Page 22 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

Still, one question bothers me. How did my father fall into their trap?

Even though I should come back to the question tomorrow, I can’t help but open a new search, this one containing the names of Lucian and my father.

The search seems to work forever until…

I see a result from many years ago, and I click on it. The page takes forever to load, probably because it’s so old.

My father is standing with a group of businessmen at some fundraising luncheon. He looks younger, happier. And one of his hands is resting on Lucian’s shoulder. Caleb is nearby.

The room around me seems to contract.

Eight years ago, they told me they’d been invited to my parents’ anniversary celebration, and I hadn’t believed them.

Why would I?

They’d appeared out of nowhere, interrupted Adrian’s proposal, assaulted him when he swung at Lucian, said things that made him walk away from me without explanation, then stood there, telling me I would thank them someday.

That I would be theirs.

They angered me, scared me. And I vowed I would never belong to them.

I reach for the glass, even though my brain knows it’s empty.

Have they been planning this since then?

They knew about my mother’s treatments.

They knew what would make him surrender.

A chill crawls down my spine as I scroll through everything I’ve uncovered about them, their connections, their money, and a photograph proving they were already close to my father before I knew they existed.

And my dad straight-up lied to my face.

I slam the lid of my laptop closed.

A couple of hours ago, I convinced myself research was the right answer.

It wasn’t.

Right now, I desperately wish I knew less.

My adversaries are ruthless.

With a small shiver, I wrap my arms around my middle.

How am I going to get out of this?

Chapter Eight

Sophie

“Thank God you’re here.”

The moment I step off the elevator on the fourth floor of the building where my office is located, my assistant, Elena, hurries over. She’s clutching her phone, and her eyes are wide.

Since she is one of the calmest people I know, alarm floods me, spiking my blood pressure. “What’s going on?”

“I can’t get in the office.”