Page 103 of The Billionaire's Fake Wife

33

Sin

"Father?" Her spine tenses.

The older man walks toward her.

"I’m sorry I wasn't here to walk you down the aisle."

I’d made sure of that. One of the many wedding gifts I’d had in store for my new bride.

Her father extends his hand, and she flinches. He folds his arm around her and draws her in for an embrace.

She stands stiffly in the circle of his arms as he pats her back.

She cringes and I clench my fists. Of course, I hadn’t expected the meeting between them to be effusive. After all, the man had abandoned his daughters and left them to their own fate. But hey, I’m not completely heartless. I had given her enough warning that he would be here… She hadn’t known exactly when and I’d made sure it would be at her weakest. I’d wanted to see her fall apart in front of her father. Wanted to see how he’d react to seeing her after all this time. Well, I have my answer. The bastard is gloating at the chance to use her to further his own interests, while Summer is in complete shock.

If she’d been close to falling apart earlier, clearly, she’s reached the end of her tether.

Adam’s features twist. He glances past her and his gaze locks with mine. I tilt my head.

What will he do next? How will he orchestrate the rest of the meeting on which depends the rest of his future? This is what I excel at, right? Putting the pawns together, watching their interaction, enjoying their discomfort, and waiting for something to give. It’s how I’ve won my business successes. Constantly on the move, looking for my next victim, which in this case, happens to be him.

I should be happy, celebrating how I am so very close to getting revenge for everything I had lost. So, why is my heart heavy? Why is there a burning sensation in my gut?

Adam’s lips twist in a half smile. He grips her arm; she pulls away.

He wraps his arm around her shoulders and every muscle in her body goes rigid. Fuck this. I cross the distance to them.

"Aren’t you going to introduce us, Summer?"

She doesn’t react.

I slide my arm around her waist, tug her close.

Adam steps back, a gleam in his dark eyes.

Bastard had been trying to get a response out of me. He’d been trying to gauge how far my feelings for his daughter actually go. Have I underestimated him? I frown. Did I make a mistake by calling him to be witness to this wedding?

Does Adam actually care about his daughter or is he trying to figure out how much I do, then use it against me?

It doesn’t matter. I’ll find a way to get what I want from him. I always do. Right now, I need to get my wife away from the cause of her discomfort.

Her body trembles and I tuck her into my side.

"Adam Rhodes." The older man thrusts out his hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

I glare at his palm, then tip my chin up, "Can’t say the same."

Summer shifts her weight from foot to foot.

I rub the curve of her hip, and she draws in a breath. Some of the tension seems to drain out of her. Good.

"Well, at least you’re straight talking. We have that in common."

"Do we?" I thrust out my chin.

He raises his hands, "You invited me, Sinclair. When do we talk about the business proposition?"