Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 371

Jude continued, "That's exactly why I hope you don't go past the point of no return."

The fleeting touch of emotion vanished from her face entirely.

"You all love saying things like that," she laughed softly. "As if I actively chose to walk this crooked path myself."

His voice grew thick.

"Then tell me, who forced you to dig into legacy projects at two in the morning?"

She didn't answer.

The door clicked shut.

Slumping back in his chair, Jude closed his eyes.

Leaving Langford Medical, Willow headed straight back to the Whitaker Estate.

Lydia Whitaker was waiting in her bedroom, anxiously rolling a string of prayer beads until the polished wood practically gleamed with sweat.

"Your dad refuses to see you," Lydia said. "He's been locked in his study all afternoon."

Willow tossed her purse onto the sofa.

"Then let him stay locked in."

Noticing her daughter's dark expression, Lydia hurried over. "What did Lawrence say? Did he find anything?"

Willow scoffed.

"He found Vanguard Trading Co."

Lydia paled so drastically she nearly dropped the beads.

"What?"

"The company name was on a surviving fragment of the files. It wasn't the whole picture, but it's enough to point directly at Dad."

Lydia's lips trembled violently. "Impossible, those things were all..."

She choked on her own words, snapping her mouth shut.

Willow leveled a stare at her.

"Were all what?"

Evading the gaze, Lydia stammered, "I don't know. Your dad said he took care of it."

"Mom." Willow took a deliberate step forward. "Exactly how much do you know?"

Backing up until she hit the edge of the bed, Lydia sank down.

"All I know is that Vivian Vance flat-out refused to sign off on something, and it caused a massive blowout. Your dad said she was standing in everyone's way. Then her health kept failing, and the house was a warzone every single day. And then, she died."

"How exactly did her health fail?"

Lydia snapped her head up. "What are you implying?"

Willow stared right through her, her eyes terrifyingly hollow.

"I really don't know!" Lydia was frantic. "Your dad never discussed the dirty details of his business with me! I just know he was practically attached at the hip with the Langfords back then. Vivian blocked some data outsourcing deal, and there was a document that never got signed."

"What document?"

Lydia shook her head. "I never saw it."

Willow bored holes into her.

Lydia's eyes darted wildly, looking like a woman who had just confessed the truth while desperately burying the most lethal detail.

Just then, the sharp crash of a shattering mug echoed from the hall.

"Who told you to talk about Vanguard!" Quentin bellowed from his study.

Both women turned toward the door at once.

Willow marched out.

"Willow!" Lydia grabbed her arm.

Prying her mother's fingers off, Willow didn't stop.

"I have the right to know exactly what kind of sinking ship I'm tied to."

The study door was slightly ajar.

Quentin stood behind his desk, his face an apoplectic purple. A shattered teacup lay on the floor, staining the expensive rug.