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“I’m sure she does.”

For a moment, I think I see the ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, but it’s gone so quickly I can’t be certain. He still doesn’t look at me.

“What can I do for you, Genevieve?” he asks finally.

I take a deep breath. “I want to know about Victoria Warren.”

Thomas doesn’t even blink. “You’d need to ask Oliver about that.”

“I don’t believe Oliver will answer me honestly,” I reply.

“And why would you think that?” Thomas asks, finally glancing up briefly before returning to his papers.

“Because he hasn’t been in two years,” I reply, my frustration building. “Why would he start now?”

Thomas grunts, a noncommittal sound. “Be that as it may, I can’t—”

Something inside me snaps. I’m on my feet before I realize what I’m doing, my voice rising to a shout that echoes off the wood-paneled walls.

“Is there one Sinclair male who won’t just dismiss me like I’m nothing?” I demand, my hands balled into fists at my sides. “Will one of you actually look me in the eye and give me a straight answer?”

Thomas looks up in surprise, clearly not having expected my outburst. Frederick appears in the doorway, his expression worried.

“We’re fine,” Thomas says calmly, waving him away.

The door closes, and we’re left alone again. Thomas studies me with an intensity that makes me want to squirm, but I hold my ground, chin raised, refusing to back down.

“What would you like to know?” he asks, setting his papers aside and giving me his full attention for the first time since I arrived.

I sink back into my chair, suddenly aware of my pounding heart. “Is it true that Oliver and Victoria were in love their whole lives, and that you threatened her until she went away?”

Thomas raises an eyebrow. “Is that what Oliver told you?”

“No,” I shake my head. “Victoria.”

“Ah,” Thomas sighs deeply. “That is certainly what Victoria would like people to believe.”

He leans back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin. “It’s true that Oliver has been chasing Victoria for most of his adult life. They went to the same schools and moved in the same social circles. Victoria, on the other hand…” He pauses, searching for words. “Victoria seemed to enjoy keeping Oliver on a string. She showed no signs of wanting to settle down with him or any other man.”

Thomas’s face hardens slightly. “Until her father made some poor business decisions that cost him everything. Faced with the downgrading of her own lifestyle, Victoria was suddenly very interested in marrying my son.”

My stomach twists at the confirmation that there was indeed something serious between them. “So what happened?”

“Before the engagement was announced, I had a… chat with Victoria.” Thomas stops, a shadow passing over his face.

I wait for him to continue, but he remains silent. “And?” I finally prod.

Thomas looks almost ashamed now, avoiding my eyes. “I knew that Victoria didn’t truly love my son. I told her as much, and I told her that if she married Oliver, I would disinherit him, and he would be left with nothing.”

My breath catches. Victoria hadn’t been lying about that part.

“Then,” Thomas continues, his voice quieter now, “I offered Victoria money to go away.”

“And she took it?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

Thomas nods. “She took it and left town. Ghosted Oliver, as you young people would say.”

He falls silent again, his expression troubled. I struggle to process what he’s telling me.