Page 19 of Her Fiance’s Father

She smiles, laughs, and kisses me more. I wrap her in my arms and hold her for a long time as we both come down from our peaks.

“I really should get to work now,” I say regretfully.

“You mean looking into Kyle and Clarice?”

I nod. “Yeah. I’ll make them pay. Be sure of that.”

Katie looks up at me, those adorable eyes fixed and stern. “I want to help,” she says. “I never liked Kyle, but I think I deserve some revenge.”

My lips twist into a smile, and I nod.

“I think so too.”

7

KATIE

Driving back to Kyle’s house feels wrong on many levels. Robert would kill me if he knew what I was up to.

I park out front and head inside. Kyle’s already coming down the stairs as I come into the foyer. He’s either tracking me with his phone, which wouldn’t surprise me at all, or he’s monitoring the security cameras out front.

“There she is!” he announces, raising both arms in the air. “She’s finally came to her senses!”

My stomach twists, but I force a smile. Gotta keep up appearances.

He’s wearing Gucci flip-flops with Prada sweatpants and a Versace tank-top, just in case someone out there didn’t know he came from a family with money. Of course, he didn’t earn a dime of that money. He just moved it from Robert’s bank account to his own.

To say he looks obnoxious would be an understatement.

He saunters right up to me and moves in for a kiss, but I press my palm to his chest and shake my head.

“I…I still need some time,” I say, keeping my voice low and vulnerable.

He starts to frown but stops, then slowly nods.

“I understand. You’re hurt. Seeing me with Clarice upset you. It’s okay, Katie. Jealousy is a natural human emotion.”

I barely stop myself from breaking out into laughter.

Jealousy? Is he kidding? I never even wanted to marry him in the first place.

But I keep my mouth shut and just nod, my eyes on the floor.

“Why Clarice, though?”

Kyle sighs. “To tell you the truth? It’s just stress from work.” Oh, right. All that work you do. “She came on to me, and I didn’t know how to turn her down.”

There’s not an ounce of truth to that entire story. Well, except for maybe the fact that Clarice came on to him. I’d believe that.

Tyson, one of the cleaning staff, walks by with his mop and bucket. Kyle quickly takes me by the wrist and pulls me into the drawing room. I do not want his hands on me, but I let him for now. It’s important he feels like he’s in control.

He closes the door behind us and walks up beside me, keeping his voice low.

“Listen, I know you’re probably still angry, but I need this wedding to go through.”

“Aw, Kyle,” I reply, playing ignorant. “You love me?”

My response shocks him. He almost scoffs and laughs but holds it together.