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Now, I’m even more confused.
I pull my hands away. “What do you mean?”
Vivian looks away and sips her tea.
“Vivian?”
She puts down her cup. “Ellis, I’m not sure I should tell you this but, well, you’re my niece and I want you to be happy as your mother would.”
Her words make a lump form in my throat. I swallow.
“Please tell me.”
Whatever it is, I’d like to know.
Vivian draws a deep breath. “Rainier Knight hates us Northups.”
I feel a tinge of relief. “I know. He hates Gabriel because he’s an ass. He thinks Suzannah is self-centered…”
My aunt shakes her head. “I don’t mean individually.”
I narrow my eyes at her as confusion seizes me again. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that Rainier Knight hates the Northup family and there are two reasons. The first is because of something my father did. He and Rainier’s father were friends once, you see.”
“Yes, I know. They went to the same club. He saved your father’s life.”
“Do you know why?”
I shrug. “Because your father’s life was in danger?”
“And because my father threatened to destroy River Knight’s career if he didn’t agree to operate on him,” Vivian tells me.
I shake my head. “I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t Rainier’s father want to operate on yours? He’s a doctor. He swore to save lives.”
“Because my father, Samuel Northup, is the reason River Knight and his wife got divorced,” Vivian tells me.
My eyes grow wide. “What?”
I can’t believe it. I don’t believe it.
“He and Rainier’s mother had an affair,” Vivian explains.
I shake my head faster. “No way.”
Vivian nods.
I touch my chin. “So you’re saying Rainier’s mother and Samuel had an affair, then Rainier’s parents got divorced, then Samuel got sick and he threatened to destroy Rainier’s father’s career if he didn’t operate on him?”
“Yes.”
I grip my hair. “This is all so confusing. If that really is the case, then why are the Northups and the Knights still friends? Why do the Northups sponsor the Knight hospitals?”
“Because after the surgery was a success, my father felt guilty,” Vivian answers. “He tried to make things up to River Knight with money.”
And I guess that’s how Rainier’s father became rich.
“Eventually, Rainier’s father forgave my father and they became friends again, but Rainier’s mother hated them both, and I think that’s why Rainier hates us, too.” Vivian lets out a breath. “He hates my father. He hates the whole Northup family.”
Again, I shake my head. “I don’t believe you. He didn’t seem to hate Samuel when they spoke.”
Vivian shrugs. “Maybe he was just trying to hide it from you, or maybe it’s because my father’s dying. I don’t know. But I do know this. Once, when I asked him if he was interested in Suzannah, he said he’d rather die than marry a Northup.”
I clutch the front of my shirt. I don’t know why, but my chest suddenly hurts again.
I still don’t believe what I’ve just heard, but I can’t just ignore it. I have to know how Rainier really feels about the Northups now that I am one. And there’s only one way to do that.
I have to ask him myself.
~
“Is it true that your parents got divorced because of Samuel?” I ask Rainier as soon as he comes back to the room.
The way his eyes narrow immediately tells me it is.
“Who told you? Vivian? Samuel?”
“Is it true?” I repeat.
He lets out a deep breath. “Yes, it’s true, but – ”
“And is it true that your father only saved Samuel’s life because he was threatened?” I ask next.
Rainier grins. “So you’ve discovered where the Northups got their bad habit, huh?”
“You mean the note?”
Now I know why he was insisting I was being threatened.
He puts his hand on his neck. “I told you Samuel wasn’t a good man.”
“Yes. You said all of the Northups were horrible people,” I tell him with a glare. “I remember.”
And now, I know why.
“Well, I was at least right about one. The one who wants you dead.”
“No,” I tell him. “None of them wants me dead.”
“But the note – ”
“Said ‘You should have stayed away from the fire’,” I remind him. “It didn’t tell me that I was going to die if I didn’t leave. It didn’t even tell me to leave.”
“You said there was a drawing of a butterfly with burned wings.”
I shrug. “Maybe I saw it wrong. Maybe it was just a butterfly. Maybe it wasn’t even.”
“So you don’t think it was a threat?” he asks.
“No.” I shake my head. “There’s no threat and there’s no murderer on the loose. Oh, and I’m sure Norman just fell down the stairs. Old people do all the time.”
Rainier’s gaze narrows. “So you’re saying I just made all the bad stuff up?”
“Yes,” I answer honestly.
He snorts. “I’m not the enemy here, Ellis. You know that.”
“Do I?” I ask him.
I thought I knew him, but after talking to Vivian, I realized I don’t really. He’s still a stranger to me.
