“Jasper says Adrian can have Daniel moved whenever he wants.
Every time I refuse to sign something, Jasper takes out his phone and says, ‘Should I send him?’”
There it was.
The phrase that had reduced Penelope to begging behind a locked door.
“Then we go to the police.”
“No.”
Her answer was immediate.
“Why?”
“Because I have documents proving payments, but nothing proving the threat.
Jasper never writes it.
Never records it.
He says it only when we are alone.”
I thought about that.
Then I thought about Jasper’s arrogance.
Men like him often believed silence was the same as intelligence.
“What if you weren’t alone?”
Penelope studied me.
The next morning, Jasper came downstairs in a silk robe and announced that Penelope would be signing another set of papers after lunch.
“What papers?” Caleb asked.
Jasper smiled at him.
“Family business.”
Caleb looked offended.
“I am family.”
Jasper shrugged.
“Not this part.”
I watched Caleb’s face.
For the first time, Jasper’s contempt had landed directly on him.
Good.
He needed to feel it.
Penelope entered a minute later wearing a fitted navy dress, her hair pinned neatly again.
The old armor had returned.
But now I knew what was beneath it.
At lunch, Jasper placed a folder beside her plate.
“Sign before dessert.”
Silas stared at him.
Caleb stopped chewing.
Penelope opened the folder.
“I want my lawyer to review it.”
Jasper’s smile disappeared.
“We discussed this.”
“I changed my mind.”
The room became still.
Jasper reached into his pocket and set his phone on the table.
Penelope went white.
I kept my hands below the table.
My own phone was already recording audio inside the pocket of my cardigan.
Jasper leaned toward his wife.
“Do you want me to send him?”
Caleb frowned.
“Send who?”
Jasper looked at him, realizing too late what he had said.
Penelope did not answer.
So Jasper tried to recover.
“A driver.
Private joke.”
“No,” I said.
