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Facts.

“Ask him when he first learned you were looking into Garrison Knight.”

Layla says nothing.

“Ask him when he ordered the background investigation.”

Nothing.

“Ask him whether getting close to you was part of the plan.”

And that's the one.

The question I should have answered myself.

Days ago.

Before Layla trusted me.

Before she let me into her bed.

Before she let me into her heart.

Before I started imagining that thirty days might become something without an expiration date.

Myrna opens the door.

Then delivers the final blow.

“You're supposed to be such a brilliant investigative journalist. I can't believe you were gullible enough to fall for it.”

Layla is standing there with Myrna smirking at her, surrounded by every piece of access I've given her.

Every document.

Every record.

Every apparent act of trust.

Except now they don't look like trust anymore.

They look like evidence.

And while I'm three rooms away protecting another corner of my empire, completely unaware of what's happening—the one thing I've been terrified of losing is finally learning the truth from someone who wants to make sure it hurts.

Chapter 25

Layla

I stare at Myrna.

For one strange second, I don't understand what she's telling me.

Not because the words are complicated. Because I don't want them to make sense.

“You're saying Mitchell knew I was researching his grandfather before he offered me the thirty-day agreement.”

Truth is, Garrison Knight wasn’t even on my radar until right now.