I stared at her for a moment before looking around the study again. Empty. My father wasn't here. The bastard wasn't even in the country. So why had I never considered the possibility that she was lying to me?I looked back at her. "Then why the hell did you tell me he wanted me here?"A slow, infuriating smile spread across her face. "Because that was the only way I could get you home."My jaw clenched.Of course.She'd known I wouldn't come if she'd simply asked. She'd known exactly which button to push, and she'd pressed it without hesitation. She'd used my father because she knew his name alone would be enough to get me through that door.And like a fucking fool, I'd walked straight into her trap."You manipulated me.""Yes."She didn't even bother denying it.Something tightened low in my chest. I stepped farther into the room, and the moment I did, the space between us seemed to shrink.Up close, she was impossible to ignore. My eyes caught on her face before I could stop them,
Last Updated : 2026-09-07
