Lila’s POV“I’M SORRY,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear.The words left my mouth feeling heavy, like cement pressing down on my chest. My stomach twisted in knots, but my face betrayed nothing.I forced the corners of my lips into the faintest curve of apology. Just enough to satisfy Adrian’s eyes in the room, sharp and calculating, without giving him the full weight of my revolt.Adrian’s expression softened immediately. He reached across the polished dining table and took my hand as if nothing had happened. I felt Jacob’s gaze on me, burning with something between disbelief and fury.He didn’t move. He simply watched. His jaw was tight, his fists clenched at his sides.Emotion gripped me—a mix of guilt, shame, and a quiet kind of triumph. I hated that I had to play along, but I couldn’t let Adrian see the full scope
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