Chapter 55

Nathaniel

I’m staring into my glass, watching the amber liquid swirl, when Liza's voice cuts through the fog in my mind. “Nathaniel, why have you been drinking and partying like this?” Her tone is sharp, but I can hear the underlying concern.

I look up at her. “What’s the point, Liza? I’ve lost everything. What does it matter if I let loose a bit?”

Liza’s eyes harden. “You’re the head of the Welsh family, or at least you were Nathaniel. I raised you better than this. You have responsibilities.”

The words hit me like a slap. She’s right, of course. I’ve been running from my duties, pretending to drown my guilt and fear in alcohol. But facing it feels like staring into an abyss. So much is going on, and I have nobody to confide in. I cannot risk putting Liza in danger, and for my plan to work, I need to look helpless.

Before I can respond, Liza’s phone rings. She glances at the screen and frowns. “It’s Conor,” she says, excusing herself and stepping away to answer. “Hello? What’s happen