Page 142 of The Royal Art of Revenge

“I suppose someone must.” I cradle his face with my hands, squeezing his cheeks slightly. “What did he say?”

“He wants you to visit. He hasn’t seen you since the party.”

I wrinkle my nose up, letting my hands fall to rest on his chest. “Ugh. As much as I hate it, he’s right. I do need to show my face. It’ll give me a chance to get the rest of my things, too.”

“It’s not going to be fun,” Finn warns, a shadow passing across his gaze. “It’s been a few weeks, but I get the impression they’re not going to let our relationship go.”

“They’ll never let it go,” I reply. “We could be married for twenty years, and they’ll still hold a grudge.”

“Mm. Well, that’s unfortunate for them.” He pauses and tilts his head to the side. “You don’t have to go if you aren’t comfortable. We can send people to get your belongings.”

“No, it’s fine. He’s right. I really should show my face.” I sigh, sinking back into his embrace. “At least then they can’t say I’ve abandoned them. And I suppose I will look rather magnanimous if I show up after Jasmine hit me.”

He pauses. “Look at you, always thinking ahead.”

“Well, I am very concerned about my image.”

“And theirs, if I recall.”

“Oh, yes. How people perceive my multimillionaire father, his mistress, and their secret daughter is very important to me.” A tiny laugh escapes out of me. “No, it’s fine. I need to get it over with. They’re going to interrogate me no matter what, so the sooner, the better. I’ve already dragged this out too long.”

Finn grunts. “Don’t let them bully you. You don’t have to play the obedient little daughter anymore, you know that, right?”

“I know.” I kiss his cheek. “How else do you think I made Jasmine hit me?”

“Please don’t remind me. It pisses me off every time I think about her laying hands on you. Especially since there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“Yes, well, she’ll get what’s coming to her. They all will.” I cup his handsome face and brush the tip of my nose against his.

“Mm.” His hold on me tightens slightly. “Just walk in there knowing they’re going to try to hurt you. I fully expect them to still try to use your trust fund against you, and whatever you say to them is going to be turned back on you. Even though we’ve made it clear I’ll never marry Jasmine, it could be that they switch gears from her becoming my wife to stopping you at all costs.”

“If they have any sense, they won’t.” I pause. “Then again, that’s asking a lot of them. Now I know Rosalyn was definitely involved in what happened to me, I hold the cards.”

“Do you think your father knows?”

“No. There are many, many things I could say about him, but I truly don’t think he would have married her or let her do any of the things she has if he knew she was partially responsible. He may have been unfaithful to my mother, but he did love us. Well, he loved me. Not to mention his appearance really is everything to him.”

“He’s doing a terrible job of that right now.”

“Why do you think he wants me going over to the house? People caught his reaction during the announcement of the engagement, and the fact Jasmine and I had a public altercation... The Sinclair family doesn’t look good right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was facing some pressure from investors, either.”

“Good point. Want me to find out?”

“Can you do that?”

“Oscar can.” Finn’s lips curve into a smile that makes his eyes twinkle. “And if he can’t, Alec can.”

I tilt my head to the side. “True. I’m learning that there isn’t much he can’t find out.”

“Best not to think about it too much.” He trails his finger down to my thigh where he draws tiny circles with his fingertip. “When are you going to your father’s house, then? I can have someone arrange it all.”

“Tonight.”

He freezes. “Tonight?”

“Yes. He wants me to come, and when better than in a few hours?”

“Harriet...”