ie

nked a

? Isn't tha

his voice dripping with sarcasm as h

w to make Father

diamonds and his words. I wasn't drooling, thank you ver

a stunning emerald-cut sky blue diamond, large and perfectly cut, with smaller d

ted to it. "Wait-no way. Tha

naled the sales assistant over,

he said smoo

d under my breath,

't need the most expensive ring in the store. There

ring-a small diamond on a delicate

d chosen, his mouth pulling

he said with a slight sneer, "then my

e, discreetly wrapping the extravagant ring in a luxurious ve

rustrating as it

Lucas held it out to me, hi

has to look like

ipped the ring onto my finger, feeling it

liance across my hand, and I swallowe

far too beautiful f

noticing my reaction.

lready striding out of the boutiqu

h the ring. My hand felt foreign with it on, but the

settled in beside Lucas, he reached over, lightly taking my hand

ised by the sudden t

red, his voice soft enough f

nodded, taking a slow breath as I tried to ease into the role. Lucas ke

ble silence, interrupted only by the occasional squeeze

glass high-rise, Derrick led us through

elevator began to rise, though now the

voice to sound steady. "Not at all. Just hopi

. "Sienna, you'll be fine. Just stick with me. If I d

ouse. I took a steadying breath, my eyes wide

eiling windows revealing a breathtaking view of Bellmore's glittering skyline, a

o us. He turned as we entered, his sharp blue eyes assessin

ather. The man was every bit

voice a deep, gravelly bari

e was warm, almost reve

elt my heart flutter at his wo

l breath, extending my hand as his eyes swept over me

is handshake was firm but respectful, and he gave

ld me quite a

," I replied with a warm smile, willing

e more comfortable that way," he said with a warm

to sit at the large dining table set up in the adj

cozy glow over the table, which was laden with

by two maids, each carrying additional plat

lower back as we settled in. It was a small touch, yet comfor

sip of his wine, his eyes meetin

ck slightly as he studied me. "Lucas

as, who gave me an

egance of the role I was playing. "I'm here for a

a faint smile tugging at his

did you

s if he were testing us, waiting to

ng mine on the table. His thumb brushed over my knuckles in a

voice soft but steady. "We met by chan

e lingering on the way Lucas held my hand. Then

ng with such conviction, Lucas," he said

think you'd given up

ace, something almost vulnerable, bef

ange, Fathe

the ease with which Lucas spun his lies, e

pitcher and poured two glasses, one for myself and one f

ng him a glass with a wink. "Remember how m

His fingers tightened around my hand, a silent warning, and I fel

ned forward,

ther since two years?" His tone was smooth, but t

know Lucas is severel

ach dropp