Chapter 448
Chapter 448
I stared at her. Shock flooded me. Not only at what she was saying, but at how easily she said it. How matter–of–fact she sounded. As though this were common knowledge. As though she’d grown up surrounded by disappearances and strange happenings and learned never to question them.
She was sixteen. Sixteen, and she knew exactly how dangerous this house was. And how dangerous her father was.
“Don’t look so shocked,” Riley murmured, reading my expression with unsettling accuracy. “He’s my father. I live here. I see everything p>
She glanced around the table, making sure no one was paying attention before continuing.
“A few days before you arrived,” she said, “before Roman was even shot. I saw the doctor on the grounds.
the beard p>
My heart skipped violently.
“I saw him with Sir,” she went on. “I was coming back from my harp lesson. They were talking. Quietly. Like they didn’t want to be overheard p>
My fingers curled into my pants.
“Then two days later,” Riley said, “Sir announced he had to go to Pennsylvania for something important.” Her lips pressed together. “The next day, Roman
was shot p>
The room seemed to tilt.
My hand flew to my mouth, trapping a gasp before it could escape. My mind raced, fitting pieces together I hadn’t wanted to see. The timing. The doctor. Reginald’s absence.
“And now,” Riley whispered urgently, “he wants you to take a test. Because he knows you won’t. Because you know the baby is truly Roman’s. He’s counting on your refusal.” Her eyes burned into mine. “He’s playing a game, ” she said. “And the prize is getting you out of my brother’s life p>
My pulse thundered in my ears.
“I don’t know why he wants you gone,” she continued, voice shaking now just slightly, “but I know it’s nothing good. And the doctor-” she hesitated. “I don’t trust him either. He’s shady and he’s also- ”
“ Riley. ” Reginald’s voice cut through the air. It was quiet, measured, almost gentle.
But it stopped her cold.
She jerked upright as if struck by lightning. “Yes, sir? ”
Reginald dabbed the corners of his mouth with his napkin, unhurried, his movements precise. Then he placed it neatly on the table.
“Is that a private discussion, ” he asked calmly, “or are the rest of us invited to participate p>
My stomach dropped.
“Oh–no, sir,” Riley said quickly. “Savannah and I were just talking about the manor. ”
Reginald didn’t look at her. “What about it p>
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Chapter 448
“How big it is,” Riley said smoothly. Too smoothly. “How beautiful. I was… trying to convince her to stay. I already like her very much, sir. I’d be sad to see
her go p>
For a long moment, Reginald said nothing. Then he lifted his gaze. The weight of it pinned Riley in place. “Is that so p>
“Yes, sir p>
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“And is it working?” he asked, lifting his glass.
Riley hesitated. “I… wouldn’t say, sir. That’s up to Savannah p>
To my surprise, Reginald chuckled–a soft, almost amused sound. “How old are you, Riley p>
I blinked. What did that have to do with anything?
Riley looked just as confused, but answered. “Sixteen, sir p>
“I hope you remember that,” he said lightly.
Remember what?
“Yes, sir,” Riley replied, then glanced at me. “But Savannah does have something she’d like to say p>
Reginald’s gaze shifted at last. “Does she p>
“Yes,” Riley said firmly.
My heart pounded as I pushed back my chair and stood. The scrape of wood against marble echoed too loudly in my ears. “I do p>
Reginald clasped his hands together, elbows resting on the table, an amused glint in his eyes. “Then let us hear it p>
“I’ll take the test,” I said clearly, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “I will not leave this place without Roman. So if it’s a test you want, you’ll
have it p>
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A ripple of tension spread across the table.
“But what you will never have,” I continued, meeting his gaze at last, “is what you truly want. You will never break Roman and me apart p>
I waited for the crack. For the anger. For the mask to fall. But it didn’t.
Reginald didn’t even look at me. His eyes were fixed on Riley.
And in that moment, a cold understanding settled deep in my bones. I hadn’t just agreed to a test. I had stepped fully into his game.
And he had already decided how it would end.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.