will make sure that everything gets
straightened out. But I don’t want to keep you in suspense too long. Let me
explain your mother’s final wishes.”
Cadence nodded.
“Your mother had a penchant for lost causes and to be frank,
Victoria Hahn was one of them.” At this, he paused and waited for Cadence’s
response.
Why was he telling her what she already knew? She squirmed.
Any talk about Victoria was torture.
“I know my mother did a great number of charitable works.
She put Victoria through school and was the reason the woman became so
successful and eventually came to work for my father. Why are you giving me a
recap?”
If only Mother had known then the kind of woman Victoria
would turn out to be. Cadence crossed her arms.
“I didn’t mean to offend you but in my file it says that I
have to make sure you completely understand the history. Please accept my
apologies.” His expression showed he was sincere and not just saying
meaningless words.
She appreciated he understood the agony her stepmom had
caused.
“Before your mother died, she had suspicions about your
father and Victoria.”
Cadence met his gaze. She didn’t want to hear what Preston
had to say. “What kind of suspicions?”
“She had reason to believe Victoria and your father were
romantically involved.”
Cadence shook her head. “Father loved my mother.”
“Your mother wanted you to know. Things she kept from you
because you were too young to understand.”
“Please continue.” She straightened. There was no reason to
candy coat anything for her. What she’d been through in the last decade had strengthened
her hard as steel.
Preston set the papers she’d given him on the table. He
looked so serious, she braced herself for the bad news.
“Your father and Victoria had an affair while your parents
were married,” Preston said gently.
She pressed her hands to her temples. “People make this
stuff up. Enemies, you know. My father was a powerful man. I’ve heard plenty of
sleazy rumors growing up. All of them false. Do you know I’ve been engaged
fourteen times according to the papers? Married at least five?”
“I don’t think this is a rumor,” he said. “Your mother
didn’t either.”
“How do you know what my mother believed?”
“She confided in my mother.”
Cadence turned and looked out the window. “No lie?”
“No lie,” Preston replied solemnly.
“I’d no idea. My parents seemed like such a loving couple. I
guess the only thing they had in common was me.”
“Appears that way.” There was a softness in his gaze.
“This whole deal stinks,” she said, looking away. She didn’t
want to be comforted.
“That’s why your mother went to her broker’s office in the
WTC that morning in September. She wanted an account set up for you with my
mother as the trustee until you came of age.”
Cadence turned and faced him.
“Your mother suspected Victoria wouldn’t do right by you if
Mayor Burke died.”
“She was right.” Cadence knew full well Victoria had
influenced her father.
“What I can’t believe is Father and Victoria had an affair
while he was in office. He was always so careful about his public image.”
Victoria had seduced her father. He had been easy prey, a
man with a gigantic ego. The self-serving bitch. That the woman could be so
conniving, so manipulating, sent Cadence’s blood pressure soaring.
Cadence sighed. She couldn’t help it. Victoria had screwed
everyone in her family.
“Your mother took steps to make sure you were protected from
the pair in case she died. She created a trust.”
“Mother never told me about another trust.”
“She never got the chance,” Preston said.
Cadence began to understand. Mother had fought back in the
only way she’d known how. She’d squirreled some money into an account no one
but Night and Night knew about.
“Why didn’t your firm let me know before now?” she asked,
petulant.
“It was your mother’s idea. She
straightened out. But I don’t want to keep you in suspense too long. Let me
explain your mother’s final wishes.”
Cadence nodded.
“Your mother had a penchant for lost causes and to be frank,
Victoria Hahn was one of them.” At this, he paused and waited for Cadence’s
response.
Why was he telling her what she already knew? She squirmed.
Any talk about Victoria was torture.
“I know my mother did a great number of charitable works.
She put Victoria through school and was the reason the woman became so
successful and eventually came to work for my father. Why are you giving me a
recap?”
If only Mother had known then the kind of woman Victoria
would turn out to be. Cadence crossed her arms.
“I didn’t mean to offend you but in my file it says that I
have to make sure you completely understand the history. Please accept my
apologies.” His expression showed he was sincere and not just saying
meaningless words.
She appreciated he understood the agony her stepmom had
caused.
“Before your mother died, she had suspicions about your
father and Victoria.”
Cadence met his gaze. She didn’t want to hear what Preston
had to say. “What kind of suspicions?”
“She had reason to believe Victoria and your father were
romantically involved.”
Cadence shook her head. “Father loved my mother.”
“Your mother wanted you to know. Things she kept from you
because you were too young to understand.”
“Please continue.” She straightened. There was no reason to
candy coat anything for her. What she’d been through in the last decade had strengthened
her hard as steel.
Preston set the papers she’d given him on the table. He
looked so serious, she braced herself for the bad news.
“Your father and Victoria had an affair while your parents
were married,” Preston said gently.
She pressed her hands to her temples. “People make this
stuff up. Enemies, you know. My father was a powerful man. I’ve heard plenty of
sleazy rumors growing up. All of them false. Do you know I’ve been engaged
fourteen times according to the papers? Married at least five?”
“I don’t think this is a rumor,” he said. “Your mother
didn’t either.”
“How do you know what my mother believed?”
“She confided in my mother.”
Cadence turned and looked out the window. “No lie?”
“No lie,” Preston replied solemnly.
“I’d no idea. My parents seemed like such a loving couple. I
guess the only thing they had in common was me.”
“Appears that way.” There was a softness in his gaze.
“This whole deal stinks,” she said, looking away. She didn’t
want to be comforted.
“That’s why your mother went to her broker’s office in the
WTC that morning in September. She wanted an account set up for you with my
mother as the trustee until you came of age.”
Cadence turned and faced him.
“Your mother suspected Victoria wouldn’t do right by you if
Mayor Burke died.”
“She was right.” Cadence knew full well Victoria had
influenced her father.
“What I can’t believe is Father and Victoria had an affair
while he was in office. He was always so careful about his public image.”
Victoria had seduced her father. He had been easy prey, a
man with a gigantic ego. The self-serving bitch. That the woman could be so
conniving, so manipulating, sent Cadence’s blood pressure soaring.
Cadence sighed. She couldn’t help it. Victoria had screwed
everyone in her family.
“Your mother took steps to make sure you were protected from
the pair in case she died. She created a trust.”
“Mother never told me about another trust.”
“She never got the chance,” Preston said.
Cadence began to understand. Mother had fought back in the
only way she’d known how. She’d squirreled some money into an account no one
but Night and Night knew about.
“Why didn’t your firm let me know before now?” she asked,
petulant.
“It was your mother’s idea. She