The words struck me harder than I expected.
Once, I had wanted nothing more than to hear them.
Now they sounded empty.
“Do you?” I asked.
He nodded quickly.
“Of course.”
I reached for the second folder.
“Then tell everyone what you were doing outside my apartment this morning.”
His face went completely still.
Part 7 — The Secret He Could No Longer Hide
Derek looked at the folder in my hands.
For the first time since I had entered the ballroom, he seemed genuinely frightened.
“Amelia,” he whispered, “not here.”
I held his gaze.
“Why not?”
“Because people won’t understand.”
I felt a wave of disbelief.
People wouldn’t understand?
He had planned to intimidate me into accepting millions of dollars in debt.
He had secretly obtained my medical records.
He had discussed forcing me into an illegal procedure.
And now he was worried about people misunderstanding him.
I turned toward the guests.
