Page 89 of The Moment He Saw Her

Power. The man had it in spades, but Ryder wasn’t impressed or intimidated. He’d spent his life around strong people.

“I will if you’re part of the reason she ended up here in Lyntacky using a fake name and in a car that was broken. She had no money, and I’ll add she was cold and hungry to that. What father allows their daughter to end up in that situation?”

It was only a flicker, but he saw the shame, and it was gone as quick as it had come.

“Ryder, it’s okay, really. I’ll deal with this. You go back to the birthday party,” Libby said, sounding desperate. Her eyes shot to his and then away again. He saw the panic.

And then it all fell into place.

Phillip Caldwell, head of Caldwell Candies, one of the biggest manufacturers of chocolate and confectionary in the USA.

Well, fuck.

“So, when I asked if you were good at making chocolate because you’re an heiress to some chocolate empire, and you said no, that was a lie. Because you’re actually the daughter of the owner of Caldwell Candies?” He could feel the anger rising.

If there was one thing Ryder hated in this world, it was being played, and she’d done just that.

“Ryder, shut it down,” Uncle Asher said. “Save that talk for later.”

“My daughter is not a chocolate maker. She’s an accountant,” Phillip Caldwell said, tightening his grip on his daughter, who now looked like she was having a full-fledged panic attack. Ryder shouldn’t care about that, but the heat in his chest told him he did in fact care very much.

“I swear to God, Mr. Caldwell, if you don’t take your hand off your daughter’s wrist, I’m breaking it for you.”

“Ryder,” Uncle Asher said. “Rein it in.”

Phillip Caldwell must have seen bloodlust in Ryder’s eyes because he released Libby.

“Father, calm down, and we will discuss this rationally,” Samuel Caldwell said.

“Don’t tell me to calm down when your sister has brought shame down on this family,” he snapped.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Go back upstairs, Sawyer,” Uncle Asher said, and Ryder knew his big brother would ignore the order because he had a sixth sense when it came to his siblings and knowing something was off.

“Somebody start talking,” the eldest Duke said, coming to stand on Ryder’s other side.

“Meet Libby’s father and brother, Sawyer. Phillip Caldwell, the head of Caldwell Candies, and Samuel Caldwell, his son,” Ryder said in a cold voice.

“And why is the head of Caldwell Candies making you angry?”

“Come on, bro, Libby’s not a Gulliver, she’s a Caldwell.”

“Right,” Sawyer said. He then whistled. “My mom would like to meet you. She loves those little chocolates with?—”

“Not the time, Sawyer,” Uncle Asher said.

“Libby, we’re going,” Phillip Caldwell said.

“No. I’m not leaving with you, Father.”

“Andrew is?—”

“A weak-kneed fuck weasel who told your daughter to stay out of the photos on her own wedding day because of the scar on her chin,” Ryder said.

He may be pissed with her, but he could still give her father a few home truths because he knew she’d never be brave enough to stand up to him or her brother.

“I beg your pardon?” Phillip Caldwell’s eyes went from Ryder to Libby. “Is that true, Elizabeth?”

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