blade from her sleeve.

I think he’s a bit of a killjoy.

An investigation has been opened into my father and Rosalyn for falsifying records. I have no idea what, if anything, will come of it, but it doesn’t matter. Their worst fears have come true. Their reputations have been completely destroyed by such a heinous lie.

My father is a cheater.

Rosalyn is a mistress.

Jasmine is the unfortunate soul born into a dirty relationship.

And as a result, Sinclair Corp is on the verge of collapse.

Everything I’ve ever wanted is coming true.

Everyone knows the truth about the people in that house.

Their reputations are shot.