Page 115 of Happily Ever After

Océane nodded. “The motion is passed. All assets of Geneva Trust will be liquidated in an expedient but orderly manner. Thank you for coming. The meeting is adjourned.”

Dieter turned to her. “You could have done that without me.”

She shrugged. “I wanted youhere. I wanted all the family here to vote and watch it happen. It needed to be observed.”

“Yes, the end of a dynasty.”

The others filed out of the room, shaking Dieter’s and Océane’s hands as they exited. Only their mother didn’t budge.

When the others were gone, Océane shook her head. “Geneva Trust should be dismantled. There was never much that was good about it, and it’s better for theworld if one of the major crime financiers is out of business.”

“It won’t stop them.”

“It might slow them down, and it might cause other people to consider washing their hands of them, too. And we won’t be a part of it anymore.”

“The Ilyin Bratva?”

“In disarray, as you suspected. It’s not going to survive.” She sighed. “After the first Archangel raids, it barely rose from the ashes. It’s notcoming back, this time.”

“Good.”

“Indeed.”

“Mother wanted to speak with me.”

“Don’t drink the tea,” Océane joked. “It’s a little early for day-drinking, even for her.”

“I’ll be careful.”

While Océane walked out, doubtlessly to other business, Dieter lowered himself into a chair across the corner of the table from his mother.“I can’t stay long. I have to get back to Flicka.”

“I know,” hismother said, staring down as if she were embarrassed. “I understand.”

“Do you?” Dieter said. “They took us away to murder us: your son, your daughter-in-law, and your granddaughter. You didn’t warn any of us. You just left the house. What the hell is it that you ‘understand?’”

“I tried to warn them or to take them out. The guards wouldn’t let me by. I have three other children and their children,and I warned them. I saved whom I could.”

“Did they need safety? Was Piotr Ilyin after them that night?”

Her lips pressed together, keeping secrets. “They were safe, and that’s all that matters.”

Dieter leaned back in his chair, not ready to have this conversation. “I apologize for shooting Valerian.” He couldn’t bring himself to sayfather.

Sophie shrugged. “I’m rather surprised he livedas long as he did.”

“I’m still sorry.”

“Oh, so am I. I’m just not shocked.”

“Is there something else we need to discuss?”

“Your inheritance,” his mother said, her blond eyebrows dipping.

“I thought I wouldn’t be eligible. Raphael Mirabaud has been dead for over a decade,” he said, citing the least of the reasons why his family wouldn’t be handing out any money to him.

“I disagree,” his mothersaid. “I’m not willing to write off any of my children as dead, even if they have chosen a different name for themselves. Once the bank’s assets are liquidated, I plan to sell the house. I’ll be dispersing most of your inheritance to you and the girls in equal portions.”

“But, you need to live,” Dieter said.