Wedding Night Confession: Husband Said I Slept With Your Best Friend novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: Thirty

At noon on my thirtieth birthday, the trust lawyer put a pen in my hand.

We sat at the worktable in the back of Halsey Blooms, with buckets of peonies around our feet and Declan standing behind my chair.

The lawyer was an old man in a gray vest who had known my grandmother.

"Four million dollars, Ms. Halsey," he said. "Released today, in your name, with no conditions."

I looked at the paper.

I had waited my whole adult life to see that number.

Tierney had waited ten years to take it.

"I want two million of it moved into a new fund," I said.

The lawyer lifted his eyebrows.

"For what purpose?"

"Counseling, lawyers and rent, for the women who worked at the Tin Roof under Darren Bristow. Any woman who comes forward. No paperwork that makes them prove it."

"There are twenty-six so far," Hazel said from the doorway.

She had come in with her coat over her scrubs and a box of croissants.

"There will be more," I said.

The old man looked at me over his glasses for a moment.

"Your grandmother would have done the same," he said quietly. "She'd have done it faster."

I signed.

Behind me, Declan put his hand on my shoulder and kept it there.

"I'd like to add something," he said.

I turned.

"The police gave me back the cash from Friday night. It's in my safe." He put his hands in his pockets. "It's a million dollars. I'd like it to go in with yours."

"That's your money."

"Yes. It's the cleanest money I've ever had, and the board can't touch it." He met my eyes. "I took her side for three weeks. This is how I'd like to be on theirs."

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