Page 148 of My Five Daddies

“Father,” I say, “he’s been sleeping with an underage prostitute and keeping her as hismistress.”

“So you say. But does the girl have anyproof?”

I glance at Hazel. She’s nervously chewing her lip and I can tell she wants to say something, but she’s holding itback.

“She has proof,” I say. “Although we shouldn’t need proof. Her word should beenough.”

“Unfortunately, you know that isn’t the case.” My father shakes his head. “We’re royals, Nolan. People will say whatever they want just to get a littlefame.”

“This girl didn’t seek us out,” Hazel says suddenly. “We found her, and she only told us this storyreluctantly.”

My father slowly turns his gaze to Hazel and his face doesn’t change. “Why are you here?” he asksher.

She looks surprised. “I, ah, I’m Nolan’s wife,and—“

“No, you’re not,” my father saysslowly.

“Father,” I start, but he holds up ahand.

“I know what you two are doing,” he says. “Do you think I’m a fool? You’re using this marriage to try and win some favor with me, but frankly, it only makes me want to pass on you evenmore.”

I can’t believe what I’m fucking hearing. “I won’t deny it,” I say tohim.

“Good. I wouldn’t respect you if you did.” He looks back at Hazel. “I know you aren’t a spy, girl, but let me ask you again. Why are youhere?”

She hesitates a second. “I care about Nolan and Polovia,” she says, and my father scoffs. She pushes forward, undaunted. “Despite what you may think, Nolan is more worthy of becoming king than any other person in this country. Your current choice is a pedophile and ascumbag.”

My father looks a little surprised. “Those are seriousaccusations.”

“You saw the video,” Hazel says, keeping her cool. “Julian is a liar and a snake. You know that he’s been blackmailing some of the nobles here just to keep pushing hisagenda?”

Father looks a little uncomfortable at that. “There are rumors,” headmits.

“More than rumors,” I say. “I know for a fact that many nobles only support him out of fear. Do you really wish to pass the throne on to a man likethat?”

He sighs slowly and shakes his head. “No, I do not. But you don’t have the support you need, and Juliandoes.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” I reach into my jacket pocket and produce a letter, signed by over one hundred and ten nobles. I pass it across the desk and he takesit.

Slowly, my father glances through the letter. It essentially is a pledge of support. He gets down to the signatures, and I can tell that he’s surprised at what he’s seeing. Finally, he looks up atme.

“Did you do this?” he asks me. “You got this many pledges behind myback?”

“Yes,” I say. “I’m much more capable than you think,father.”

He nods slowly and puts the letter down. For a second, I think I won him over. He looks thoughtful as he watches me, but slowly his gaze turns and lands onHazel.

“You did this to him,” hesays.

She looks surprised. “What?”

“You forced him into this position. You made the nobility turn their backs on their rightful heir.” He turns back to me and smiles. “At least that’s what I’ll say when I still choose Julian overyou.”

I sit there, totally stunned, and my father’s smile grows larger. I’ve never seen this side of him, but it’s vindictive and it’s ugly. I don’t understand what I’ve done to make him hate me so much and yet here he is, gloating and taking pleasure in mydownfall.

Hazel stands up. “You don’t deserve Nolan,” she says to him, surprising me. “You’re an ugly man, like your ugly choice. Julian is going down and Nolan is taking his position, whether you want it ornot.”

“Get out of my office, girl,” he says to Hazel, practically spitting thewords.

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