“You’re doing this to punish them,” the realization sliding into place. “To humiliate them.”
“And your family,” Vincent replied without flinching. “The Thornes invited a sovereign crest into Villain like you had permission. That insult doesn’t go unanswered.”
“My father didn’t?—”
“Your father let his assets sit under your name. He used your signature as leverage. He positioned your bloodline like a shield.”
My father’s eyes flickered, stung by the accuracy.
“Stop,” I breathed, the word barely working. “Please.”
Vincent’s gaze didn’t soften.
The penthouse slammed back into me, keys hitting marble, his voice telling me to go, the way I’d walked out of that apartment with my heart in pieces.
“You don’t get to stand there and act like I’m nothing. After everything—after—” I swallowed. “I know you.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, like he found the claim annoying.
“You don’t,”
The words ripped something away that I hadn’t realized I’d been clinging to.
“My work,” I tried, grabbing for anything that felt solid. “My career. My reputation. You ruin my name, you ruin everything I built. I negotiated those contracts. I earned those seats. I?—”
“Be silent,” Vincent said.
Two words.
Not shouted. Worse. Matter-of-fact. A command delivered like law.
Heat rushed into my face, then drained out so quickly I went cold. The room blurred at the edges.
My gaze dropped to the table. The projection hovered above the gold tablet—crests floating like gods. The Crow ring on Vincent’s hand caught the light.
“You don’t get to speak to her like that.”
Vincent didn’t even look at him. Damius did—eyes sharpening, expression tightening into warning.
“You’re in our chamber. Choose your next words carefully.”
“She isn’t livestock.”
“She is lineage.”
He loved me.Once.That’s what I’d grieved for months. Still missed today. His love. God sake. The man had his penis moulded for me. Vince’s love wasn’t in my head. It happened.
God. Why did it feel I was going crazy.Because you didn’t know him. The same man capable of that, also had he ability to walk past me the next day.
My father’s voice finally broke all the way. “What happens if she refuses to surrender?” His eyes were on Nikolai now, frantic and furious and ruined. “If she runs? If she hides? If we don’t give you the wedding you want?”
“The Codex will record her as in breach,” he said. “Your dynasty will be declared noncompliant under Pillar law. Villain contracts under Thorne authority will be frozen. Accounts will be seized where applicable. Your seats at dynasty tables will be revoked.”
“And my daughter?” he demanded. “What happens to her?”
My father wasn’t really asking about me. He cared more about the amount of money, status and power he would lose if this went through.
There was a pause, then Nikolai’s eyes flicked to Vincent, as if this part belonged to him. Vincent’s gaze stayed on the table for a moment, then lifted just enough to land on my father.
