Page 103 of Sadistic

My phone rings. For a moment, I hope—but it's my father.

"Mikhail briefed me," he says immediately. "The girl left?"

"Revna. Her name is Revna."

"Your bride left. Only a few days before the wedding." His voice is cold. "This is unacceptable."

"I'm handling it."

"By having her followed? By sending gifts she throws back?" He laughs humorlessly. "You're handling it poorly."

"Do you have a point?"

"Cancel the Reyes invitation."

"What?"

"You heard me. Cancel it. Choose her over whatever you think is smart right now."

"But the alliance?—"

"Will mean nothing if she doesn't show up to the wedding." His voice softens slightly. "Your mother was right. I treated her like property at first. It took years to repair that damage. Don't repeat my mistakes."

"And if Reyes retaliates? He demanded to come, remember. I might be able to help her understand why Reyes needs to attend."

"Then we handle it. As a family." He pauses. "She's going to be your wife, Doran. That makes her family. Start acting like it."

He hangs up, leaving me with a decision.

I stare out at the city lights, thinking.

The strategic value of Reyes attending versus the cost of losing Revna's trust.

It's not even a question, really.

I text Mikhail:

Draft a message to Reyes. The invitation to my wedding is rescinded.

Mikhail responds:

Sir?

I know he has to be lost too, already knowing Reyes was supposed to come:

You heard me. Cite security concerns. Make it clear this isn't weakness but protecting what's mine.

Mikhail responds back a few minutes later:

Understood.

Then I text Revna again:

I'm calling off the Reyes invitation. You were right. We should decide together. Always.

Minutes pass. Then, finally, three dots appear. She's typing:

Too little too late.

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