Page 73 of Ruthless Redemption

“My mom doesn’t like her dad either. You two have a lot in common… in a bad way. And you’re kinda like Romeo and Juliet with the whole family rivalry kinda thing.”

What a delightful fucking omen of what’s to come.

“Family can be a blessing and a curse,” I mutter. “We don’t get to choose which.”

She nods. “Why won’t you admit you love my mom? She says you don’t but I know she’s lying.”

I clench my teeth. Glare at the horizon. “It’s complicated.”

“You sound just like her.”

I keep my mouth shut, hoping she’ll quit this line of questioning before I have to demand we go back inside.

“You know, my dad never looked at her the way you do.”

I clench harder. Glare with more ferocity.

“I don’t think he loved her like she deserved,” she continues, compiling my anger. “I didn’t notice until a few years back when Aunt Keira and Uncle Cole met Sebastian and Anissa. I hadn’t really been around other couples before that. But seeing them together made me realize my dad didn’t treat Mom the same.”

Commenting on her father is a trap. One I don’t plan to fall into. Not now. Not ever.

She sniffs, as if emotion is getting the better of her or maybe just the impending Emmy nomination. “Tobias said he heard my dad had cheated on her.”

I lean forward, elbows on knees, hiding my fisted hands in my lap.

“Would you ever do that to her?” she asks.

“Never. And I’ll take that vow to the grave.”

“Why do I believe you?”

God only knows. I don’t even understand why she wants to be near me. “Is it time to go back yet?”

A throat clears behind us, the tone feminine.

Yep.Definitely time.

I don’t bother glancing over my shoulder. I can already feel Layla’s laser focus burning through the back of my head. But Stella turns, her sigh quickly following.

“She’s awake,” she murmurs. “And it looks like she got out of the wrong side of the bed.”

“So much for helping me win her back,principessa. You didn’t give me any pointers.”

“I didn’t need to.” She pushes to her feet. “You win her back by winning me over. And you did that with flying colors.”

14

LAYLA

I stare downat the man who defied my orders and my daughter who sits close beside him, their conversation unheard over the ocean.

They’re talking though. The two of them converse as if they’re best buddies.

Resentment eats through me, the cold breeze nothing in comparison to the chill in my veins.

I cross my arms over my chest, restricting my billowing pajama top, and clear my throat.

Stella straightens as she turns to look at me, her eyes softening with apology. She knows she’s done the wrong thing. She predicted my disappointment and came down here anyway. All because of him.

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