Page 53 of Mine to Love
“I’ll show you that, and other things, because everyone should have basic knowledge.” Miles took her hand. “So, what you’re telling us is that within this next year, Charlie not only needs to be married, but he has to be expecting a child in order for his grandparents to give him money?”
“His grandfather died six years ago,” Liberty said. “And his grammy has been sick these last few months. She’s not expected to live much longer.”
“Were you close to either of them?”
“They were always kind to me. Nicer than anyone else. Even though they had the same expectations of me when it came to fitting in. And they enjoyed Gabriel’s company to the point they sought him out, not the other way around.” Libertysighed. “Charlie’s grandparents were friendly with my parents. My folks were closer to them than they were Charlie’s parents. Though they all had business dealings together. My dad always enjoyed working with Old Man Livingston. Sometimes, when my dad and I weren’t fighting, he’d talk about how fun it was to work with him, but he didn’t trust Oswald. Once Gabriel was diagnosed, my dad worked even more and he stopped talking to me about it less.”
“That brings me to the second disturbing fact.” Rhett pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her.
“What am I looking at?” She stared at the document.
The names on the page tormented her soul.
Harvey and Robin Blue.
“What do my parents have to do with any of this?” Her fingers trembled as images of her childhood flashed in front of her eyes. When she’d been a little girl, she’d been the apple of her father’s eye. Every night, he’d tuck her in with a specialDaddystory. He’d done the same for Gabriel, where her mother was more interested in theladies who lunchand all the gossip. She would dress her children as if they were trophies, only bringing them out on special occasions.
Until Gabriel had been diagnosed.
That’s when her father began drinking at night and her mom continued on as if nothing had changed.
“I didn’t think too much about the business connection between the Livingstons and your parents,” Rhett said. “However, the second Gabriel went missing this morning, something tickled my brain and I went back to the paperwork.”
“My father was in real estate for many years, among other things. Merging his company with Livingston’s was a no-brainer. It made them the biggest, most successful company in all of Florida, but he completely sold it to Charlie’s father when he disappeared, freeing him up to do whatever he wanted.”
“That’s actually not true.” Rhett tapped his finger on the document. “As I went down a very strange rabbit hole, I found something odd. One is that your father is still very much a part of that company. As a matter of fact, he owns seventy percent, where the Livingstons only own thirty and he’s opened offices up in South and North Carolina.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Liberty drew the paper closer, trying to make sense of the information. “How is that possible? Why would they let people think they walked… assholes. They did it because they wanted a clean slate, away from their disabled child.”
“I’m still combing through all the paperwork,” Rhett said. “But it appears that the Livingstons were facing financial ruin before your father stepped in.”
“It was Charlie’s dad who helped me get a job when my parents left. He was part owner in that restaurant,” she muttered. “I can’t believe they were struggling. They’ve never wanted for anything.”
“Charlie’s grandparents have money. But Oswald does not. And what little he earns from Livingston Development, he’s mismanaged. So has Charlie,” Rhett said. “One more thing you should know about your parents before I continue with some other information is that they divorced three years ago.” Rhett arched a brow.
“No way. My mother would never agree to that. My recollection of their fights is that she signed a prenup and would get next to nothing,” Liberty said softly. “Unless my dad cheated.”
“I haven’t dug into that situation, but I will.” Rhett waved his hand over the folder. “Back to all of this, because I couldn’t leave well enough alone.” Rhett leaned back. “Your father, up until you divorced Charlie, has been sending your ex-husband a nice big fat check.”
“Why the fuck would he do that?” She blinked.
“I don’t know for sure,” Rhett said.
“But I could take a wild guess,” Miles mumbled. “Do you have the contracts for the business merger? And how it’s amortized for new offices through all the business partners? And is Charlie a full partner or an employee?”
“I need you to slow down.” She squeezed Miles’ leg. “I’m not following what any of this could mean and I’m staring at a piece of paper that should explain it, but I don’t understand it. How can you follow any of it and you haven’t even looked at it?”
“I don’t know anything.” Miles snatched it from her fingers and placed it in the folder. “I’m just asking my brother the questions as they fill my brain based on the information he’s given me.”
Rhett sighed, shaking his head. “Normally, I’d say my little brother is being humble, but in reality, he’s just being a dumb fuck.”
“I resent that,” Miles said.
“Really? Good. Because we get tired of you thinking and believing you’re as stupid as a rock, when you process verbal information faster than a speeding bullet. Even I can’t do that, and I have the IQ of a fucking damn genius.”
“Not the time or place for this.” Miles glared. “Answer my questions about the contracts and shit.”
“I’ve got them, but all I’ve been able to do is skim them. Shelby is reading them as we speak.”
