Page 233 of A Vicious Love

I stopped near the stream.

Her father stopped too. While his sons lingered behind.

I looked over my shoulder. “Leave.”

The eldest stiffened. “This is a family⁠—”

“Leave.”

“Go ahead.” Her father lifted one hand.

They left. Smart enough. The uncle remained one second too long. I looked at him, and he suddenly remembered somewhere else he needed to be.

Then it was just me and Sienna’s father in the clearing.

Finally.

Business.

He adjusted his gloves. “If this is about the retreat accommodation⁠—”

“It isn’t.”

His mouth closed.

“It’s about your daughter.”

His face changed in the smallest way. Calculation. That alone made something in me go cold.

“Which one?” he asked.

My hand flexed once at my side.

I could have killed him for that. Not because the question didn’t make sense in a dynasty family. It did. That was the problem. Daughters seen as categories, and assigned assets to the crest.

“Sienna,” I said.

He nodded carefully. “Of course.”

“You’re going to listen.”

His brows drew in. “Jamison⁠—”

“No.” I stepped closer. “You’re going to listen first.”

I saw the moment he realized the forest had changed. That no son, brother, uncle, dog, or old-family tradition was standing close enough to save his pride.

“You offered Celeste,” I said.

His face gave almost nothing away.

“Damius spoke to you.”

“Damius speaks to everyone eventually. Try not to feel special.”

“You pulled Sienna from the merger.”

He exhaled through his nose. “The original arrangement had exceeded its viable term.”