‘Wow, that’s—’ Issy searched for the right word, ‘—intense.’
‘It was just the two of us, growing up. Just me and Mum. And now she’s got dementia. I’m losing her and I don’t even know her.’ She stopped abruptly, her demeanour lightening again. ‘I bet you can’t beat that.’
‘I’ll give it a shot,’ Issy said, galvanised by the frankness of the conversation. She had long-term friends who were never this honest about their lives. ‘My oldest brother, Spencer, who is an absolute arsehole just between you and me, is taking over my father’s company. If I want to keep working for the company, I’ll be reporting to him. When I confronted my mother about it, she basically told me I’m a flake and that she understands why my father doesn’t trust me. To make matters worse, I suspect my fiancé will be stepping up as the CEO of Ashworth Property, and now—’ The words were tumbling out. How freeing it felt to tell someone all this! ‘—I’m starting to wonder if he even loves me or if he’s just using me to embed himself in the family and the business.’ She realised she was crying and wiped her eyes carefully, trying not to smudge her mascara.
Meg reached for a box of tissues and passed her one.
‘Sorry, this must sound like a poor little rich girl sob story.’
‘It doesn’t, honestly.’ Meg put a hand on her knee. ‘It sounds awful.’
‘I just … I just don’t know who I can trust.’ Issy took a shuddery breath. ‘This is so embarrassing.’ She wiped her eyes again, hearing her mother’s voice in her head.No one likes a crybaby.She blew her nose and took a deep breath. ‘I can’t believe I’m crying. I never cry.’
Meg gave her a little smile. ‘Sometimes it’s just what you need.’
Issy sighed. ‘I need to go to the bathroom.’
Chapter 47
Meg watched Issy close the bathroom door, feeling a little dumbfounded by the situation. She’d had some initial concerns about having Issy here in her hotel room—there was a tracking tile in her handbag, after all, placed there by someone working for the Ashworths, if her suspicions were correct. But any concerns she had were outweighed by the possibility that she might get some information out of Issy, about the plans for the dairy and Barton Drive. Now she suspected Issy was completely in the dark. Meg probably knew more than she did. Itwasinteresting what Issy said about Hugh taking over Ashworth Property though—
Her thoughts were interrupted by the simultaneous flash of notifications on the two mobile phones sitting on the coffee table. She glanced at Issy’s phone first, sticky-beaking.
It was a notification from Heritage DNA:Click here to view your DNA profile.
She looked at her own phone:Heritage DNA: You have a new match.
Meg looked at the bathroom door, which was still closed. With shaking hands, she tapped to open the link. It took her to a screen with two overlapping circles. In the left were her initials: MH. In the other: BA. Beneath that it said:You and Bella Ash. Suggestedrelationship: Half-sibling. 23% shared DNA: 1865 Cm.
Heart racing, she took a screenshot.
Bella Ash. Bella Ash. Bella Ash.
Bella. Isobel.
Ash. Ashworth.
They were Issy’s results, under a fake name.
The toilet flushed and Issy returned, looking fresher. Seeing there was a notification, she reached for her phone.
Meg watched as the colour drained from her face.
Issy looked up, her eyes wide. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘It’s you, isn’t it?’ Meg whispered. ‘Bella Ash?’
‘Meg, please. Explain this to me.’ Her voice trembled. ‘What the hell is going on?’
‘My mum was your night nurse when you were a baby,’ Meg whispered. ‘Anna. That’s all I know. I only discovered this recently. Something must have happened while she was working for your parents.’ Meg swallowed. ‘Between her and your father.’
Issy shook her head. ‘This can’t be right.’
‘DNA doesn’t lie,’ Meg said gently.
Issy slumped forward, her head in her hands. After a few moments, she looked up and frowned. ‘Who are you? You’re not an academic, are you? That story you told me about your PhD, that’s not true, is it?’
‘I’m … it’s …’
