Page 77 of Snow

“Dad owes Merrick money.

Sophia hesitated long enough that Nova’s irritation sharpened. “Soph.”

“Dad owes Merrick money.”

Nova went completely still. For several seconds, the only thing she could hear was the wind whipping across the deck and the distant mechanical hum of the platform beneath her feet.

“What?”

“From what Rob could gather, Merrick helped Dad out financially a few years ago. I don’t know if it was a personal loan, money for the firm, or something else, but Dad hasn’t paid all of it back.”

Nova stared out across the water, trying to process what her sister was telling her. “And our marriage was part of the repayment?”

“I don’t know if it was that black-and-white,” Sophia said quickly. “But from what Rob overheard, Merrick definitely considers your marriage to Rick part of whatever arrangement they made. Dad kept saying that once you and Rick were married, none of it would matter anymore and everything would stay within the families.”

A cold sensation slid through Nova that had nothing to do with the evening breeze. Nova felt as if she were another asset listed on some balance sheet between two powerful men deciding how best to protect their interests.

“Unbelievable,” she whispered.

“I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do.” Nova pushed away from the railing and began pacing again, fury making it impossible to stand still. “He owes Merrick money, so somewhere along the way they apparently decided marrying me to Rick would make everything nice and tidy? What was Dad planning to do, hand me over with a fucking bow and call the debt settled?”

“Nova—”

“I’m serious, Sophia.” Nova dragged a hand through her hair and forced herself to breathe before she said something she would regret. “Is there anything else?”

Sophia went quiet again, and Nova stopped pacing.

“Oh, for God’s sake. What else?”

“We weren’t sure if you knew about this or not.”

Nova closed her eyes. “At this point, assume I know absolutely nothing about my own life.”

“Dad already transferred the ownership of the firm into your name.”

Nova’s eyes snapped open. “What did you just say?”

“The firm. Legally, it’s yours.”

For the first time since answering Sophia’s call, Nova’s brain just stopped working.

“That’s impossible. The firm is Dad’s pride and joy.”

“Not anymore.”

“When? And why would he do that?”

“Last week. Once you marry Rick, fifty percent of the ownership will go to Rick, covering the debt that Dad owes Merrick.”

Nova’s legal mind immediately began dissecting the information despite the anger still coursing through her. But beneath the anger came something else.

If the controlling ownership of Hart & Associates was actually in her name, then her father had made one hell of a miscalculation.

Nova’s gaze slowly shifted toward the horizon as an idea came to mind.

Her father had spent years arranging her life like pieces on a chessboard, confident that no matter what move she made, he would remain the one controlling the game. Except he might have handed her his queen without realizing she had finally learned she didn’t have to play by his rules.