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“But you planned to use me as a pawn that entire time. You knew I wouldn’t be able to convince him.”
“A man like him isn’t going to be persuaded by a woman’s pleas.”
God, I was so stupid.
“I understand you’re angry, Laura—”
“Angry doesn’t even begin to describe it. I told you everything…and you treated me like a dog.”
“There was no other way. Bartholomew had me pinned down. It was either that—or lose everything. Laura, you saved our family. You saved our legacy. I hope you understand the sacrifice you made.”
“But it wasn’t a sacrifice—because it wasn’t my choice.”
His gaze hardened. “He would have killed all of us.”
“Only if you didn’t cooperate.”
“And you think I’d submit?” he asked incredulously. “You think I’d ever take orders from someone else? You think I’d ever be someone else’s bitch? Yes, I’d rather die—and he already knows that.”
I didn’t want my father to end up like that, refusing to cooperate and getting shot in the head. If that did happen, I’d probably never want to speak to Bartholomew again. Regardless of what I decided, Bartholomew and I would be apart right now.
But in this scenario, I looked like the bad guy.
It could have easily been him.
That was the moment I stopped feeling so terrible about my betrayal. If I hadn’t betrayed him, he would have betrayed me. When I’d begged him to stop this, he could have backed off, and we’d be in Paris right now…my ankles locked around his waist.
My father’s voice brought me back to the conversation. “You saved us, Laura. And for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.”
His pretty words would never sway me. I wouldn’t be gaslit, not this time.
“I hope you understand how sorry I am. How horrible I felt in the moment.”
I couldn’t accept his apology so easily. That would be suspicious as hell. “I’m relieved no one got hurt but me. I’m relieved that the livelihood of our family is preserved. But I don’t forgive you.”
His eyes shifted back and forth between mine, and he actually looked hurt. “Are you still seeing him?” He already had that information from Victor, but he asked me anyway, just to be sure.
“No. He couldn’t look past my betrayal.”
“You protected your family. He would have done the same.”
Not Bartholomew. “I miss him, but…it is what it is.”
“He wasn’t the right man for you, Laura. The only interest he had in you was your connection to me.”
And that bit him in the ass. If he hadn’t walked into my shop, his plan would have been successful. He should have just walked away, and after getting my heart broken, I wished he’d done exactly that.
“I see the way Victor looks at you.”
My eyes locked on his.
“There’s been no one serious since you.”
My face remained indifferent, but a seed was planted—by my own enemy.
“Just thought you should know that.”
Victor was waiting by the entryway so he would see me when I left. He was in a black t-shirt with dark jeans, the normal shadow on his jawline now a short beard. His dark eyes locked on me the second I came around the corner. He even looked me up and down, as if to make sure I was unharmed.
