Chapter 0279

Chapter 279

“What's this?” I ask, taking one off the tray and smiling at the

servant.

My father tsks as he takes his own drink, waving a hand for the servant to leave. “A sin,” he says, smiling and shaking his head

at me. “For my daughter to not know Aperol when she sees it.”

Curious, I take a sip from the little straw poking out of the glass and my eyes go wide when I realize how good it is. “Oh my god,”

I say, looking down at it. “Oh wow, it’s delicious.”

“Of course it is,” my father laughs, patting me on the knee. “Aperol, prosecco, and tonic. Ashame your Daniel has not taught you

this.”

I shrug and smile at him. “Daniel and Kent drink more whiskey than anything else,” I say.

“Irishman’s drink,” my father says, wrinkling his nose in distaste. “A betrayal but...forgivable. At least they, too, are Catholic.”

I grin, not really getting why that matters, but...whatever. I put the phrase in my back pocket to use on Natalia later.

“What brings you to me, daughter,” my father says, turning

213

towards me. “I know it is not merely a visit to see your brother, though I’d be happy if it was. The timing is...too rich.”

I shrug, not admitting or denying anything.

“Did your Daniel send you?” my father pushes. “To convince me, again, that your engagement to him is real? I am not fooled,

Fay,” he continues, his voice taking on a bit of a warning. “I can. see that you...have more for Ivan, in your heart, than you do for

the boy to whom you are engaged.”

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

3/3 Please read the original content

at .

Chapter 279 mother's choice not

mine. I would have kept you, if

had let me, rai dyouetbshetife you

sppulahaveha _ I hope that you

would let me give it to you now. Let

me help you make the choice that will

make you happy.” Please read the

original content at .

“But...” I slow down here, wantin

oud

get this right, wesaat Piéa

re3q td bHigina content at

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?”

B