His eyes are sunken in, his hair is a mess, and his suit looks to be three-days-worn. I've never seen him look so... lost. He always looks so in control.
"Yeah. Of course," I mutter softly, patting his arm as I walk around him.
I head down the hall, and I hear the familiar voices guiding me to the room as Wren, Melanie, and several others gather around a fragile old man who looked so sprightly not too long ago.
As I grow closer, I see Kade in the corner with his head in his hands, and I start to ache. It's almost painful to see him so broken. My shattered heart breaks even more when I see a familiar body walking toward him. Courtney Hughes.
She puts her hand on his shoulder just as Wren notices me. "Raya," he says, making Kade's head snap up.
He looks just as tragic as Mr. Colton, and my lip tries to tremble. I start to walk toward him, deciding to explain all my past bullshit later. I want to be here for him right now, comfort him. But when I see the way Courtney looks at me, I remember who I am. I remember who he is.
He wants a big business - a reputable business without any worries that something will soil its good name. The name his grandfather is leaving behind is clean, perfect, and full of respect. Mine... I'm still a conman's daughter. Nothing has changed.
After staring at each other, both of us uncertain about what to do, I turn to leave, but Kade jumps up, letting the chair scrape across the floor.
"Raya, wait," he says breathlessly.
"I-"
Before I can finish, I'm interrupted by yelling from down the hall. Kade brushes by me, letting his hand trail down my arm as he passes to go investigate the scene. That one touch has damn near made me say to hell with my resolve, but the argument brings me back.
"You can't be serious," Paul yells, pointing his finger in the face of Leonard Mars, Thomas Colton's lawyer.
I only met him once that day at the vineyard, but I remember him. Though I can honestly say I have no idea who the woman with him is.
She's tall with dark blond hair, and appears to be in her mid to late fifties. She looks elegant, with her wavy hair swept perfectly to the sides, but there's a familiar air about her... She's trying to look elegant. I know that rags-to-riches stance. Someone wants so badly to feel prominent, so they fake it. I've known many girls around here try to achieve that goal but to no avail. That means this woman is new to money.
"I'm sorry, Paul. I really am," Leonard says, seeming exhausted.
Paul curses and swears as they lower their voices, continuing the conversation in hushed whispers. Kade's jaw clenches as he shakes his head, suddenly looking livid and disgusted.
"He'd never do that!" Kade yells, pointing back toward his grandfather's room. "My grandfather only ever loved one woman. He hasn't even dated anyone since my grandmother died, let alone got married. This is bullshit."
What?
"It's true, Kade," Leonard says wearily. "I was there six months ago when they went to the courthouse. So was Harry. We both served as witnesses. Thomas didn't want you to know. I'm sorry. And he had me nullify his will, which now leaves everything to Henrietta. I know this is hard, but it's true.
"With him in an induced coma, he's unable to handle his estate. Essentially, since she's deeded everything, she has almost the same rights as someone with power of attorney. The vineyard is hers, the winery is hers, and the farm is hers."
This doesn't make sense. Thomas told me he had just had his will-
"That's bullshit, because my father just had his will redone not long ago. My lawyers handled it because I felt it was too important to leave in your hands," Paul barks. "Kade is the only one who is supposed to get anything. She has no rights, and she'd better stay the hell off my father's property."
A flash of surprise crosses Leonard's face, and my eyes narrow. Holy fucking shit... This... I can't believe it. This is a con.
"Do you have the will?"
"No. My father kept it, but I'm sure my lawyers can send you a copy real damn soon."
Paul walks away, and Leonard turns to text someone. I watch, pretending as though I'm only mildly amused, while Kade follows his father. Leonard's phone buzzes, and whatever he sees forces him to relax. That's not good. A relaxed con has an ace in their pocket. A skilled hacker could easily access and delete those files.
"Let's go, Henrietta. Now's not a good time to visit. I'll bring you back later."
She dabs her fake tears on a tissue and nods while following behind him. One of two things is going on. Either she faked the marriage, and an authenticator will quickly dismiss the certificate, which will make whatever will they have suspicious. Or she actually conned Thomas Colton into marrying her.
Considering their confidence level, she tricked him into marrying her. And as his lawyer, Leonard, could have easily manipulated the old will. They're pros. Paul won't get the new will. Not through his lawyers. There's only one way he'll ever see it. There's only one way Kade will have his vineyard - the one his grandfather wants him to have.
I walk away, giving everyone some privacy. It's crazy to think I was looked down upon for my roots, but yet a con has been right under their noses this whole time.