Chapter 0223

I blush a little, embarrassed that it’s been that obvious.

“You don’t get it, dad,” I say, tracing a finger along the wood of the bench before I look up into his eyes. “Daniel and I...we’re

dedicated to one another.”

“Dedication makes a better match than passion,” he says, considering.

I blush again to think of my father thinking of me and Ivan in terms of passion.

“But Fay,” he continues, “I have...other reasons for wishing you’d turn your head in a new direction. Not to Ivan, if that’s not what

you want. But...elsewhere.”

“What?” I ask, curious. “What reasons?”

“Fay,” he says, shaking his head. “We have...not been to each other, what a father and a daughter should be. That was your

mother’s choice — not mine. I would have kept you, if she had let me, raised you to the life you should have had. I hope that you

would let me give it to you now. Let me help you make the choice that will make you happy.”

“But...” I slow down here, wanting to get this right, wanting to...

I take a deep breath, thinking about what Kent would do in this situation, and realize that he probably wouldn't say much at all

and, instead, let the other person weave enough rope to hang themselves with.

“Dad,” I say, reaching out and taking his hand, doing my best to make my face look worried. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I wish for you to be happy,” my father says, clamming up a little and leaning back against the arm of the bench, studying

me.

I decide to push it and press my eyes shut, making myself think as many horrible things as I can in just a few seconds —

imagining everyone I love dying, my horse getting hurt, Daniel in a terrible car crash —

And when I look up at my father again, my face is red with emotion, my eyes a just a little wet. “Please,” I say, shaking my head.

“I don’t know what to do.”

Something breaks in my father — I watch it happen. And he leans forward towards me, true concern in his eyes. “Fay,” he

whispers, tsking again and reaching for me, pulling me close. “I would keep you safe, my darling,” he murmurs against my hair.

“Does that mean,” I sniff, allowing myself to get worked up, to actually worry now. “That...that you don’t think Daniel...”

“No, Fay,” he says, “I don’t think your Daniel can protect you, no matter your fondness for him.”

“Ivan said...” I continue, hesitating. “That he could? And I...1 do like him...”

“He can,” my father says, “with my help, he can.”

“But Natalia...” I say, mentally crossing my fingers and hoping that I’m not pushing it too far. “She said...”

“What did that bitch say,” my father snaps, and I can almost feel the sneer on his face.

I push away from him then, pretending that he scared me a little, but wanting to see his face. “Nothing — I’m sorry —*

“No,” he says, his tempering rising a little as he grabs my arm. I let my eyes go wide and look at his hand, taking a sharp breath

in.

“I'm sorry, Fay,” he says, releasing me and shaking his head. “My temper — I am not good —*

“She said that you were...the weakest...” I breathe. “Can you protect me?”

And my father —

I'm shocked, but he laughs. Laughs.

“Your Lippert’s Natalia,” he says,

shaking his head, “she has nai

what she ang sheahe Alessi

Have abe tied to the Lippert

family for too long. They only

know...one side.” Please read the

original content at .

I don’t know what to do with myself

then — and I certainly don’t w. ee him

to seem face rColGUR myself

Fak ans him as if I need comfort

— and honestly, maybe I do. Please

read the original content at

.

“You don't have to make any big

decisions today, Fay,” my father sans,

wrapping.a agmaratattine and

dedinghhy Read “There is plenty of

time. We will make you a good

match.” Please read the original

content at .

And my father doesn’t say anything else on the subject, but his point is quite clear: his idea of a good match?

It's not Daniel. Not because he doesn’t have the right lineage, but because my father, like Ivan, is convinced that the Lippert

family are the ones going down.