Page 157 of Broken Blades

"That's not⁠—"

"It is." I slammed my own hand on the desk, matching his earlier fury. "And then you used me to clean up the mess."

His breath came faster. "I was protecting you."

"You were protecting yourself."

Silence crashed between us again.

"And everyone is going to know the truth."

Behind me, Wyatt stood perfectly still—a shadow I felt more than saw.

My father's gaze flickered to him, then back to me. "If you expose this, you'll lose everything."

I met his eyes without flinching. "Good."

His face went white. "The merger will collapse. Your mother will be humiliated. Your future⁠—"

"I don't care about the merger." My voice dropped low, dangerous. "And I'm done protecting people who only care about themselves."

My father stared at me like he didn't recognize me. And honestly? I couldn't even blame him. Because I barely recognized myself anymore either.

I turned toward the door.

Wyatt moved with me, hand finding the small of my back—steady, grounding.

My father's voice cracked behind us. "Chastity, please⁠—"

I stopped. Looked back over my shoulder. "You taught me that image was everything, Dad." I let the words hang for a beat. "So let's see how yours holds up when the truth comes out."

My father's eyes cut to Wyatt again. Red-rimmed. Wild. "You used her."

Wyatt's jaw tightened. I felt the tension ripple through his body where his hand still rested against my back. "That was the plan."

I flinched. Just slightly. The words still stung even though I knew the truth behind them.

But Wyatt kept going. "Until I fell in love with her."

My father laughed—bitter, sharp, ugly. "You expect me to believe that?"

Wyatt stepped forward. "I'd marry her tomorrow if she wanted."

My breath caught in my throat. Heat flooded my chest, spreading up my neck until I was sure my face burned crimson.

He didn't look at me. The words hung between us like a vow already spoken.

My father's expression darkened into something I'd never seen before. Not anger. Not rage. Fear.

"We didn't come here to destroy you." Wyatt's voice turned deadly calm.

My father scoffed. "You already tried."

Wyatt shook his head once. "We came here out of respect." A beat. Silence stretched so tight I thought it might snap. "Do the right thing."

My heart pounded so hard I heard it in my ears.

Wyatt's tone didn't waver. "Step down."