chapter 39

"There was a note on her bedside table. Do you remember her screaming and yelling at me the night before she died?"

I paused. "Yeah, it was something about you and her friend...Deborah."

My father scrubbed a hand over his face, and his expression turned solemn. "She thought Deborah and I were having an affair. She flew into a rage when she saw us together, and I had to hold her back before she hurt Deborah."

I searched his face, bile rising in the back of my throat. "Were you?"

He shook his head. "Your mother is the only woman I've ever loved and the only woman I will ever love."

"Why are you telling me all of this now?"

"Because I had no idea you blamed me for her death and that you carried so much of it around," he replied with a frown. "I know you and I don't see eye to eye, Bernard. We haven't for a very long time, and I know that's my fault."

"You tried to destroy my company."

He winced. "I know, and I know I can't change what I tried to do. All I can do is apologize."

"You expec