Chapter 529

“Rea, calm down. Let Matthew finish,” Lindey tried, her voice soft but strained.

Matthew adjusted his glasses, looking almost…regretful. “Rea, if I told you I never intended for your father to die…would you believe me?”

Thorsten had already told me everything. And now Matthew wanted to rewrite the story? Fine. I’d hear him out.

“Your father had a gift for distribution, something I couldn’t match. But he didn’t want to partner with me; he wanted to go solo. If he did, Seavora would’ve been his for the taking,” Matthew paused, gathering himself. “People are selfish by nature—it’s unavoidable.”

“So yes, I was jealous. More than that, I resented him. It felt like his refusal to work with me was a judgment, like he was saying I wasn’t good enough.”

“And when he landed that contract with Thorsten—the one I’d been fighting for—it only proved his talent.”

“I knew that contract was the key to everything I wanted. Fueled by jealousy and a need to win, I decided I’d take that project from him.”

Matthew pulled off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. “So I hired someone to scare him, to push him away from the deal with Thorsten.”

“But…the person I hired went too far. He thought ‘solving the problem for good’ was the best option, and…he made your parents disappear.”

I felt my blood run cold. He was shifting the blame.

“Rea, while I never wanted your parents dead, my greed set everything in motion. I won’t absolve myself; I’m the one responsible for their deaths. Even with my success all these years, I’ve carried that guilt,” he said, but I couldn’t bear another word.

“So, you turned that guilt into kindness toward me, didn’t you?” I cut in, my voice bitter.

Matthew faltered, giving a small nod. Lindey stepped in, her tone gentle, almost pleading. “Rea, it’s not like that. We really do love you. We’ve cared for you, truly.”

I scoffed, remembering how Jace and I shared the same blood type. “You cared for me so that if Jace ever needed saving, I’d be there. Isn’t that right?”

“Rea,” Lindey shook her head, trying to deny it.

But Matthew was blunt. “We did consider that possibility…but that doesn’t mean our love for you wasn’t real. Love. Bought with my parents’ lives. Their care was just a thin mask, barely hiding their guilt.”

“Rea, every word I’ve told you today is the truth. And, honestly, saying it out loud…it’s been a relief. Now I can die in peace,” he said, looking oddly calm.

I felt my control slip. “You feel relieved? You think you can just rest in peace? And my parents—how are they supposed to rest?” My voice cracked, my composure shattering.

Chapter 529

Lindey was already in tears. “I’m so sorry…Matthew has suffered with this guilt for ten years. He rarely sleeps through the night, wakes up in terror half the time. And now he’s sick…It’s his punishment.”

“So what? My parents are gone. Their lives, their futures—all stolen by your selfishness,” I spat, my voice heavy with anger.

Losing them ruined my life too. No matter how they tried to make it up, nothing could heal the pain of growing up without my parents.

“I know nothing I say can change anything. I’m ready to accept any punishment, anything you need,” Matthew said, coughing hard. Lindey reached out to steady him.

He waved her off, took a breath. “Rea, Lindey knew nothing about what I did. She only found out today, right before you both arrived. She had no part in it. Please…don’t hold her responsible. Can you do that for me?”

“Matthew…” Lindey sobbed, clutching his arm, burying her face against his shoulder, shaking her head. “Please…don’t…”

Matthew patted her hand. “Stop crying. Go ahead and call the police.”

Lindey hid her face in his arm, fists weakly thudding against his back.

The room felt like it was drowning in sorrow, every breath thick and heavy, like I couldn’t find enough air.

Then, Hayden, who’d been silent through it all, finally spoke, breaking the tension. “Mr. Johnston, there’s someone missing in your story.”