“That’s a lie.”
“We have the recording,” Morrow said.
“From the facility’s security system.
You sat with Victor for two hours.
You told him the address.
You told him about the baby.
You told him Catherine was going to testify.”
Evelyn’s hands dropped to her sides.
“He was my husband.
He was sick.
He needed—”
“He needed to silence your sister,” Richard said.
“And you helped him do it.”
Daniel turned to his mother.
The color had left his face entirely.
“You knew.” His voice was barely a whisper.
“You knew who Claire was this whole time.”
Evelyn grabbed Daniel’s arm.
“I was protecting you.
If anyone found out about Catherine, about Victor—”
“You weren’t protecting me.” Daniel pulled his arm free.
“You were protecting yourself.
The money.
The Ashland trust.
The diamonds and the galas and everything you’ve built on—”
“On what your father earned.”
“Your father was a crjminal,” Richard said.
“And your mother helped him stay hidden for twenty-one years while she spent his money in this city like it was clean.”
Evelyn’s mask finally broke.
Her shoulders dropped.
Her voice went thin and sharp.
“You don’t know what it was like.
Victor controlled everything.
Every dollar.
Every decision.
When Catherine ran, he nearly destroyed me too.
I had to play along or lose everything.”
“So you gave him the address,” Daniel said.
“I had no choice.”
“You had a choice,” Claire said.
Everyone turned.
Claire was still leaning against Richard, but her voice was steady.
“You could have called me.
