Declan’s voice dropped. “Miss Whitaker? Her name is Vega.” There was a long silence on the line. Then Edmund said calmly, “Sir, Vega was the name she chose when she left this house to live an ordinary life. Her father is Charles Whitaker, owner of Whitaker Holdings.” Tessa’s fork clattered onto her plate. Declan’s mother went pale. “Whitaker Holdings?” she whispered. “That is the company that holds your mortgage, Declan.”

Declan lowered the phone and stared at the table. Then it buzzed again. A text from an unknown number read: “Mr. Whitaker would like a word. Be at the house at nine tomorrow morning. Bring your mother’s loan papers.” His hands began to shake. Tessa whispered, “What loan papers?” His mother stood so fast her chair fell backward, and for the first time all evening, nobody said a word.