Page 208 of Sinful Pleasure

“After everything I’ve done for you,” Mikael said, his voice light yet icy. His expression was one of disappointment, his gun still aimed at me. “And this is how you repay me?”

The bitterness in his words cut deep, opening wounds I had long tried to ignore. Because I knew even after everything Mikael had done to save me, protect me, and keep me by his side—I would still choose Maddox— unconditionally, without hesitation. Always.

I wasn’t a good daughter, but I had made peace with that a long time ago.

“I’m sorry I’m not the daughter you’ve always wanted.”

My voice trembling as I choked back tears. I wanted to appear strong, even though I wasn’t. Maddox stood behind me, his body pressed against mine, my backresting firmly against his chest.

“But I won’t let you do this. I won’t let you kill him.”

The room fell silent.

Mikael and I locked eyes, staring each other down for what felt like an eternity. Just when I thought he was about to pull the trigger and end it all, a slow, deliberate clap echoed from the shadows.

All eyes turned toward the sound.

From the darkness stepped none other than Martin King himself, his presence commanding and deliberate.

At his side, unharmed and wearing a smirk as sharp as a blade, was Lydia King. Alive, untouched, and ready to destroy.

And then, as if struck by lightning, my breath caught in my throat. The realization hit me like a freight train.

We were played.

Martin stepped forward, standing next to Mikael as if they were old friends.

Lydia followed close behind, her presence confirming my worst fears that my father played me. He’s with Martin and Lydia.

This wasn’t a meeting to negotiate—it was a purge.

A trap— with no way out.

Maddox must have realized it, too, because this time he used force, shoving my body behind his, shielding me from what was coming.

I dared to glance up at his face. His stone-cold mask betrayed the storm of emotions raging beneath— fury, bitterness, hurt.

All of it, crashing down at once.

“I told you, Mikael, but you had to see it with your own eyes,” Martin said with a laugh. “You didn’t believe Lydia when she said your own daughter would choose my son over you. Now, do you believe her?”

Maddox’s gaze shifted to Lydia, his jaw clenched so tight it looked as if he was planning her funeral.

“I told you to get rid of her, brother,” Lydia said coolly, her voice cutting through the room like ice.

Her white hair spilled over her shoulders, making her look every bit like an Ice Queen.

“She only brings death.”

“You played me,” Maddox growled, his voice sharp and cold, like the edge of a blade. His deadly gaze pinned Lydia in place.

She didn’t flinch. Instead, she nodded.

“It was the only solution.”

My eyes darted between the three of them standing before us. Suddenly, our army of men felt minuscule as more of Mikael’s people poured intothe building, their weapons drawn, surrounding us.

We were in a freaking trap.

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