Page 6 of Modern Romance Collection March 2025 (1-4)

Twoyearsof working toward marrying Regina up in smoke. It grated, but he wouldn’t take another two years. He wouldn’t waste the planned wedding on Saturday.

No, Lynna would marry him, and he would begin his coup that way.

Of course she didn’twantto marry him. He knew her, though. Her family. Her situation. Perhaps he did not have as much positive interaction with her as an adult, but that did not change the fact he knew what was important to her.

Her family. Stability. And even if she wanted revenge against him, surely his father ranked at least a little bit higher.

He could use it. Notagainsther. It wasn’t so sordid as that. He could use it to bargain adeal. A mutually beneficial deal. Where they both got something out of it.

Because he was not his father.

“You will take Regina’s place and marry me on Saturday. Prior to the I dos, we’ll draw up an agreement. You give me…” He considered the amount of time it would take. “Three years, and I will afford you a lump sum to pay for any and all of Rhys’s education. A position for him in my company once he’s done at university, with contractual guarantee he can’t be outed for a specific period of time. A house for your mother wherever she’d like.” Her brother’s education and a job, stability for her mother. She’d want nothing more.

But she remained stubborn. “And what wouldIget out of the deal?”

“Satisfaction.”

She laughed again. “Have you had a head injury lately? Helping you would not be satisfying in the least.”

“You hate my father.”

“I hate you both. I’d hardly help one to hurt the other when I’d rather see you both fail.”

He’d wanted her to outright say that for five years, and now the moment was here, and he felt no satisfaction. Because he needed her to avenge this. There was no other way. Not right now. Perhaps he could build another plan in a year or so, but by then his father would find a way to oust him.

He could build his own company. He could do a lot of things, but he wanted his father to suffer as much as he wanted to win.

So he needed to act fast. “Everything you do is for Rhys. And your mother.”

Her chin went up. Her shoulders back, but when she spoke it was with that same calm detachment that always made him want to roar, like a lion in a cage.

“Yes. And remarkably, I have handled everything for them. I don’t need your help.” She turned on a heel. No doubt not just to leave the dining room, but to leave his villa and Mykonos altogether.

But he kneweverythingabout her. Had kept ruthless and detailed tabs. Not that he’d ever let on, even going so far as to pretend he’d justhappenedto hear about Your Girl Friday from some friends.

But that wasn’t true. Ever since her father’s funeral, he’d known her every move. He’d never been able to articulate to himself exactly why, but it didn’t matter. Now the information would come in useful.

“The interest on that loan is rather high,” he called after her.

She stopped on a dime. Then she whirled around to face him. That anger and temper he’d wanted from her forfiveyears right there in her expression.

She really was beautiful. She kept it understated, perhaps she even hid it the same way she always hid her real reaction to him.

But it was there. With her eyes flashing and color in her cheeks. Her shoulders back and her fists curled like she might physically fight him. A roar of something like triumph rumbled through him.

He could almost forget about his own anger, his own fury, his own revenge.

Almost.

“Think of it, Lynna. The next three years could be easy. You wouldn’t have to work yourself to the bone.”

“I like my work.”

“All right, work away. But you could work howyouwanted. No missing Christmases, or Rhys’s sporting events. You could take the jobs that suitedyouand leave the rest. You could pay that loan off in full. Immediately. You could spend time with your mother. All you have to do is—”

“Marry the devil?” she tossed at him.

“Come now,paidi mou. I think we can both agree my father is the devil. I am perhaps a lower-level demon. This could be my redemption right here.”

---