Page 23 of Discretion at Its Finest

“I know, Gen.”

“He’s not here to fix anything. He has his own agenda, his own plan to ruin everything. He’s going to tear it all down. This company, this family. He’s not trying to help.”

“I know—”

“So why don’t you put a stop to this?” I snapped, sharper than I meant to, as my eyes met his. “Why bring him here if you know he has no good intentions? Why… whyhimin the first place?”

Raymond went quiet. His jaw worked, tensing, his hands folding slow over his desk.

When he finally spoke, his voice was worn out and exhausted. “Because Gregory’s not built for this. You’ve seen it. He’s barely holding it together as is. His ego can’t take another failure, and his pride won’t let him step down.” He rubbed his temples. The lines around his eyes looked deeper now.

“I thought I had more time. To ease the board, find another solution. But then Jamie—” He paused, shaking his head. “Jamie’s started going to the hospital more.”

“But that doesn’t—”

“They found another mass last week.”

My breath hitched. Another mass? She was still getting sicker? I was just with her… Eugene and I had just gone to visit her, and she seemed fine. She didn’t tell me things were worse.

“She didn’t want you to worry,” he said, practically reading my mind, and I shook my head, the worry already building in my gut.

“How bad is it?” I muttered.

“The doctors don’t know yet.”

I could feel that meant it was probably worse than we’d hope for.

“Gen, I had no other choice. Reid… he came with answers. A strategy. Structure the board and the investors could believe in.”

He had no choice… And of course Reid walked in and filled every role Gregory couldn’t. But I didn’t have the strength to argue anymore. Not with Raymond, my new reality or even with myself.

So I only nodded, saying nothing more. Because what more could even be said at this point?

Gathering Eugene’s tired body into my arms, I exited Raymond’s office, ready to disappear. Before I made it to the elevator, the doors adjacent to it slid open with a soft ding.

I didn’t think much of it… until I sawhim.

Gregory stepped out, his shirt slightly untucked, his tie loosened, but the grin on his face… it was full, bright and effortless—the kind of smile I’d stopped seeing over the last year or two. The laugh that followed, carrying through the halls, however, wasn’t his.

It belonged to a woman.

She stepped out behind him, heels clicking, hair glossy and pinned back in a way that felt deliberate. She seemed like the kind of woman who knew how she wanted to be seen, unlike how I felt in this moment.

Her hand lingered too long on his arm. Her voice was too soft, almost rehearsed.

And he let her.

My feet stalled just for a second. Heneverlooked like that with me. Not when I waited up late for him or when I lied for him. Not even when I defended him to his father, to his brother, to the world, to myself.

I’d spent years playing the role. I carried the weight of his failures as if they were mine. Easing them. Defending them. Forgiving them. I’d watched him spiral. Sat at his side through sleepless nights and mounting disappointments. Still… he never smiled like that for me.

And now I stood there holdingour sonwhile he gave that version of himself… lighter, freer, to someone who hadn’t deserved it. Who didn’t evenearnit. Not like I had.

Her eyes flicked to mine, and for the briefest moment, her expression faltered. Not surprise or guilt. It looked more like recognition. She saw me… it was almost like she even knew me. I mean, granted, I was the daughter-in-law of the founder of the company and the fiancée to the man standing beside her, but I hadn’t recognized her.

Her gaze didn’t linger as she looked back at Gregory, another giggle surfacing from her lips. Then the two of them turned, heading toward the conference room down the hall.

He still hadn’t seen me. Not even a glance. For some reason though, I didn’t feel heartbroken. Not exactly. I felt… off-balance. Like the wires weren’t connecting right and something wasn’t computing in my mind.