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“I won’t be discussing that.”

What a prick. I glare back at him. “Don’t you think I deserve to know? I’m the one paying for it.”

“I know.” The cold admission throws me. He’s never agreed with me. Ever. Especially not with something as big as this. Usually, he’d take every chance to throw back something hurtful. Like tell me Gabrielle would do her duty without question. Or he’d remind me that I’m to blame for her death. He does that a lot.

“This is something inevitable,” he says in a slow, thoughtful tone. “At least for the moment.” That sounds like he has a plan.

“What do you mean by for the moment?” I give him a hard stare.

He raises a hand and shakes it. “Not here. Walls have ears.”

Of course, they do. I glance around the room. How silly of me. Did I really think Lev was going to allow me full privacy with my parents? He’d know I’d ask these types of questions, and I suspect he’s aware that my father would try to get me back.

In the same breath, he must be laughing.

We’re stuck. If my father could do anything, he would have done it already. So… there’s nothing and no one to help me.

Inevitable. That’s what Papa said.

“What about the consummation?” Mama asks, voice shaking. “You said you would consider speaking to him.”

Papa dips his head. “No. I can’t, and shouldn’t, do anything about that. Once they are married, they are married. I have no say on whether he takes her to bed or not.”

Because the contract specifically says no interference from my father in matters to do with my marriage. I read it. Any interference will be considered a breach and grounds to terminate the agreement. Meaning grounds to unleash whatever leverage Lev has on my father and expose him.

“Bastardo.” Mama waves a tight fist at Papa, then curses him hopelessly in Italian. “Corrado, this is all your fault. Your fault our daughter has to marry this… beast.” Tears stream down her cheeks.

All I can do is stare. It’s not often that my mother breaks down and argues with my father in front of me. In fact, it was so long ago, I can hardly remember the last time she did.

Last time, he didn’t remain quiet. He struck her across the cheek right there in front of me. I was appalled and more disgusted with him than ever. What made it worse was, from the way Mama acted—the acceptance—it didn’t seem like it was the first time it had happened.

Today, Papa says nothing. He’s the one doing the accepting today.

When he looks back at me, that stern expression I’m used to returns. “You do your part, and all will be well,” he warns. “You will be safe. Your mother will be safe.”

Mama. Of course, he’d use her.

She steps forward, in between us. “No, do not think of me.” She cups my face. “I don’t want you to do anything that hurts you even more.”

Papa pulls her away, scowling. “You foolish woman.” He shoots her a scathing glare. “If you want her to live, you will make sure she listens to me. Look at me.” He gestures to the wheelchair. “Lev Karsavin is not a man to fuck with. And need I remind you what’s truly at stake?”

Papa looks back at me. The warning in his eyes tells me everything. I’m a part of his lies. His fraud. Whatever happens to him will happen to me. A quiver spasms from somewhere deep, deep in my soul. No one needs to remind me what’s at stake.

The secret. That I’m Allegra. Not Gabrielle.

I’ve been worried sick about Lev finding out.

When it came to Danillo, the worry was practically non-existent. I also assured myself that if the Bellandis ever found out the truth, the gain of me being Gabrielle would have been so beneficial to their business that they wouldn’t retaliate.

But Lev…

He doesn’t exactly want the money or the benefits. He’s fueled by revenge and needs to believe that taking me from my father is the greatest punishment he can deliver. I figured it out.

But theoretically, I’m worth nothing.

That’s the cold, hard truth because I’m supposed to be dead.

After burying who the world believes was Allegra, Papa signed everything over to Gabrielle.