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Her stomach formed a solid lump inside of her. “You received some photos then.” It wasn’t a question; it was merely confirmation of what she’d expected.
He visibly swallowed, his hands curling into fists. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Were you ashamed?” Her mother stopped hugging her long enough to cup her cheeks. “Please tell me it wasn’t shame that stopped you from calling us after the attack. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I can’t stand the thought of you going through that alone. Why didn’t the hospital call us? Or the police?”
“I wouldn’t let them. They wanted to, but it seemed like the best decision at the time.” Rachel swallowed hard. “I’m okay, Mum. I promise. It was a very long time ago. And I wasn’t ashamed. I was trying to…”
She looked at Harvard, hoping he had the right words because somehow she knew that explaining she’d been trying to protect them would only make things worse.
“Sometimes,” Harvard said as she tagged him into the conversation, “the shock from a trauma can last for years. A person can withdraw and make decisions that they wouldn’t usually make. Rachel was in shock. By the time she got past it, she didn’t want to open old wounds. Which is what would have happened if she’d told y
ou.”
Her father’s anger focused on Harvard. “But you knew. You knew my daughter was…attacked, and you didn’t tell me. You knew when I didn’t.”
Harvard maintained that steadying calm of his. “Only because the photos started turning up when we arrived at TayFor.”
With a curse, her father rested his head back against his pillows. “Blackmail.” His eyes scrunched shut. “That explains the note with the photos.”
“What note? You didn’t mention a note. And blackmail? I don’t understand.” Her mother’s wide-eyed gaze went to each of them, but she never let go of Rachel. Through it all, she continued to pet her and touch her, as though making sure she was real. Or trying to soothe away all the hurts that had happened so very long ago. “Why would someone blackmail Rachel?” Silent tears fell. “And with this? Who could do such a thing? Wasn’t the assault enough? What sort of sick mind would save photos like that? Would use them again? I don’t understand.” She looked at Rachel for answers.
But there were none to give. All Rachel could do was pull her mother back into her arms. “I know you don’t, Mum. I should have told you when it happened, but I was young, and I thought I had control of the situation.”
“And you were protecting us,” her father said gruffly.
Rachel’s eyes caught his, and she saw complete understanding in them.
His jaw clenched tight for a second. “You knew they’d use those photos to bring down TayFor. They threatened you with a scandal, didn’t they? And you chose to protect the company, and us.” His face crumpled. “Don’t you know that you’re worth far more to us than that damn company could ever be?” A single silent tear ran down his aged cheek.
“I never, for one second, thought you cared more for the company than you did for me,” Rachel whispered to him. To them.
“You were always too damn strong,” her father said. “Determined that you knew better than everyone around you and so bloody smart that you were usually right. You spent your whole childhood protecting your brothers and cousins while pretending you weren’t. As though none of us would notice. And nothing has changed. You’re still taking all the weight on your own shoulders to spare the rest of us the burden. But, my baby girl, you never realized that the people who love you want to take the burden from you too. You should have let us carry this. You should have let us be there for you.”
“I know.” Rachel guided her mother over to the bed so she could enfold them both in a hug. “I know,” she said softly, casting a panicked glance at Harvard. She had no idea what to do, how to comfort them, or how to make things right. She was completely lost in the situation, and all she wanted was for her parents to stop hurting. But she didn’t know how to make that happen.
Harvard must have read the desperation in her face, because he cleared his throat. “How about we get some hot drinks and talk about how we’re going to catch the bastards who did this?”
Her father came out of their hug to look at Harvard. “I want them to suffer. Nothing is more important than getting to the bottom of this. Not TayFor. Not the thief. Nothing.”
“Yes, sir.” Harvard nodded. “I understand, and we’re on the same page. But”—he rubbed his chin and hesitated, as though unsure—“we need your help. Are you sure you’re up to that?”
“Just you bloody well try and stop us,” her father raged while her mother took a tissue from the side table and dabbed at her face.
“Let’s crucify those animals,” she said as Jonathan burst into the room.
Taking in the scene in front of him, he paled. “Dad, you okay?”
“He’s going to be fine.” Her mother rushed to comfort another child. “We’ve just had some bad news about Rachel.”
“Rachel?” Jonathan looked prepared to hug her until she spilled the story.
Rachel caught Harvard’s eye. “Tag, you’re it. I’ll get the drinks while you explain.” There wasn’t a chance in hell she was going through that again. “Maybe they have wine in the cafeteria.”
“This is a hospital.” Her mother sounded outraged.
“Well, if they don’t have wine, maybe someone could sedate me until this is over.” She opened the door and waved a hand at them. “I’m fine. Father was the one who had a heart attack. Harvard has a plan for getting to the bottom of this whole situation and the skill to torture everyone involved. Please, for the love of all things Prada, get the hugging and tears out of your system while I’m gone.”
With that, she closed the door behind her.
