“It means she accepted a settlement.
Voluntarily.”
I gave a small nod.
“Yes.
I signed.”
Walter seized on the admission.
“You see? She signed every page.
She took the money and left.”
Colton looked at me.
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
His face fell.
For one painful second, I saw the younger man I had loved instead of the Hayes heir standing at a wedding altar.
Then I continued.
“But your father never told you I was in his office that day, did he?”
Colton turned toward Walter.
Walter did not answer.
“He never told you he put divorce papers in front of me and said you understood your responsibilities.”
Colton’s expression changed.
“What?”
Walter’s attorney, Leonard Price, remained seated in the second row.
His discomfort had become impossible to hide.
I looked directly at him.
“Mr.
Price was there.”
Every face turned toward him.
Walter snapped, “Leonard, you are bound by privilege.”
Leonard stood slowly.
“I am bound by law, Walter.”
Walter’s jaw flexed.
Leonard looked at Colton.
“I prepared the documents at your father’s direction.”
Colton stared at him.
“My direction?”
“No.”
That single word changed the room.
Colton looked at his father.
“You told Audrey I wanted a divorce?”
Walter lowered his voice.
“I did what was necessary for this family.”
Celeste stepped backward from the altar.
The officiant quietly closed the ceremony book.
Colton’s hands curled at his sides.
“I asked you a question.”
Walter’s control slipped for the first time.
“You were infatuated with a woman who did not belong in your life.
You would have ruined your future for her.”
“And you decided that for me?”
“I protected you.”
Colton laughed once, without humor.
Then he looked at the children again.
“You protected me from my own children?”
Walter glanced at me.
“I didn’t know about them.”
That part was true.
I had walked out of his office without telling him.
