Jason’s face turned red with rage. “You ungrateful old woman,” he hissed.
Agent Reed stepped forward instantly. “That is enough,” he said.
Jason pointed at me. “Do you know what you are doing?” he shouted. “Do you know what will happen when Victor finds out you are talking?”
My voice shook, but I forced it steady. “Then you should have never made a deal with him,” I said.
Jason stared at me like he did not recognize me.
Then Ashley’s voice came from the doorway, high and trembling.
“Jason.”
We all turned.
Ashley stood there with an officer beside her. Her eyes were puffy from crying. But there was something else in her face now. Fear. Not fear of getting caught.
Fear of something bigger.
Jason’s voice changed instantly. “Ashley,” he said softly. “What are you doing?”
Ashley swallowed. “I need to talk,” she whispered. “I need to talk to Agent Reed.”
Jason’s head snapped. “No,” he barked. “You do not say a word. Do you hear me?”
Ashley flinched.
Agent Reed watched her carefully. “Ashley,” he said, “do you want to cooperate?”
Ashley nodded, shaking. “Yes,” she whispered. “I cannot do this anymore.”
Jason surged forward, but officers stepped in and blocked him.
Jason shouted, “Ashley, shut up.”
Ashley cried, “Jason, please. I am scared.”
Agent Reed looked at me. “Mrs. Miller,” he said gently, “please step back.”
I stepped back, my heart racing.
Ashley looked at me, and for a moment I saw something honest in her eyes.
Regret.
Then she spoke, voice trembling but clear.
“I did not marry Jason for love,” she said. “I married him because he promised power. He promised money. He promised a life where I never had to be small again.”
Jason screamed, “Stop.”
Ashley kept going like a dam broke.
“He started the charity for attention,” she said. “It was a stage for him. But then Victor Kain came into the picture. Victor offered him real money—fast money—if he could move things under charity paperwork. Jason said yes because he wanted to look important. He wanted to be somebody.”
My head spun. “Move things,” I whispered.
Ashley nodded, tears falling. “And when it got messy,” she said, “Jason panicked. He needed a clean name to hide behind. That is why he used you. That is why I brought the papers to you. He told me if I did not get your signature, he would leave me with nothing.”
Jason’s face went pale. He stared at Ashley like she had stabbed him.
Agent Reed’s voice was firm. “Ashley,” he said, “where is Victor Kain tonight?”
Ashley shook her head fast. “I do not know,” she said, “but I know he has someone here. Someone watching.”
Agent Reed’s eyes sharpened. “Who?”
Ashley swallowed hard. “Trevor,” she said.
The name hit me like a bell.
Trevor was Jason’s assistant—young, polite, always smiling. The one who called me about the gala.
Then he turned back to me. “Mom,” he said, “I made mistakes. Fine. But I can fix it. I just need time. I just need you to do one thing. Tell them you do not remember signing anything. Tell them Ashley handled the papers. Tell them you were confused. That gives us room.”
“Room for what?” I asked.
Jason’s eyes flicked to the door like he was checking who might hear. “Room to disappear,” he said softly.
My stomach dropped. “Disappear? You mean run?” I whispered.
Jason gave a small shrug. “Call it whatever you want,” he said. “But if I stay, I am done. If I go, I can start again. And you can come with me. We can live somewhere nice, somewhere warm. You will not have to worry anymore.”
Agent Reed’s eyes narrowed. “Jason,” he said, “you are digging yourself deeper.”
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