Chapter 0317

When I open the front door to my shore house, I’m a little appalled — but somehow, not surprised - to see Ivan standing there.

“Are you serious,” I growl, moving to slam the door shut.

But he throws out an arm, stopping me. “I just want to talk, Fay.”

I stare up at him, hatred all over my face. “Where was all the talking, Ivan, in the past few days before you destroyed my life?”

“I didn’t destroy anything,” he snaps back, his temper rising as he leans forward to glare down at me. “Kent did that. But

somehow, I’m the bad guy?”

“Yeah, Ivan,” I hiss, staring up at him. “People who lie to me for months about their entire identity are the bad guy —*

“I was undercover!” he shouts, starting to lose his cool. “It was my job!”

I open my mouth to throw something back at him, but my dad’s cool voice cuts me off.

“Can I help you, young man?” he asks, and I turn to see my dad with his arms crossed, looking Ivan up and down unhappily.

“Sir,” van says, standing up straight and looking a little chagrined to have been caught yelling at this man’s daughter. “Apologies

sir. I’m Detective Kaminski. I’ve been...involved in the Lippert case for several years now. I’m...acquainted with your daughter.”

“He means he’s in love with her!” Janeen’s voice calls down from upstairs

My cheeks instantly burn with embarrassment and when I look back at Ivan I see that his are too.

“Well then,” my dad says, his eyebrows nearly to his hairline as he moves back to clear the path to the stairs. “Guess you should

come inside, my boy.”

I scowl at Ivan as he passes me, but shut the door behind him.

“How did you even know where I live,” I murmur to him as I we climb the stairs after my dad.

“I know everything, Fay,” he sighs back. “Besides, it's public record — you own this house.”

“Jackass,” I murmur, but I don’t say anything else as we reach the second floor, where Janeen and Daniel are waiting for us in

the living room — Janeen grinning eagerly and Daniel looking stoically at lvan even though he’s still dressed in my dad’s pajamas.

The five of us stand awkwardly together before my dad clears his throat and breaks the silence. “Quite a selection of young men

you've gathered, Fay,” he says, a little smirk on his face as he looks between the two incredibly good-looking guys standing in

the living room, one dark and one fair.

Janeen bursts into a stuttering little laugh. “Oh dad,” she says, putting a hand on his shoulder and grinning around at us,

enjoying every moment of this. “You don’t even know the half of it —*

“Janeen,” I growl, swatting at her, but she evades me and loops her arm in dad’s. “Come on,” she says, tugging him towards the

kitchen. “Let's get our guest some iced tea.”

Daniel takes a step closer to us, closing the circle.

“Do you mind,” Ivan says to him through clenched teeth, “if I have a moment alone with Fay?”

“Hell yes I mind,” Daniel snaps, crossing his arms over his chest. I do the same, likewise glaring at lvan and wanting Daniel

there.

“Why are you being so ridiculous,

Fay?” lvan says, losing his temper

again almost immediathy. I akider

hing, realiziry We never seen him

this worked up — not even that day in

the stable. “I did this for you — for —“

he glances at Daniel, “for us —“ Please

read the original content at

.

“What!?” I exclaim, shocked. “Ivan, you did this for you — for your fucking job, for your father —*

“That was the start of it,” he agrees,

staring intensely down at me.

VS a a

looking atenvane nike: nymore. But

thd brid lof it - moving now, getting

him out now? I was setting you free

-" Please read the original content at

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I take a step closer to Ivan, glaring up

into his face and speaking between

tery anicuhaeal Gsk you to

ck) me! ree — Iam not some

ridiculous caged bird! I wanted to be

there —“ Please read the original

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“He had you locked up!” Ivan exclaims, getting heated now, “tied into that ridiculous contract!”

“Contract?” I hear Daniel ask, but I ignore him.

“That’s all bullshit, Ivan,” I say, placing a hand on his chest and shoving, hard. “I made my choice — weeks ago. I picked him.”