“Easy.”
I exhaled slowly.
“My father established a trust before he died,” I continued. “The trust holds a controlling block of preferred shares in Apex Development.”
Ruiz paused.
“Your husband founded Apex, correct?”
“Technically, yes. He started the original company. It was called Hayes Residential Group. Five employees. Mostly renovations and small commercial contracts.”
“And you became involved when?”
“After we were engaged.”
I looked at Liam.
“You remember.”
“Of course I remember.”
His voice was quieter now.
Our father had died eighteen months before my wedding.
Pancreatic cancer.
Fast.
Cruel in a way that had nothing to do with villains or blame.
Our mother had been gone for years by then, and after Dad’s funeral, Liam and I had coped in opposite directions.
He threw himself into medicine.
I threw myself into Ethan.
At least, that was how it looked.
The truth was more complicated.
Ethan’s business had been drowning.
