Page 167 of Beautiful Lies

“It looks exactly like that.” I grip the paper so tightly the edges crumple. “This was what you planned all along, wasn’t it?”

His eyes flicker with something pained, but when he nods, all I can feel is my own devastation.

Damn him. He had this plan from the very beginning. Before we even met.

He walked into William’s office that morning so long ago, armed with this.

Demolition.

I shake my head, feeling so crushed my body barely moves. “You should have told me. You knew how much this place meant to me, yet you kept this horrible secret. I had to find out from the press.”

The tears come now, hot and humiliating, and people from nearby tables turn to stare.

“Isla, I have no idea how the press found out.”

I can’t stay here. Not in this booth. Not in this building. Not with him looking at me like he has any right to be confused.

I push up from the table and head straight for the door.

“Isla!” Knox stands immediately, following me, but I don’t care. I keep walking.

I step outside, the morning light hitting me like a slap. My head spins.

Demolished.

The word echoes through the hollow of my mind.

God, I’m so fucking stupid.

All this time, I never once considered he may do this. I assumed having a restaurant so established on Park Avenue was worth its weight in gold.

But what’s worth more?

The land. The location.

Real estate.

Real estate on Park Avenue.That’swhat Knox wanted.

Vale Global is known for finance and investments. But not real estate. Until now.

It’s like someone ripped the wool from my eyes.

A venture like this… it would be the only thing big enough to make up for everything my father did. The perfect retribution.

Knox catches up, grabbing my arm. “Isla, please. We need to talk about this.” His eyes plead with me, but I can’t think past the ache in my heart.

“You made me believe you were going to keep the place,” I choke out.

“I didn’t. You just assumed that.”

“You said you’d buy me out.” My voice becomes whisper-soft, as though disconnected from me. “Thatmade me believe you were going to keep the place.”

“Isla.” His tone drops, sharp and fierce. “I didn’t want to talk about this until I had a solution that wouldn’t upset you.”

“What were you going to do? What solution could you possibly come up with where you get to demolish the restaurant, and I’d be okay with it?”

He blows out a breath. “I don’t know. Nothing was supposed to be finalized until we…” His voice trails off.