Page 162 of Angel

‘Reese is behind bars because of Angel,’ Roxy repeated, giving me a soft look before turning back to her uncle. ‘He hired his law firm to dig into the company accounts and expose Reese’s massive fraud. They’re building an airtight case against him right now because of the evidence Angel’s team recovered.’

All anger vanished from the room, replaced by shock.

Elsa let out a gasp, rushing straight past her brother.

She threw her arms around my neck, planting a kiss on my cheek with a bright smile.

‘Angel, you beauty, as they say down under!’ Elsa laughed, her eyes glittering with relief. ‘Ding dong, the wizard is dead. Well, almost.’

‘Is this true?’ Ed asked, sinking into a dining room chair.

I nodded, eyes narrowed and still wary of him.

‘What a coup!’ Elsa said, rolling her eyes as she pulled away from the hug. ‘I had no clue you were behind his downfall. The man has been calling me from jail for days, begging me for bail money and cash for his defense. He even suggested I start a GoFundMe for his lawyers. Can you believe it? I’ve never laughed so hard.’

‘Speaking of, are you going to be OK when it comes to your finances, Mum?’ Roxy asked, as Elsa moved to sit beside her daughter.

‘Your mother is a savage,’ Ed interjected, winking at his sister. ‘Turns out she took a chunk of Grandma Tabitha’s inheritance and was investing for years. One of her stocks went through the roof two months ago and it’s made her a tidy nest egg. Reese never had a clue it existed. It’s locked down on an account he can’t touch.’

‘Mother, you never told me.’ Roxy uttered, surprised. ‘I thought you were broke.’

Elsa shrugged. ‘A woman’s got to have her secrets, and I didn’t want Reese to ever find out.’

I let out a chuckle. ‘Damn, Elsa, you’re a gangster. You played Reese like an A-track.’

‘She really did,’ Roxy said, her eyes flashing with genuine joy.

‘I’m initiating divorce tomorrow,’ Elsa declared with a smirk. ‘Reese was too greedy to ever put a single asset in my name, so I’m scot-free from his debts.’

Her face saddened for a moment. ‘I’ll also support Evangeline the best I can through rehab.’

We all fell silent at the mention of my ex’s name, until Elsa spoke up again.

‘She’s still my daughter; it’s the least I can do. Meantime, I’m staying with Ed until I make a decision on where to live next.’

‘This farmhouse is in both our names, mama,’ Roxy reminded her with a gentle smile. ‘You can always stay here.’

‘I know I can, honey,’ Elsa murmured, squeezing Roxy’s hand while throwing a meaningful glance my way. ‘However, I sense you two require this space far more than I do. Stay here as long as you need. If things change down the road, I’ll move in when you go back to Nashville.’

I sliced my eyes over to Ed.

‘Still think I’m the villain?’

Ed studied me for a beat, his expression shifting from anger to skepticism.

‘That you’re a decent man at heart is not the question here, Angel. It’s whether you’re now over your obsessive addiction to Evangeline.’

I met his intense gaze, lifting my chin.

‘I am. My eyes are open now, and my heart is all Roxy’s. Our honeymoon and what’s come since shifted everything for me, Ed. My feelings for Roxy grew, and they keep growing every single day. I love her with all my soul, and I’m working twenty-four-seven to prove that to her.’

‘Is that right?’ Ed asked, swiveling his chair to face my wife. ‘What’s your verdict, Rox?’

I held my breath, my pulse racing hard as the room went dead silent.

‘He’s been amazing, Uncle Ed,’ Roxy murmured. ‘We’re building back our trust. I’ll share more when there’s more to share.’

I loved her even more in that moment.