Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 141385 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141385 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Once we do?
Does that mean they have a real plan?
Oscar taps his fingertips against the table. “What if he’s desperate enough to be stupid?”
“Then he’ll get a shock. I can defend myself, and I’d bet I can hurt him far quicker than he can hurt me. The only reason he had a chance to raise his hand against me before is because I foolishly thought he would never do such a thing.” I press my lips together, looking at all three of them one by one. “Now, I know better. So let him in. Let me talk to him. It’s the only way I can put an end to all this bullshit.”
Alec and Oscar both look at Finn. Silence rests heavy between us all as he stares at me, and just when I think he’s going to say no, he sighs.
“Fine. We’ll let him in, but we’re going to be in the next room. Any sign of him laying hands on you, and it’s conversation over.” He presses his lips into a thin line. “I refuse to let you get hurt by him again.”
“I won’t.” I push back from the table and stand, leaving my hands resting on the edge. “At this point, he can’t hurt me. He doesn’t have that power anymore.”
***
My father gets to his feet the moment I walk into the room. He looks remarkably different to last night—the blue-purple shadows under his eyes add years to his face, and the tight drawing together of his lips only serves to enunciate the lines around his mouth.
Even his posture has changed. Gone is the stable, strong demeanour he usually carries himself with. In its place is a tired, weaker silhouette, one that fits with the relieved wave of desperation that emanates from him as I approach.
“Hattie!” My father reaches towards me before stopping short of touching me. “Thank you for getting me permission to enter the palace. I can’t believe I couldn’t get in. I would have invited you home to talk to you again, but Rosalyn told me you left on bad terms last night, and I—”
“Took her word for it and never thought to call me and see what happened,” I finish for him, taking a step back to put some distance between us.
He balks at my words. Or maybe it’s my tone.
Colder. Sharper.
Less forgiving than he’s used to.
It’s not the voice of the Harriet who would roll over and accept his weak placations.
It’s the voice of the Harriet I never let him see.
The real me.
“Given that you also didn’t call me to discuss the news that broke early this morning, I can only assume you’re here because you want something from me.” I fold my arms across my chest. “Well? Am I right?”
He opens his mouth, freezes, and closes it again. “I’ve been trying to contact you via the palace all day,” he says after a moment. “Of course, today’s incident is part of why I’m here. We need to resolve that issue.”
Part of.
Same old, same old.
He must think I’m stupid.
“Do we? Could you not have resolved it immediately this morning?” I stare at him, unblinking, unmoving. “We took a DNA test as soon as I returned to St Peters. Instead of the speculation that’s been rife all day, you could have confirmed I’m your daughter with proof in a matter of minutes. Yet here we are.”
“I was just—”
“More concerned about ACN Industries pulling their finances from Sinclair Corp.”
He flinches, as if he wasn’t expecting me to say that.
“Surprised?” My lips curve into a cruel smile. “You clearly didn’t consider that any information I want is at the tips of my fingers. I know exactly what’s going on.”
“You…” He trails off, then runs his hand through his short hair, taking a step back. “I need your help. ACN pulling their investment has caused the company’s value to tank, and it’s in trouble.”
“I don’t see how that’s my problem.”
“I’m your father.”
“Oh, so you do know that. Given your silence on the very public discussion regarding my paternity, I wasn’t sure if you remembered it.”
“I’ll clear it up. Right now,” he says quickly, dropping his hand from his hair. “As soon as I leave, I’ll release a statement with a copy of the DNA test that proves you’re my daughter. And I’ll find whoever started the rumour and handle it.”
Unreal.
I laugh, sliding my hands down until they’re on my hips. “Don’t bother. You’d just find a way to pin it on me like usual.”
“What do you mean?”
“Rosalyn. It was Rosalyn who started this story in the first place.”
He freezes. “No. She wouldn’t. She knows… She knows you’re my daughter.”
“Hm.” I smirk. I don’t know if I hate him or pity him more. “It would be touching that you think so highly of your wife if it didn’t make me sick.”