Page 109 of I See You

Roman chuckled, his knuckles casually gripping the wheel as they rolled through the gate and up the long, winding driveway to a mansion that made Dorian’s mouth part just slightly.

"Still calling my cousin though," she said, regaining her focus with a grin. "She needs to know I finally got that bitch."

She dialed Sevyn’s number, her voice already laced with excitement as Roman parked outside the massive estate. He stepped out like he owned the city—because in his world, he might as well have. And as Dorian chatted on the phone, her heels hitting the pavement, Roman watched her with a grin tugging at his lips.

He loved a woman who could throw hands and walk like royalty right after.

Across town, Ariel stood frozen in the bank parking lot, still tryingtopiecetogetherwhatthehellhadjusthappened.Thewail ofapproachingsirensfilledtheair,butitdidn’tmatter—Roman and Dorian were long gone, leaving behind nothing but tire tracks, stunned bystanders, and the blood dripping from her lip.

Her hands trembled as she climbed into her car, her heart pounding as she replayed every hit. The look in that man’s eyes—cold, merciless—stuck with her. She knew when someone meant what they said, and Roman? He didn’t make threats. He promised outcomes. And she wasn’t about to stick around and call his bluff.

Her face was a disaster—swollen, bruised, smeared with blood and humiliation. She reached up to touch her cheek and winced. Tears clouded her vision, and for the first time in a long time, she felt helpless. Vulnerable. Alone.

With shaking fingers, she called Braxton. Again. Straight to voicemail. Just like the last two weeks.

She let out a shaky breath, gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. She couldn’t show up back at work like this. Hell, she couldn’t show her face anywhere like this. She’d have to lie. Say she got jumped. Maybe claim she was in an accident.

But no matter how much money her daddy had—or how many surgeons she found—nothing was going to erase the humiliation Dorian carved into her face today.

Ariel finally pulled off, swallowing the lump in her throat as the tears streamed freely now.

This wasn’t over.

But deep down… she knew she’d already lost.

Chapter 14

(A littleearlier)

Sevyn strolled through the mall with Harper by her side, indulging in some much-needed retail therapy. Between the heartbreak with Braxton, the chaos at her parents’ house, and the emotionalgrip Hassan had on her days ago, she needed the distraction—badly. Dorian was slammed with clients, so Harper happily tagged along, needing the escape herself. Hassan had told her Hendrix was moving back, and she’d been low-key spiraling ever since. He hadn’t made his presence known yet, but she knew it was only a matter of time.

“Youlikethispurse?”Sevynasked,holdingupabrownLouis Vuitton. Harper eyed it, then nodded.

“That is cute.”

“Well, I’m getting it,” Sevyn grinned, tossing it over her arm like she wasn’t already holding three bags.

“Hey,Sev…canItalktoyouaboutsomething?”Harper’stone shifted, instantly grabbing Sevyn’s attention.

Sheside-eyedherwithaslightsmirk.“You'renotusingmeto ambush any more of your family into therapy, are you?”

Harperchuckledbutshookherhead.“No…thistime,I’mthe family member who needs therapy advice.”

Sevynpaused,herattentionsnappingfromtheLouisVuitton boots she’d been admiring. “Okay… what’s up?”

Harperhesitated.“YourememberhowItoldyouMadeagave Hassan a task before she… you know…”

Sevyn nodded, instantly serious. “Well… she gave me one too.”

Something about the way Harper said it—how soft and uncertain her voice became—made Sevyn stop in her tracks and turn toward her fully. “Alright, let’s sit. I don’t like the way this white woman’s been watching us anyway,” she muttered, side-eyeing the sales associate who hadn’t stopped tracking them since they walked in.

“I got money to buy this whole damn franchise, Becky. Don’t play with me,” Sevyn snapped loud enough for the woman to hear.

Harper cracked up as they walked out. She always loved how Sevyn nevermissedabeat.Andtruthfully,Sevynwasoneofthewealthiest people Harper knew—and the realest.

They found a table in the food court and sat down, bags at their feet and emotions heavy in the air.

“Okay, so… Madea wants me to sit down and have a conversation with my dad,” Harper said, her voice low.

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