"No, she is not."
I square my shoulders. "Then do your job, Mr. Reid, and remove the unauthorized intruder from my home." The words come out harsher than I intended, but I can't soften them now. Can't show any weakness with her watching.
"Jade," my mother protests, her voice rising. "This is ridiculous! I'm your mother!"
"That's only biology," I mutter.
"I know I've made mistakes," she continues, ignoring my comment. "But please, just give me five minutes. I need to talk to you. It's important."
"The only thing you've ever needed from me is my money," I reply, crossing my arms over my chest. "And the answer is still no. I'm not increasing your allowance. Any other matter youcan speak to my lawyers."
Her eyes flash with genuine anger now. "That's not why I'm here."
"Then why?" I challenge. "What could possibly be so important?"
She glances meaningfully at the men in the room. "It's private. Family business."
"These men are my security team. They stay." I feel a perverse satisfaction in knowing this makes her uncomfortable. "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of them."
"Fine." She straightens her already-perfect posture. "I received a note. For you."
Something in her tone makes me pause. "What kind of note?"
She hesitates, seemingly genuinely disturbed. "A note saying 'Tell Little Doll I'm coming home.'"
The room tilts slightly. I hear a ringing in my ears. Little Doll. Again. Charles is dead. I know he's dead. But someone knows. Someone is using his words, his threats. And now they've found my mother.
"When did this arrive?" Ethan steps forward, all business.
My mother blinks, as if noticing him for the first time. "Two days ago."
She turns back to me, concern etched on her features. For once, it seems genuine. "Jade, what's going on? Are you in danger?"
The irony of her asking this question nearly makes me laugh. She, who left me in danger for years. Instead, I feel a familiar numbness spreading through my limbs, the emotional shutdown that's protected me since childhood.
"Mr. Cross, please get the details from her regarding the note," I say mechanically. "Mr. Reid, please escort her out once she's provided the necessary information."
"Jade, please," my mother appeals, stepping toward me. "I was worried. That's why I came. I know things between us are... complicated. But I do care what happens to you."
"Complicated?" I repeat, the word bitter on my tongue. "Is that what we're calling it now?"
"That's not fair," my mother says, her voice tight. "I didn't know..."
"You knew," I cut her off. "I told you, and you chose not to believe me. Or worse, you did believe me and decided it was an acceptable price to pay for the lifestyle you wanted."
From the corner of my eye, I see Mateo's stunned expression, Ethan's carefully controlled one. Declan's face betrays nothing, but his eyes are fixed on me with an intensity that would unnerve me under differentcircumstances.
Sophie stands frozen in the doorway, looking like she wants the floor to swallow her whole. I turn my anger on her next, unable to stop myself.
"And you," I snap. "How could you let a stranger into my home without authorization? After everything that's happened?"
Her face crumples. "I'm so sorry, Miss Sinclair. She said she was your mother, and I thought..."
"You didn't think," I interrupt. "That's the problem."
"Jade," Ethan says quietly. "Sophie couldn't have known."
His reasonable tone only fuels my anger. "Then she should have checked the visitor list. That's what it's for. That's what all of you are for. To keep unwanted people out of my home. It would be great if you all could do your job!"
