Emma felt her body swaying forward. She caught herself on the edge of a vase table, her pulse pounding in her ears louder than the conversation.
She didn't want to believe it—but it only got worse.
Morris cracked.
"Shit! If only you had controlled her more… We already killed her parents…"
Emma clapped a trembling hand over her mouth to keep the scream from escaping.
They… Her mind stuttered. They killed Jean's parents? Derek and Darla are not Jean's actual parents?!
Her father… the one man she believed in, trusted more than anyone…
"If only our father hadn't had a bastard child…" Morris muttered, sweating now. "If only that bastard sister hadn't given birth to an heir…"
The sound of something shattering inside her was deafening. Her knees buckled, but she forced herself to stand.
Derek's voice surged, shaking the room.
"We did what was necessary! We were drowning in debt! Jean was our chance to rise again… you agreed, Morris! Don't pretend your hands are clean!"
