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He pulls my hands into his and over his heart, pinning me with a serious expression. “Mia, I would never give up what we’ve shared—what I still want to share with you. Not for anything. My parents haven’t done anything wrong. We’ll just... we’ll prove it. You’ll see.”

I nod. “Of course. But I know my Dad. He’s ruthless. I just never thought he’d be this unethical. There’s got to be something behind this. I’m not saying he’s right, but there has to be a case, or he wouldn’t risk coming to you with it. At least, I don’t think so.”

Luke frowns. “But I can’t think of anything.”

Then I remember what my Mum said. He’s just your summer mistake. But it’s winter. She wasn’t talking about now. She must have been talking about ten years ago. Only they never knew. Did they?

I horrified by the thought that they’ve harboured some grudge all these years. I have to admit I thought it was odd that they packed us up and had us back in Sydney days before we were due to leave town. And then they suggested I go overseas...

“If only we knew what she claims happened,” Luke says, breaking into my awful train of thoughts.

An idea occurs to me and as soon as it does, I know I won’t be able to let it go. I have the keys to the office and the security code. My father is just old school enough he keeps paper files on all his cases. “We can check his records.”

“How?”

“I’ll go in tonight. There won’t be anyone there this time of night. We’ll go and look through his files. At least then we’ll know if there’s anything substantial to his threats.”

Luke gives me a grim smile. “You’d do that for my family?”

“Of course.” I step back from his lap. “Let me get dressed and we’ll go right now.”

What I find the second I pull the file from the drawer in my dad’s office makes the nausea rise like bile in my throat. “A woman called Margaret Nguyen.” I keep scanning, pushing the papers around on the wooden surface of my father’s desk. “Seems like a workplace injury that’s developed into a chronic condition. She’s suing for negligence.”

Luke’s eyes widen. “Margaret? She only worked at Inlet Views for a few months.” His frown deepens. “Then she left suddenly.”

Pulling out my phone, I snap a picture of her contact details. It’s completely unethical. These files are strictly confidential. I figure it balances out against what Dad did anyway.

“Do you know her?”

Luke shrugs. “Not really. As far as I know she still lives in Rosella Bay. Her daughter works in the local primary school.”

I think, chewing on my lip for a moment. I snap a few photos of the rest of the case notes and replace the file, closing and locking the filing cabinet. “I’m going to read through Dad’s notes more carefully in the morning, but there’s always two sides to the story. I’m sure we can make a case if we work out what this woman wants, and why she thinks your parents are at fault.”

I might never have spoken in a courtroom, but I know the ins and outs of a civil lawsuit. I’m used to preparing evidence.

“Maybe if I can talk to her in person, feel her out... I don’t know. Maybe she’ll reconsider...”

Luke nods. “That’s what your Dad was saying. Something about settling.”

“Hopefully it doesn’t come to that. Maybe, if we’re lucky, I can convince her to drop the case. It’s a risk for her. She could be facing some pretty steep legal fees if she doesn’t win.”

He nods. “Yeah. That all sounds reassuring.”

I chew on my lip again. “I’ll have to get to her quickly before things progress any further.”

Luke runs a hand through his hair. “How will you talk to her in person? Don’t you have to be at work tomorrow?”

I fold my arms across my chest. “You know what? No. I don’t have to be at work tomorrow. Or any day after that. I quit. If Dad thinks I’m working another day for a firm that’s going to pull this kind of stuff, he’s got another think coming!”

Luke places a large hand on each of my upper arms, looking deep in my eyes. “Mia, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support on this, but is that what you want? Really?”

I give him a firm nod. “It is. If being with me has created problems for you and your family, then I’m going to put that right. Starting tonight. I’m done. I’m done with Sydney, and I’m done with my family. If they can’t support me, I’m done with all the things getting in the way of what I want.”

Luke pulls me into a huge hug, the kind that cracks your spine and squeezes the breath from your lungs. When he draws back, he’s grinning, and the lighthearted spark is back in his eyes. “Well I won’t complain if I get to take you home with me. When do we leave?”

“Now!” I look down at my phone and wince. It’s almost midnight. “OK, first thing tomorrow. I’ll grab my stuff from the apartment and we’ll head back to Rosella Bay and get this sorted.”

We go back to Tegan’s apartment, sneaking in, though it turns out she’s still not home. I spend a restless night drifting in and out of sleep, worried about my decision. But every time I come back to it, I can’t see any other way out. I need to help Luke’s family and resolve this legal case. And I can’t stomach continuing to work at Sinclair Law. Not after this. Not that it was ever what I wanted to do.

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