Chapter 3

At six foot three, his features were sharp and hard.

He stood out in the crowd. The top two buttons of his dark shirt were undone, and he held two drinks.

His dark expression didn't stop the women around us from staring at him.

His piercing gaze swept over Isla.

"What a coincidence."

Isla immediately put on a sweet smile and leaned forward. "Yes, maybe it's destiny."

I almost laughed out loud.

Oh, please. You didn't have that look on your face when you were talking trash to me a second ago.

Knox didn't even glance at her. He reached out, grabbed my wrist firmly, and pulled me to his side.

"We're going back. Step aside."

Isla's smile froze. She tried to grab Knox's arm, her tone pleading. "Wait! I have some private matters to discuss with you."

She shot me a sharp glare. "Eden, could you excuse us for a moment?"

I was about to step back, but Knox squeezed my wrist and pulled me right back into his chest. I looked up in shock, only to see him snap his fingers.

The soldiers waiting outside the door instantly swarmed the terrace.

Seeing the armed guards close in, Isla's face turned pale. "What are you doing?"

Knox looked at her, his eyes cold. "I thought your family already knew my answer."

"Regarding the funding we discussed last time, go back and tell your father it's canceled."

"Get out of my sight. Stop polluting the air my sister breathes."

It turned out their private connection was just family business. It had nothing to do with romance.

Decisive and merciless. He truly was the man I wanted.

The color drained from Isla's face. I lowered my eyes, thinking to myself that everyone knew the rules, yet everyone wanted to bet they were the exception.

Too bad no one ever was.

I raised my hand to take his glass, but Isla turned her head sharply, her eyes full of venom.

"What about Eden then? Do you know that your sweet little sister is desperate to get into your bed?!"

Her expression twisted with spite.

She took the secret I had hidden for years and exposed it right in front of him.

Look, your most trusted sister has dirty thoughts about you. I lowered my eyes and gave up on making excuses.

Knox's expression froze.

His gaze landed on my face. I looked away, wanting to explain, but I couldn't force a single word out.

Isla looked like a victor who had finally caught a weakness.

But the next second, Knox took a step toward me. I looked up as he reached out, pressing me tightly against his chest.

The dangerous aura around him vanished. He smiled. "She's right. My favorite person in the world is Eden."

I froze. What?

Isla was stunned.

The air froze. I peeked at Knox and realized he looked proud.

Isla pointed at Knox, her voice trembling. "But you said you wouldn't get involved with women."

Knox looked done wasting words on her.

"A woman like you could never understand the bond between Eden and me. What we have isn't shallow lust."

"We are soulmates."

Isla stood frozen, unable to speak.

Just as I expected. This wasn't the first time someone tried to stir up trouble, and Knox never panicked.

He was certain we were the most important people in the world to each other. But to him, it had nothing to do with romance.

Isla heard the truth in his tone. She stood there in silence. Those threats she made earlier sounded like a joke now.

I was never her rival, and she could never be the only one in Knox's heart.

That high and mighty politician's daughter just traded all her dignity for a man she was never going to have.