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I swallow, because I’m pretty sure that’s not what Alex meant. Her unexpected kindness stings.

She turns back to the others. “We’ll sort this out,” she says smoothly. “We always do.”

For a moment nobody says anything. Though I swear I can hear the line she’s drawing in the sand. A line between family and friends.

“Maybe you could do the kindness of leaving us to it,” she says to me. “It’ll make it easier on everybody.”

Theo clears his throat, but he still looks like he’s ready to hurl. “Georgia?” he murmurs. “Would that be okay?” He glances at his friend. “Caleb, can you look after her?”

Caleb nods. “Come on,” he murmurs to me. “Shall we give them some space? Let’s see if Barbara can make us a cup of tea.” He pats my arm. I’m not sure if it’s for reassurance or to remind me he’s here.

My chest tightens because I want to stay. I want Theo to want me to stay.

Instead he gives Caleb the briefest of nods then takes his phone back, already pulling up his contacts like he’s ending a meeting.

And because I have no idea what else to do, I follow Caleb out of the room.

As the door closes behind us, the last thing I see is Kate watching us leave, a smile that looks suspiciously like victory playing at her lips.

THEO

My head is pounding. I listen as their footsteps disappear down the hallway. But I’m thankful that at least Georgia won’t hear the rest of this.

What she’s heard is already bad enough. I’m surprised she hasn’t run away screaming from this cesspit.

“Who’s the mother?” my mother is hissing at my father. “That bitch who used to work in reception? I told you she was trouble, you stupid bastard.”

I blink. “Do not tell me you’ve been having relationships with the staff.”

My father’s face is purple. “Of course I haven’t.” He pauses. “Not for a long time. Don’t make me out to be some kind of damn pervert.”

“A lot of relationships start in the workplace,” Alex says mildly, like we’re not in the middle of a damn crisis of epic proportions.

“He has another child, Alex,” our mother says to him. “What if they’re older than you? What if they have a claim on the baronetcy? Have you thought of that?”

Alex clearly hasn’t, because his mouth drops open. No words come out.

I pinch my nose, trying to think this through.

“How old is this child?” I ask. Christ, do I have a brother or a sister? My mother looks beaten, despite her attempt to rally her own fury. She’s a powerhouse, but I can tell from her stance that this article has floored her.

I know the feeling.

“She’s ten,” my father mumbles, looking down at his shoes.

“What’s her name?” I ask.

“What the fuck do we care?” Alex asks me. “She’s illegitimate. Not a Hunt.”

“I care because I have a sister I never knew about,” I tell him, my voice low. “And since she’s a child, only ten years old, maybe somebody should be caring about her.” My jaw is tight as I pin my father with my glare. “And you’ve been paying for her with company money?” Of course he has. If he didn’t want our mother to know about the child it was his best way of hiding things.

His shifts his feet. “It’s a family company. She has every right to it.”

“How have you been making the payments without my sign off?” I ask him.

This time he deliberately looks away. Fuck, he’s shifty as hell.

“How?” I demand.