Page 74 of Safe Place

“You know this girl has a messy history,” he starts. “Her father’s in jail. Her mother abandoned her and comes crawling back for money. From her own daughter. You know these traits are passed down, right? Whatever she grew up seeing, she’s going to perceive as normal.”

His tone is sharp, calculated, every word meant to cut.

My jaw tightens. “You don’t even know her.”

He turns to face me, his expression unreadable but his tone cold. “You’re hardheaded. Determined. Maybe even more than Lucas, and I know you won’t stop seeing her because I tell you to. But ideally, the head of The Vale Group needs to be with someone of the same status.”

Same status.

I think of my mom—how she wasn’t some society darling or a wealthy heiress. She was just an artist my dad fell in love with. He hadn’t cared about “status” then. Hell, I’m almost certain they never even signed a prenup, because he was so sure about her.

But I don’t say that yet.

He raises an eyebrow. “I know you bought her a car.”

My shoulders stiffen, but I keep my tone even. “So? Our family has plenty.”

“Did she ask you for one? Or did she act like she’s some helpless little girl?” He sighs. “I never thought you of all people would get so easily manipulated by some girl, Micah. Lucas? Maybe—God knows what goes on in his head. But you?”

I try to keep my composure. Don’t react.

He doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even blink. “What’s next, Micah? She’s going to ask for a house? Get pregnant? You think this girl is in it for love, but girls like her—they see opportunity.”

“Don’t talk about her like that.” I snap. My hands curl into fists at my sides. “Like I said, you don’t know her.”

He steps closer, his voice dropping, every word sharp and deliberate. “If you continue to be distracted with this kind of girl, I’ll make sure she has nothing. I’ll take away her housing. I’ll have Westcliffe expel her if I have to. The car? Fine—what’s done is done. But from now on, nothing goes to Sophie Lennox without my approval.”

He’d do this to her even knowing everything she’s been through—knowing her past. This is exactly the kind of thing Luke hated. The reason he wanted nothing to do with this company. Our father doesn’t care about people.

Fuck. I want to tell him right now—tell him that if he so much as touches her life, I’ll walk away from the company just like Luke did.

But I can’t. Not yet.

If I leave now, I have nothing—nothing except The Haven. I can’t support Sophie without the resources I have through him, not the way I want to—need to. At least until her stepfather is gone for good. I have to stay in this long enough to graduate, long enough to get more properties and assets in my name.

For now, I have to be smart.

“Micah,” he sighs, like he’s being generous, “There are plenty of better options for you. If you want a girlfriend, just say the word and I’ll find you one. Someone who fits the image of this company. Your future empire.”

I can’t listen to this anymore. My jaw is tight, my pulse pounding. I need to get out of here before I say something I can’t take back.

Fuck. I should’ve done what Luke did. Started my own thing. He walked away from all of this. Lucky bastard.

The drive home feels endless. Rush hour traffic doesn’t help, but it’s my dad’s voice replaying in my head that really makes it drag.

I run through my options, but one thing keeps coming back to me—I need to talk to Luke. He’s smart. His grades are not as good as mine, but in his own way, the guy’s a genius. He built Evergreen at fifteen—with my dad’s financial help only for the first year—and now he pulls in millions in donations from some of the biggest companies in the country. Hell, billionaires fly in from all over the world just to attend his events. And he does all of this while still being a student on a Westcliffe scholarship of his own. Without publicly exposing who he really is.

If he weren’t so damn altruistic, he would’ve been the perfect heir to The Vale Group. My dad would worship him for it—they’d rule the world together, and my dad would die happy.

But that’s not Luke.

He probably has less money in his personal account than most college students. I mean he asked me to let him live at The Haven rent free. He lives like he’s broke, yet he gives away millions every year in scholarships and donations to people who need it.

And I can’t help but think—this is what drives my dad crazy. Luke is everything he can’t control, but he’s untouchable because my dad sees so much of himself in him.

I pull into The Haven, already feeling lighter just knowing Sophie’s here. She said she’d be waiting, and damn, only if I could come home to her every single day.

The elevator doors slide open, and the first thing that hits me is the smell—garlic, butter, and steak. My stomach growls instantly.