“D.T., a.k.a. Denise Thomson, is an eighty-eight-year-old woman with dementia who lives in a senior home. While her husband was still alive, and they were living together, he broke one of the two wine glasses Cherry auctioned off at a charity event. They loved those glasses, so he promised Denise he would replace them, but he died before he could reach out to you.” The room goes silent as he continues. “Ethan spoke to her son, who is a hacker, and that’s how he was able to get information on you. He was extremely apologetic and had no idea about his mother’s extremely demanding letters. He said he only found out about her mood swings recently.”
“Oh.” My heart breaks for her. “I know the wine glasses. Can you tell the son that I will make the replacement for her?”
Nate smiles. “I already did. Ethan also threatened his life if he hacked into anyone else’s information.”
“So if it wasn’t this woman Denise, who was it?” Addie asks.
And there goes my appetite, because I already know I’m not going to like the answer by Nate’s expression.
Rosa stands and walks over to me, placing her hands on my shoulders in support.
Nate leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. “They finally forced out all the information from the guy. He lasted longer under torture than I thought he would, I’ll give him that?—”
“Nathaniel,” Rosa snaps.
He shrinks at her tone. “Sorry. Anyway, he finally admitted he was hired by none other than Corey Wadsworth.”
“What?” I ask in shock. “No. He wouldn’t. Why?”
My ex.
What the hell?
“What we know is that he wasn’t hired to hurt you. He was hired to stalk you. So that feeling of someone watching you. That was him. You were meant to feel uneasy, uncomfortable, and maybe even unstable at times. But his main job was to drug me.”
“What the fuck?” Harrison stands in a rush, causing the pup to jump out of my arms. “I’m calling Matteo.”
Juliette pulls at his arm. “You’re not being a hero today, tough guy. Sit down.”
He sits, then stands again and begins to pace.
“Continue,” Mase says, his voice low, and I can hear the anger boiling deep within him.
“This guy set it all up. He knocked on our door, pretending to be drunk, so he could tell Owen how sorry he was. He asked Owen to call me down to apologize, but he never banked on Leo being there with me, or at least staying by my side. He was going to drug me and incriminate me by leaving pictures of me with other women for Maddie to find.” Nate finally looks at me, his expression unreadable. “Corey wanted you to suffer, like you made him suffer.”
“I wouldn’t have ever believed those pictures,” I say softly.
“I know, Mads. But Corey doesn’t know that. He was hoping you’d hate me, or better yet, leave me. So both of us could live a life of misery.”
I bow my head, ashamed. “I’m sorry.” I swallow back my emotions, too embarrassed to cry in front of everyone. “I’m so sorry.”
Rosa rubs my back.
Juliette slips her hand into mine under the table, and Addie is there, pushing Mason out of his chair.
Of course, she’s the one who doesn’t let me wallow.
“Fuck him.” She grimaces. “Sorry, Rosa. But seriously. This is exactly what he wanted. He can’t break you. He can’t break either of you.” She looks over to Nate, who nods in agreement.
I look at him through my lashes, and I can tell he’s dying to get me in his arms.
He crooks his finger, and that’s all I need.
He’s not mad.
I walk around the table and settle in his lap, not caring who’s looking, then glance around the table. I open my mouth, but it’s Seb who cuts me off.
“Don’t you dare, Madeline.” He gives me a stern look. “This is not on you.”
