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Rylan picked up on Cole’s demeanor immediately. As soon as he opened the door, Rylan went tense, exchanging a few words with Cole that I couldn’t hear. Not long enough to tell him everything, but when Rylan sat back down next to me, his expression was grim.
Cole has been flipping through some papers in a folder, frowning at them, while my stomach works itself into a tiny knot. I don’t know him well, but even I can tell he’s unhappy with something.
The silence drags, getting heavier and heavier.
Finally, Cole looks up from his papers to meet my gaze. A muscle works in his jaw. “Okay, Charlie. I was just going over the information to make sure I’m understanding everything my contact sent me. First off, Morgan Ives is still in custody, and she admitted to everything. So that’s good news.”
“But there’s something,” I say, forcing my voice steady. “Something that isn’t good news.”
Cole sighs. “You’re right. And I’ll be honest with you. Some of this information is probably going to be upsetting. And I’m sorry.”
Rylan glances at Cole, the two of them exchanging some sort of silent message. Rylan turns to me and asks gently, “Are you ready?”
How bad can this news be? Cole looks like he’s attending a funeral, and Rylan is nearly vibrating with tension. As I literally have had pornographic videos with my face distributed all over the internet, I can’t imagine how anything could be worse.
I give Cole a quick nod. “Just tell me.”
He cuts right to the chase. “Morgan Ives is your half-sister.”
What? I’m gaping at Cole as he continues, “Apparently she found out by taking one of those ancestry DNA tests. Your sister, Caroline, took one about a year ago—that’s how they discovered each other.”
“What?” A half sister? “But she never…” My mouth snaps shut. Caroline would never have told me something like that. She never talked to me about anything.
Rylan’s hand settles at my neck, rubbing. I try to gather my scrambled thoughts. “But why? Why would this half-sister I never met want to do all this? I don’t understand.”
“Well.” Cole sighs heavily, and that’s the tell that this is about to get even worse.
“Morgan was very bitter when she discovered the… inequity between her life and yours. Apparently, your father refused to acknowledge her, or her mother. He sent small payments each month, but Morgan’s mother squandered the money.”
My gut twists. “I always thought he had affairs,” I murmur. “But if it’s just about the money? She doesn’t even know me. Why not go after Caroline?”
“Morgan was unsatisfied with a lot of things,” Cole replies, frowning. “Not just the money, but she hated that you went to college, law school, that you’re a successful attorney. And she didn’t go after Caroline because—” He pauses, his face darkening. “Caroline was in on it, too. It was both of them behind everything.”
What?
My heart stops.
There’s a rushing noise in my head, and everything goes hot and fuzzy.
I can’t breathe.
“Charlie, hun.” Rylan is kneeling in front of me, stroking my cheek. I blink at him, but my brain isn’t working. “Charlie, love, breathe. It’s okay, I’m right here.”
My sister.
How could she?
My ears are ringing, gray dots are spotting my vision. A commanding voice—not Rylan, Cole—says, “Charlie. Breathe. Just a little. Just focus on breathing. Do you feel Rylan’s hand? Just give it a squeeze.”
And then Rylan, his voice strained. “Come on, love. You’re okay. Just breathe.”
My brain is starting to come back online, disjointed thoughts and questions rearranging. Then I gasp, sucking in air.
Everything refocuses. Rylan is holding my hand, Cole is crouched beside him, both of them watching me with worried expressions.
One word comes out, small and broken. “Why?”
Cole glances at Rylan, who gives a tiny shake of his head. “Please,” I beg, voice wobbling. “Just tell me the rest of it.”
