remained by the doorway.

Daniel poured no drinks.

“Did you know Claire planned to go somewhere the night she died?”

Victor’s expression froze for perhaps half a second.

Then he sighed.

“We’re doing this now?”

Daniel’s pulse quickened.

“Doing what?”

“Reopening the worst night of your life because someone put an idea in your head?”

Daniel had not mentioned an idea.

Nor the crash.

Mara met his gaze across the room.

Victor realized the mistake too late.

“What idea?” Daniel asked.

Victor leaned back.

“Daniel, I know you.

When you ask about Claire in that tone, you’re not reminiscing.”

“Did you know where she was going?”

Victor’s eyes moved briefly toward Mara.

“No.”

“Did you know Sofia Reyes?”

This time the reaction was clear.

His face lost color.

Mara inhaled.

Daniel felt something inside him collapse.

“You knew her.”

Victor stood.

“This conversation is over.”

Daniel stepped between him and the door.

“Sit down.”

Victor’s jaw tightened.

“Don’t be theatrical.”

“Sit down.”

For years Daniel had deferred to Victor in emotional moments because Victor was calmer, older, practical.

Now Daniel saw the habit from the outside.

Victor had always decided when conversations ended.

Victor had always decided what Daniel needed to know.

Slowly, Victor sat.

Daniel remained standing.

“Claire wrote Sofia’s name in a letter the night she died.

She wrote yours too.”

Victor looked at Mara.

The mask fell.

Not completely.

Enough.

“Where is the letter?”

Daniel heard the urgency.

“Why?”

“Because Claire was unstable that week.”

Mara laughed softly in disbelief.

Victor turned toward her.

“You have no idea what was happening.”

“Then explain it.”

“This is family business.”

“My mother was almost killed.”

“Your mother stole confidential material from our company.”

Daniel went still.

Victor closed his eyes.

He had said too much.

“What material?” Daniel asked.

Victor rubbed his forehead.

“Financial records.

Internal payment files.

Claire found irregular transfers tied to a subcontractor.

She panicked.

Sofia convinced her to take documents outside the company.”

Daniel stared at him.

“Irregular transfers tied to whom?”

Victor did not answer.

“Victor.”

“They weren’t what she thought.”

“Whose transfers?”

Victor’s mouth tightened.

“Mine.”

The word landed quietly.

Mara crossed her arms.

Daniel felt no triumph, only dread.

“You were stealing from us?”

“No.

I was covering losses.”

“With secret transfers?”

“A division had failed.

If the board found out before we stabilized it, we’d have lost financing.

Thousands of employees would have been affected.

I moved funds temporarily.”

“Without telling me.”

“Because you would’ve stopped me.”

“You’re damn right I would’ve.”

Victor leaned forward.

“And six months later the division recovered.

No one lost anything.”

Mara spoke coldly.

“Except Claire.”

Victor looked at her.

“I did not kill Claire.”

Daniel’s hands curled into fists.

“Then what happened?”

Victor hesitated.

Daniel slammed his palm against the table.

“What happened?”

Victor flinched.

“I followed them.”

Mara’s face went rigid.

“You followed the car?”

“I wanted the files back.

Claire wouldn’t answer my calls.

I thought I could make her understand before she destroyed everything.”

Daniel could barely breathe.

“Were you chasing her?”

Victor stood again.

“No.”

“Were you chasing her?”

“I was behind them.

The road was wet.

Claire was driving too fast.”

“Because you were following her!”

“I never touched her car.”

“But you were there.”

Victor looked away.

That was