I came home unannounced, finding my daughter alone in the ICU fighting for her life.

Grant arrived at the hospital at 8:22 the next morning.

I knew because the nurse at the station called Lily's room to let me know.

I had asked her to do that.

I wanted the thirty seconds.

I was standing when he walked in.

He looked like a man who had practiced his expression in a mirror.

Concerned.

Remorseful.

Just the right amount of disheveled to signal that he hadn't slept.

He was carrying a stuffed bear — the kind sold in hospital gift shops — and he stopped in the doorway when he saw that Lily was awake and that I was on my feet.

"Lily." His voice broke on her name.

Perfectly.

Lily looked at him.

She didn't reach for the bear.

"Daddy."

"Baby, I am so sorry.

I came as fast as I could.

My phone — there was no signal on the water, and by the time I — "

"There was signal," I said.

"You had enough signal to post to social media at 6:47 p.m."

He looked at me.

The practiced expression flickered.

"Evelyn — "

"Lily," I said, turning to her, "are you okay if I talk to Daddy in the hall for a few minutes?"

She looked between us.

"Okay," she said quietly.

I walked past Grant without touching him.

He followed me into the corridor.

I pulled the door almost closed behind us and turned to face him.

"Before you say anything," he said, "I need to explain — "

"I know about Whitfield."

His mouth stayed open.

Nothing came out.

"I know about the account.

The three hundred and forty thousand.

The shell companies in Fort Lauderdale.

I know about Dana.

I know what you told her father about me." I kept my voice level.

"I know you told Warren Whitfield you could get him access to Mercer Capital accounts."

Grant's face changed.

The remorse drained out of it.

What was left underneath was something harder and colder, and I recognized it — it was the face he wore when he felt cornered and was deciding how to get out.

"You don't understand the full picture," he said.

"Then explain it."

"Whitfield was going to expose the Fort Lauderdale deal.

There were — decisions made that weren't entirely clean.

If he had gone to the SEC, it wouldn't just have been me.

It would have touched Mercer Capital.

It would have touched you."

"So you decided to protect me by promising him access to my company's accounts."

"I was buying time."

"For fourteen months."

"Evelyn — "

"While our daughter was at home with the housekeeper."

He stepped closer and lowered his voice.

"I need you to slow down.

Whatever you think you have, whatever Dana told you — she is not reliable.

Her father sent her to manage me, yes, but she has her own agenda.

You don't know what she's capable of."

"She gave me documentation."

"Documentation she manufactured.

Evelyn, listen to me." He put his hand on my arm.

"I can fix this.

I just need you to unfreeze the accounts.

Give me access to the discretionary fund and I can pay Whitfield off cleanly and this entire thing disappears."

I looked at his hand on my arm.

He let go.

"The accounts stay frozen," I said.

"And if you contact Whitfield before I speak with Thomas, I will know about it within the hour."

Something shifted in his eyes.

"You're making a mistake."

"Maybe." I reached for the door handle.

"But it'll be my mistake.

Made with my money.

About my company." I pushed the door open.

"Go say hello to your daughter."

He didn't move for a moment.

Then he walked past me into the room, and I heard him say Lily's name again, softer this time, and I heard Lily say something back that I couldn't make out.

I stood in the corridor and breathed.

My phone buzzed.

Thomas Reade.

*I've reviewed what Claire sent.

We need to talk today.

This is serious, Evelyn.

Grant's exposure is significant — but there's a clause in the 2018 agreement you're going to want to use.*