Page 112 of The Sounds of Her

His tone grates on my nerves. With great effort, I hold my tongue and stare at him.

“I see now why you’re so formidable in court, Brooke. It takes a lot of restraint and poise not to rise to anger.”

My only response is a brow lift.

“Penny Finley is your half-sister.”

I’m not so successful at hiding my reaction to that. My half-sister? So Dad did have an affair, just not with Penny, which is a relief given her age. Still… He has another daughter.

“The affair was before you were born. Penny the result of it. Eloise is aware of who she is, and made sure Gerard had no contact with the girl growing up.”

As hard as it is to hear I have a half-sister I knew nothing about, I feel bad for her. It isn’t her fault my father is a weak-willed asshole and my mother controls everything he does. In some ways, she’s lucky she had nothing to do with the man.

“There was some contact, around fifteen years back. Penny was in trouble with college. I don’t know the specifics. She was being kicked out and Gerard stepped in.”

That must have been when I overheard my parents arguing about her.

“From what I know, Penny hasn’t had the best life. Drug use, trouble with the law. Your father’s help to get her through college gave her a degree and a better chance. I don’t know much more than that. I’ve never cared to ask.”

At least he’s honest. And why would he care?

“Did she know who he was when he helped her?”

He nods. “They’ve met several times. Penny is well aware of your father’s assets.”

“So she used him and his money with her business.”

“It appears so.”

“And the business failed.”

“You’ve done your homework.”

“Of course.”

“I would expect no less,” he chuckles. “However, you would not know without speaking to your family, which you have not done, so I’ll share this one thing with you. Gerard used money he assumed Eloise wouldn’t notice or miss. What he didn’t know is that is the only money your parents have left.”

“They were already in trouble financially?”

“That is something you are best placed talking with them about.”

I intend to. The Campbell’s are really knocking the wind out of my sails today. I’m disappointed they’re not fighting back. I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Dad used all of their money to invest in Penny’s business and lost it all.” I say it more to myself than Jason, but he nods anyway. “That answers some questions.”

I’ll unpack my feelings on Penny later.

“Roman told me about losing his inheritance if he didn’t marry me.”

Jason’s jaw clenches. So far, he has had his emotions under control. Not so much when it comes to his son.

“I don’t understand why you would make that deal with my parents,” I tilt my head.

“It benefitted my needs. The why's and how’s aren’t important. Eloise assured me it wouldn’t be a problem, but given your comments, together with your other relationship, she is wrong.”

“Very wrong.”

He sits forward, resting his elbows on the desk and staring straight at me. “You don’t want to help your parents?”

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