Page 3 of The Obedient Lie
Like heknewthis moment would live forever. With the amount of cameras on us right now, it probably would. Marked forever as the day Emilia Adams lost her goddamn mind.
Bastion’s arm stayed around my waist. While I kissed his twin.
Finally, I pulled back. And I smiled. The one I’d been trained to wear in mirrors and media training since I was twelve.
Thedynasty daughtersmile.
“Thank you,” I said.
I let go of them and walked away—straight toward Griffin Caplan, who looked like he’d just been slapped. Like he couldn’t quite process the fact I’d humiliated him in front of everyone. And beside him, my stepsister, wearing a smug grin too big for her face. Like she already knew what headline she’d sell to a gossip column in the next five minutes.
“Don’t message me,” I said, calmly, “We’re done.”
And I walked away.
Past Griffin’s rage.
Past the whispers and camera phones.
Knowing damn well, I’d be facing the consequences tomorrow.
Chapter Two
EMILIA
“You’re a trending topic.”
Alexander’s voice was flat. Formal. Like he wasn’t my brother, just the heir delivering a ruling.
He didn’t knock. Didn’t hug me. Didn’t step in like someone who used to call meEm.
He just shut the dorm door behind him and stood there. Arms crossed. Face carved from dynasty stone.
Alexander Adams.
Not the boy who used to sneak into my room and build pillow forts. Not the teenager who once punched our father for calling me a disappointment when I was seven. Not the one who swore he’d always protect me, no matter how heavy the name got.
That version of him was dead.
What stood in front of me now was the man who replaced him.
The head of the Adams family.
The strategist of Villain.
And tonight, my judge and executioner.
“You embarrassed the Caplans,” he said. “You humiliatedyour boyfriend. You insulted a blood alliance three generations deep.”
“I broke up with him,” I said. “Cleanly. Quietly.”
“Youkissed two Crows,” he snapped. “In front of his entire bloodline. In front of every dynasty child watching.”
“I didn’t sleep with them.”
“You didn’thaveto.”
He stepped further into the room — slow and sharp.
