Page 93 of Owned By a Billionaire

Drake, who was sitting on the sofa, said, “You should talk to that counsellor I told you about.” He looked at me. “I’ve been trying to talk her into seeing one.”

Manon frowned. “No. I hate them. They’ll ask about my past, and I’m over talking about that. Grandmother’s better. And so are you.” She gave him a loving smile.

“They took my fingerprints too,” I said soberly.

“Really? But you were with Declan at the time,” Manon said.

I shrugged. “It’s a standard procedure, darling. It helps them isolate DNA.”

“But my DNA might be there. The knife came from the kitchen. Anyone could have touched it.”

I nodded. This case was far from over, despite my relief at learning I hadn’t been responsible for Alice’s death. Not directly, at least. But with the police circling and growing questions over Mark, I was back to not sleeping.

“Natalia didn’t even shed a tear,” Manon continued. “She’s making noises about being the rightful owner of Salon Soir, though.”

Yes, I had Rey’s young, fiery widow to deal with. I recalled with great distaste the tacky naked dress that showed off her collagen-rounded bum she’d worn to Elysium that night.

However, while Rey had enjoyed protection for his many illegal activities, Natalia wouldn’t, I imagined. Once the air had cleared, removing that unsightly casino—and its trashy, uncultivated patrons that spilled into Elysium—sat at the top of my list.

I turned to Drake. “What did you find out about Natalia’s brothers?”

“They’re all legal. The authorities are aware of drug-smuggling, but it’s down to catching them red-handed. I believe it’s only a matter of time.”

“Good. I want that place gone.”

“I can’t believe they’ve allowed it to operate for so long,” Drake said.

“What has?” Declan had arrived, followed by Ethan and Savanah.

I rose. “Why don’t we go into the family room and have some afternoon tea?”

As I left the room, Declan took me aside. “Did you arrange it or did Mark?”

I studied him closely. “You know him as Mark?”

“He told us the whole story.”

“By ‘us,’ you mean Ethan, Savanah, and Manon?”

“All of us.” His brow raised.

“I hope you won’t hold it against him.”

“If you’re happy to accept him despite the lies, then who are we to judge?”

I noted a hint of condemnation in his tone. “That’s not what it sounds like.”

He exhaled. “Mother, it’s been a roller coaster with you. First, Will is implicated in our father’s murder, and then Cary turns into Mark, a man who faked his identity. What do you think?”

“I know.” I sighed. “Life has never been a straight road for me. Obstacles sometimes turn into advantages and vice versa.”

“Are you talking about that mysterious debt you owed Crisp?”

“Come. Let’s have some tea.” A tight smile quivered on my lips.

Does my family need to know everything?

Just as that question percolated in my thoughts, a tornado in the shape of Natalia tore through the hall. Waving a letter, she pushed through Janet and nearly bowled the poor woman over.

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