The smell of cedar in his office.
Reading glasses left on top of financial reports.
His terrible singing while making pancakes.
His habit of tapping a pen twice against his desk before signing anything important.
My father had created the trust that gave me voting control of Apex Development.
He was the reason Ethan’s name on the company headquarters had never meant what Ethan believed it meant.
But Lake Mercer?
I had never heard those words.
“Why did Dad have a secret account?”
Liam pulled the chair closer again, but this time he did not sit.
“He didn’t.”
Detective Ruiz narrowed her eyes.
“You just said it was his.”
“I said it was connected to him.”
My patience snapped.
“Stop talking like a doctor explaining test results to a family in a hallway.”
Liam flinched.
I instantly regretted the sharpness in my voice.
But I did not take it back.
