And you—"
"I didn't mean to—"
"You grabbed my arm.
You shoved me into the wall.
When I tried to leave, you—" She stopped.
Her hand went to her cheek.
Daniel's face went gray.
"Claire, I was angry.
I thought you were hiding something.
I thought you were—"
"She was hiding something," Richard said.
"She was hiding from the people who murdered her mother.
One of those people is standing next to you right now."
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
Then at Claire.
Then at the floor.
"I didn't know," he said.
"I swear I didn't know."
"You knew enough to ask questions she couldn't answer," Richard said.
"You knew enough to get angry when she wouldn't talk.
And when she couldn't explain where she came from, you put your hands on her."
Daniel said nothing.
Morrow stepped forward.
"Mrs.
Prescott, I need you to come with us."
Evelyn backed up.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"You're being detained on federal charges related to aiding and abetting in the attempted murd3r of a protected witness, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and ongoing financial crimes connected to the Ashland estate."
"This is ridiculous.
I have lawyers.
I have connections in this room." She looked across the ballroom.
"Judge Morrison—"
A white-haired man near the back of the room looked away.
"Judge Morrison recused himself from the Ashland case six months ago," Morrow said.
"He's been cooperating with our investigation."
Evelyn's last ally in the room disappeared with that sentence.
Two of Morrow's agents moved to either side of Evelyn.
She looked at Daniel.
"Tell them this is a mistake.
Tell them I—"
Daniel looked at his mother for a long time.
"You knew who she was," he said.
"You watched me fall in love with her.
You let me propose.
And the whole time you knew she was Catherine's daughter."
"I was trying to keep you close to her.
To monitor—"
"To monitor me," Claire said.
"That's what this was.
The engagement.
The wedding.
You wanted me where you could watch me."
Evelyn said nothing.
Her face had gone blank.
"Say it," Claire said.
"I was protecting my family."
"Catherine was your family," Richard said.
"She was your sister.
She was twenty-three years old.
She had a baby.
And you sold her location to the man who was trying to silence her."
Evelyn's lip trembled.
"He said he just wanted to talk to her.
He said he wouldn't hurt her."
"And you believed him?" Daniel's voice cracked.
"You believed a man who had beaten your sister for years?
A man you knew was dangerous?"
"I thought—"
"You thought about the money," Richard said.
"The Ashland estate.
The trust fund.
The properties.
If Catherine testified, all of it would have been seized.
You would have lost everything."
Evelyn's silence was confirmation enough.
Morrow placed his hand on Evelyn's shoulder.
"Mrs.
Prescott.
Let's go."
Evelyn pulled away.
She looked at Claire one last time.
"You look just like her," she whispered.
"You look exactly like Catherine."
Claire didn't flinch.
"I know."
Evelyn walked between the two agents toward the ballroom doors.
Her heels clicked on the marble.
No one followed her.
No one called after her.
At the door, she stopped.
"Daniel."
He didn't look up.
"I'm sorry."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
He said nothing.
The doors closed behind her.
The ballroom was quiet.
Guests stood in clusters, whispering.
A man near the back pulled out his phone and stepped toward the exit.
Someone else followed him.
Daniel took a step toward Claire.
Richard moved between them.
"Don't," Richard said.
"I need to talk to her."
"You need to talk to a lawyer," Richard said.
"You put your hands on my daughter.
Whatever you knew or didn't know, that happened."
"I know." Daniel's voice was barely audible.
"I know it happened.
I can't undo it."
Claire looked past Richard at Daniel.
Her cheek was still swollen.
"Did she tell you to ask me about my parents?"
Daniel met her eyes.
"She suggested I should know more about your background.
She said it was strange that you never talked about your childhood."
"She set it up," Claire said.
"She wanted you to push.
She wanted to see what I'd say when I was cornered."
Daniel's face collapsed.
"I'm sorry.
Claire, I'm so sorry."
"You should go," Claire said.
Daniel stood there for a moment longer.
Then he turned and walked toward the side exit.
His footsteps were unsteady.
He paused at the door, looked back once, and left.
Guests collected their coats.
A few approached Richard and shook his hand without speaking.
The cameras outside had gone quiet.
Morrow returned from the corridor.
"Colonel, we'll need Claire to come in tomorrow for a formal statement.
Tonight, I'd recommend you take her somewhere safe."
Richard nodded.
"I have a place."
Morrow looked at Claire.
"Miss Hale.