Daniel Vale looked at me.
“You resemble your father more than he would have liked.”
I stepped aside. “Come in.”
He entered and removed his coat.
Evelyn remained near the fireplace. Julian stood beside her—not blocking her, simply present.
Daniel noticed the children first and lowered his voice. “They’re safe?”
“Yes,” Evelyn said.
“Good.”
I handed him the letter. “You wrote this?”
“I did.”
“You’re alive.”
“I never told Victoria I was dying.”
“Why did she say you were?”
“Because I left after refusing to give her the ledger.”
“Where is it?”
Daniel looked toward the children, then back to me. “In Chicago.”
My pulse quickened.
“Where?”
“Your father’s old lake house.”
I stared at him. “That property was sold.”
“On paper.”
Marcus stepped forward. “Who owns it now?”
“An educational trust. The money was routed through three accounts and eventually returned to a foundation in your mother’s name. The house was never transferred.”
