Page 46 of Secret Dynasty

“You can’t force me into this twisted game of yours.” I stood up, discovering my knees were shaky.

“Can’t I?” he asked. “I know about my grandfather’s arrangement with your father. I know about the investigation and about what you did. I think I’ve been very understanding given that you ran away instead of fulfilling your duty. I even gave you a choice in the matter.”

For a moment, I stared at him in mute shock. “H-h-how long?”

“I’ve always known,” he said with a shrug. “It’s not a problem unless you make it one.”

“I didn’t do anything, so if you think you can force me to marry you—”

“Let me be clear,” he said, cutting me off. “Sign that contract or that investigation opens. I can bury your family in tabloid gossip, drag things out in court.”

“Go ahead.” I met his gaze. “I won’t marry you to avoid a scandal. I don’t care if you ruin me.”

“Ruin you?” he said. “There’s no one I can’t touch. Your father. He won’t have a pound when I’m through with him. Iris has some delightful skeletons in her past that the tabloids would be interested in. And then there’s Holden…”

“You wouldn’t,” I breathed. “He’s your brother, and you need to keep your family name clean.”

“Everyone has to remove the scum sometimes. He’s done so many terrible things that people will thank me for disowning him.”

“Stop,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’ll sign your fucking contract. I’ll do whatever you want.”

Spencer slid a pen across the table and grinned.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“I’ll admit that I was surprised when you called,” Dr. Simmons said as he took the chair across from mine.

I fidgeted in my seat, trying to ignore how foolish I felt being back here after everything. The last time I’d seen him I’d practically called him a liar. “I wasn’t ready to listen before.”

“And that has changed since the results of your test?”

I nodded with a quick swallow. “I want to know everything.”

“One thing at a time,” he said, jotting something on his pad of paper.

“Look, I’ll level with you. I don’t have time to waste.” I wasn’t entirely certain what I hoped to get out of another session with Dr. Simmons. But doing something had to be better than waiting to give my soul away to Spencer this weekend.

“I see.” He peeked over his glasses at me. “Why don’t we start with why you’re here, Miss Belmond?” He paused. “May I call you that?”

“Yes,” I murmured. “I’m getting used to it.”

“That may take some time. You must protect yourself while you heal from this experience.”

“I wish I could,” I confessed.

“I believe you are suffering from a dissociative identity disorder.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“Some trauma or pressure has essentially caused you to create a new, safer reality. You believed you were Kate. I could see that, even if others remained unconvinced. You felt safer as Kate.”

“Kate was an orphan on the run from...I don’t even know what...with no money or friends.”

“Exactly,” he said. “Your parents and your wealth don’t make you feel safe. You felt threatened rather than secure.”

“So, I went crazy? Isn’t that extreme?” Why couldn’t I just have binged some ice cream or actually run away to the Riviera? Both sounded like healthier, and much easier, options.

“The disorder likely stemmed from an actual event. When I first met you, I was certain you were suffering from some acute, long-ignored trauma.”