“This makes no sense. Why wouldn’t she tell me?”
“Because she knew you,” Mrs. Johnson whispered.
I looked at her.
“You would have fought.”
Of course I would have.
“You would’ve marched straight into Richard Vale’s office and told him exactly what you thought of him.”
“Damn right.”
“And Goldi knew it.”
I looked back at the letter.
There it was.
I know what you’re thinking, Arthur. You would have told me we didn’t need their money. You would have fought my father. And that is exactly why I couldn’t tell you.
You are brave when someone threatens the people you love.
But my father had spent my whole life proving how far he would go to win.
I was terrified that if he believed I had chosen you over him, he would make Leo the battlefield.
The words blurred.
I wiped my eyes angrily.
There was more.
I made the worst decision of my life because I thought it was the only decision that guaranteed he could never take Leo from you.
I let you believe I was ashamed of our son.
I let you hate me.
I thought your hatred was safer than your courage.
I put the letter down.
For the first time in eighteen years, I remembered Goldi’s expression in the hospital correctly.
She hadn’t looked disgusted.
She’d looked terrified.
Part 6 — The Secret Mrs. Johnson Kept
I turned on Mrs. Johnson.
“You helped her do this?”
Her face collapsed.
“No.”
“Then explain.”
“The night Goldi left, she came to my apartment.”
I stared at her.
