Chapter 21

“Yes,” Luther said quietly. “As I said a few times, Mason was someone I admired. I felt he could dominate the business world if he tried hard enough, once time passed. Of course, the hotel was Mason’s idea, but I was involved in the process as well. Mason wanted me to be his business partner. The two of us worked together and made numerous efforts to make our ambition happen. And yet…”

He sighed heavily.

“It was all Mason, Mason, Mason. Mason was the spotlight, while I was only a background character. Even though I worked hard too, the people, even my own family, only admired Mason. It was… discomfiting, at the very least. I felt hurt and betrayed,” he said quietly. “It was wrong of me, but… I resented Mason a little back then. Even though I shouldn’t have felt that way, of course. I was young and immature.”

“Did my father know?” Hailey asked gently. “That you felt that way?”

Luther’s lips curved into a wry smile. “He probably did, but he never spoke about it or brought it up during t