Page 19 of Bryson's Treasure

Chapter 8

“Why didn’tyou sign the papers?” Lynn asked Gabriel. Hank, Collin, and Bryson sat with Lynn and Gabriel at the kitchen table. Matilda had taken Azadeh into another room. She didn’t need to hear the conversation.

“Come on, Lynn. It’s been three years. That’s the only question you have?”

“Yes, I want to know why you didn’t sign. Making some public video offering a reward to find me is ridiculous,” Lynn ground out.

“Can we have this conversation in private?” Gabriel asked.

“No.” Bryson didn’t wait for Lynn to answer.

She smiled over at him before turning back to Gabriel. “Bryson is right. Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of these men. I have my reasons for not wanting to be alone with you. Now explain why you didn’t sign the papers.”

“We were friends for years before we got married. Why would you think I’d just sign the divorce papers? You’re my wife.”

Lynn tapped her fingernail on the wood table. “Well, you cheated on me. So you were already one leg out of the marriage.”

“She was a mistake. We went out for dinner and had too much to drink and ended up together.” Gabriel ran his hand through his hair.

Bryson wanted to reach across the table and strangle the man. He had on a polo and jeans. His hair was short. The man wasn’t bad looking, but it didn’t matter, he had treated Lynn like shit, and Bryson wanted the man gone.

“Stop making excuses,” Lynn said. “When I got home, I looked through your computer. That wasn’t the first time, and you asked her to dinner. Now tell me the real reason we aren’t divorced.”

“You went through my things?” Gabriel raised his voice.

“Yes,” Lynn replied with no remorse. “Now explain the stupid reward for finding me and why you haven’t signed the papers. My patience is wearing thin.”

Gabriel eyed Lynn for a second before answering. “I needed to be married for five years to get my inheritance.”

“You could’ve divorced me and started over.”

“My mom loved you, and she wouldn’t let me sign the papers. Hell, she was the one who made me do the broadcast.”

Hank shook his head. “You knew where she was the whole time.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement and the same one Bryson had on the tip of his tongue.

Gabriel shrugged. “Yes, last week was our five-year anniversary, and I can sign the papers now.”

“There’s something you aren’t telling me.” Lynn narrowed her eyes. “Why are you really here?”

“You really don’t know?” Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose. “I can’t believe you signed the prenup without reading.”

Lynn’s cheeks turned pink from embarrassment. “I never expected to get divorced. Since I don’t know what I missed, why don’t you clue me in?”

“At five years, I get my inheritance and you get a ten-percent stake in my family company.” Gabriel sighed. “You also get a seat on the board since I’m the oldest. My younger brothers aren’t happy because you took their voting share at our five-year anniversary.”

Bryson let out a low whistle. “That’s a good enough reason to try to kill you.”

“What are you talking about?” Gabriel asked. “I’m the only one who knew she was here. Over the past few years, I had a man checking to make sure she was okay. A month ago, when everything went down, I planned to come talk to you, but my dad had a heart attack, and I’ve taken over as CEO of the company.”

“I don’t want to be part of your company. I didn’t marry you for the money,” Lynn pointed out. “Let me just sign everything back to the family, and we can go our separate ways.”

“It’s not that easy,” Gabriel insisted. “I need your help.”

“Why would you expect me to help you?” Lynn leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.

“We were friends for a long time, and I still consider you a close friend.”

Lynn scrunched her brows. “You have a strange concept of close friends. We haven’t talked in years.”

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