Page 183 of Kentrell

Chicago’s favorite self-made billionaire. Courtroom legend. Mastermind behind half the biggest cases coming out the city in the last fifteen years.

Sitting casual on the couch like this wasn’t the messiest shit I’d seen all week.

He stood when he saw me. Moved to Zora’s side like he had some right to.

And in that moment…

It clicked.

This wasDee.

“What the fuck…” I breathed, the words leaving me before I could stop them.

He wasn’t just Zoe’s boss.

He was Malcolm’s father.

And now…

Standing here, piecing it together…

I knew exactly what that made him to Zoe.

“Zoe, this is not what you think it is—” Zora started, voice breaking like she was already losing this battle.

“So my eyes are deceiving me now?” Zoe cut her off, laughing without humor, eyes glassy with betrayal. “I didn’t just walk in on you and Mister—him?!” She shrieked. “You were on top of him! Your robe was open! Mom!”

She damn near folded at that.

“I never… never would’ve introduced you two if I thought you’d dothis!”

Zoe turned her back on them both, whipping her head toward me like I could save her from this. Like I had answers.

But right now… I didn’t have shit.

No words of comfort. No plans. Just shock still rattling through my chest.

Because while she was standing there trying to process her mama messing with her boss…

I was staring at the man who, according to my mama…

Had been her daddy this whole damn time.

And both of them—Zora and Darius—had been playing Zoe like a fool her whole life.

“So… after all these years… you kept yourself forthis?” Zoe’s voice cracked with disbelief, dragging me out of my thoughts and slamming me right back into hers.

“After my daddy died… after you mourned him like your heart stopped too… you turn around and become somebody’s mistress?”

Her words hit the room like a slap.

“Zoe—” Zora’s voice was soft, shaking, but Zoe wasn’t done.

“You told her I died?”

Darius’s voice cut through the air like a whip—low, sharp, and aimed straight at Zora. His glare could’ve burned through walls.

I didn’t miss the way Zora forced herself to look away from me… turning her shame toward him like that was easier than meeting my eyes.

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