Page 158 of The Royal Art of Revenge

“So was I.” I stop with my hand on the door. I can’t turn to look at him right now. If I do, I’ll break. I can feel it in the way my heart clenches a little tighter with every beat. “When I came back to St Peters, I was desperate. For the past two years, I have been desperate to be acknowledged and accepted by you. I’ve been desperate for Rosalyn and Jasmine to give me a break. For one of you to stop blaming me for Jasmine’s mistakes. For one of you to not make me into her scapegoat for her car crashes and bad attitude in public. For one of you to hold her responsible for her own actions. But no. Not once did you think of me. Not once did you tell them ‘no.’ Not fucking once did you stop and think about how protecting your perfect little princess was affecting your daughter. The one who’d been missing for twenty years.”

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“No, you aren’t. You’re sorry I didn’t go along with it. You’re sorry I’m not the sheltered, uneducated little girl you thought I was. You’re sorry that your bad treatment of me didn’t go unnoticed and means you’re now in trouble.”

“Harriet, for goodness’ sake. What do you want from me?”

“Nothing. I don’t want anything anymore.” I force myself to release the door handle and spin back to face him. “I can’t imagine anything I could ask for that wouldn’t end in disappointment.”

“Let me sort this mess with the paternity claims. If it was Rosalyn, I’ll make it right.” Desperation tinges his tone, and his eyes are pleading with me in a way I’ve never seen. “I’ll make sure that Jasmine issues a public apology for what she did to you. Whatever you want, Hattie.”

I press my lips together and study his face.

He looks earnest.

I don’t trust him. I know what’ll happen. He’ll promise me all these things, make me help him, and then renege on everything when Rosalyn and Jasmine kick up a fuss.

Just like always.

“ACN aren’t the only company pulling funds, are they? There are others.” The words leave my mouth before my brain has fully processed the thought. “You’re worried more investors will withdraw their money if you don’t fix it.”

My father drags his hand down his almost haggard face. “Yes. Two others are discussing it. I think they can be talked down from it, but I need to stabilise the personal situation.”

“Who are they?”

He hesitates, then says, “Apollo Inc and Robinson Investments.”

Never heard of them.

I nod like I have, though. “Fine. I’ll see if I can help.”

His eyes light up. “You will?”

“I’m not promising anything, but I’ll see if it’s possible.” I tuck my hair behind my ear and stare at him. “In return, you fix this. Within two hours, I’m going to release a full statement and proof of you being my father, and you will respond immediately by acknowledging me as your eldest daughter. I want an apology from both Rosalyn and Jasmine for their part in that lie and Jasmine’s actions towards me in Lammens.”

He blanches.

“Also, within twelve hours, you hand over everything that’s rightfully mine. My trust fund and any other inheritance left to me by Mum.”

At that, he nods. “You have my word.”

“Good.”

“Wait. How can you release proof of our relationship?”

“Because I’m the one who possesses the DNA test results.” I wrap my arms around my waist and let my lips curl into a knowing smile. “I took them before Finn’s party. The Queen currently has them.”

“You broke into my safe?”

“It’s not breaking in if you know the password,” I say dryly. “I took them because I had a feeling Rosalyn might pull something like this and I wanted to be prepared.”

“Then why—” He reaches out a hand and stops. “Why haven’t you refuted the story?”

“Because I was testing you. And you passed with flying colours.”

“What? What test?”

“To see if you would disappoint me one more time.” I hold his gaze, letting him see how much I mean it. “I had a feeling you would, and lo and behold, here we are.”