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“Liu seems to have selective memory,” Sloane responded drily “He’s the one who turned his daughter away and virtually disowned her when she canant and alone I’d say that played a major role in her suicide”

“No argument It’s much easier for a proud, stubborn man like Liu to put all the blame on Wallace than to assume any of it himself But Wallace’s affair with Meili isn’t the only issue here It’s what Liu sees as instigating it”

“My father’s art partnership’s lowballing her on the second Rothberg, and forcing her to sell it way below value Pushing her closer to destitution” Sloane sighed “And then the icing on the cake—that stupid bet they et her into bed”

“You got it” Derek spoke gently but candidly with Sloane “All five partners were involved in the two events that, in Johnny Liu’s e We’ve already discussed what he considers to be Wallace’s sins Ben and your father were thethe worth of the Rothberg Meili tried to sell them To top that off, Ben initiated a bet that centered on Meili’s virtue The sum total of results? Your father’s office has been ransacked, your mother has been beaten up, then kidnapped and nearly killed As for Ben, he’s been pushed to the point of self-destruction Phil was killed That leaves Leo and your father”

Anxiety tightened Sloane’s features “You don’t think that what Xiao’s thugs did to h retribution when it comes to my father?”

“Not compared to Ben’s bankruptcy, total alcohol dependence, and possible jail time Not compared to Phil’s cold-blooded murder And not compared to whatever vile plan Liu has in store for Wallace Your mother’s assault at the apartment wasn’t planned; she interrupted the break-in at their apart, it was aborted before Liu could have her killed The fact that she’s still alive is a thorn in his side And the SOB Xiao sent to slash your pal for you to back off Otherwise, he would have sent Xiao hi, not soeted your father’s core, or destroyed hi for”

“You’re right,” Sloane replied gri it to destroy his life Especially Wallace I shudder to think what Liu considers brutal enough for Wallace…” Sloane broke off, all the color draining from her face “Oh God”

“What is it?”

For a long moment Sloane didn’t speak And when she did, it was in a strained, sickened tone “My father said Meili ended the affair with Wallace around Christmastime 2005 What’s the date on Meili’s death certificate?”

“January 2006” Derek’s eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out Sloane’s anguished reaction “The dates make sense”

“Maybe too much sense” Sloa

ne squeezed her eyes shut, and when she opened them, there was pain reflected in them “Derek, the unknown hit-and-run driver who killed Wallace’s daughter, Sophie…” Sloane sed hard “The crime was committed on April 11, 2006 Three months after Meili killed herself”

“Shit” Derek felt bile rise in his throat “That sounds like a hell of a coincidence to me”

“It sounds like an eye for an eye Or, in this case, a daughter for a daughter And if it’s true…Derek, I’m not sure Wallace can survive this”

“And Liu’s not finished His plan see to a head”