my sister can help with that.” I folded my arms and leaned up against the bookcase-lined wall. The smell of leather-bound, exquisitely ornate books that he never read hit my nostrils. At least the staff successfully kept up appearances by never allowing them to get dusty.
His cold stare held mine for long minutes until I broke the tense silence that settled between us. “To what do I owe the honor of this grand audience?”
He sat back, blowing out a breath, his eyes narrowing. “You aren’t sparing the sarcasm tonight, are you?”
I smirked. “Might as well cut to the chase, right?”
As he shifted to cross his legs, striking a haughty pose, the leather creaked its protest. “You’re really not in a position to have this kind of attitude. You’ve brought this new person into our family without any warning whatsoever. Not even an introduction beforehand. I thought you’d sworn off marriage after the last one. Even when she begged for another chance. Did you see a gorgeous face and let your hormones get the better of you? Or… was it something else?”
I scratched my forehead with one nail, just above my eyebrow. “It sounds a lot like you’re questioning my sanity.” Again. “What’s next? Should I expect threats of being committed against my will?”
Father’s gaze narrowed. “That was a long time—”
“And yet you still bring up Claire and the theatrics she pulled when we split up. That was a long time ago too. Nice move, by the way, inviting her here tonight. That hasn’t been awkward at all.”
He shrugged. “Your mother’s doing, not mine. She’s Julia’s closest friend.” Father’s gaze drifted away from mine and he appeared deep in thought. “I’m going to be honest. Your behavior has us concerned.”
Ah. There it was. Concern. Lucas was having “another breakdown.” Time to round up the troops and start tearing our own hair out again! What will the neighbors think?
“Last I checked, I didn’t need to run my important life decisions by you for pre-approval. I’m twenty-six years old.”
He didn’t like that little reminder. All my choices since the day I’d left my old life behind me had reinforced that belief and it still irked him on a regular basis.
“Last I checked, I’m still your father and you’re still a part of this family. Your introducing her to us ahead of time would have been the decent thing to do.”
I stayed silent, and it was a concerted effort to keep my words from escaping my mouth. I gave you the warning you deserved. Damn. This was a fake marriage, sure. This shit he was throwing at me—the past, the self-interested “concern”—should have been rolling right off my back.
Instead it was making me simmer with subdued rage, doing exactly what I’d hoped it wouldn’t, bringing the past up front and center and throwing it all in my face.
This prick was implying that the only reason I’d deign to marry someone like Katya was because I’d gotten her pregnant. Or that I’d allowed her to manipulate me and my hormones. Or that I was mentally ill. That pissed me off even more. He knew nothing about her nor did he appear to want to know anything about her. His own new daughter-in-law.
He brought the glass to his lips for another sip, then leaned back into the chair with a long drawn-out sigh. “I trust you have a prenuptial agreement in place.”
More fuel for the rage embers that threatened to flare into full-blown flames. I rubbed my jaw and fought to keep the smile from my face before I dropped this particular bomb. “There’s no prenup.”
He visibly paled, mouth pursing up like he’d sucked a lemon. That’s an A plus for being dramatic, dear Father.
“It won’t be needed.” I couldn’t help but twist the knife a little. “I haven’t touched the trust fund and I have no plan to.”
He rubbed his forehead. “No one can touch that money but you. I can’t do anything about that. It was your grandfather’s doing.”
Much to your chagrin, I know.
“It can stay in the trust fund and accrue interest. Maybe my heir, if I have one, will enjoy it.”
The look of disgust on his face almost made me laugh. Who in their right mind would turn down a nine-figure trust fund? But since they’d long ago decided that I wasn’t in my right mind, why not just keep them guessing?
“Your behavior these past six years has beyond baffled me. I don’t understand you.”