“Yes,” I whispered.

“The yearly numbers weren’t adding up.

So I hired an independent accounting firm to go through the books.”

“Your mother had been stealing from that foundation for more than ten years,” Vance said, plainly.

“Millions, siphoned off to pay for the life she wanted after your father died.

Money that was meant for orphans.

And when you brought in outside auditors, she understood two things at once — that they would find it, and that you, her own daughter, were far too honest to ever help her cover it up.”

The last pieces fell into place with a horrible click.