Page 145 of Money Reigns

---

He only shrugs. Unconcerned.

“I wanted Olivia to work for me,” I say evenly, my grip on her thigh tightening.

“So now she does.”

I leave it there. Final.

But my father doesn’t look at me. He looks at her. “How old are you, Olivia?”

My mother’s rebuke is quick.

“William, we don’t ask a woman her age.”

“It’s okay,” Olivia says softly.

She glances at me before answering.

“I’m twenty-seven.”

My mother hums.

That sound.

That disapproving hum I grew up drowning in.

My father leans back, eyes still fixed on Olivia. “And where are you from?”

Before she can open her mouth, I cut in. My voice is steel. “Enough. She’s not here to be interrogated. I brought her here for dinner. We’re having dinner. Then we’re leaving.”

The air snaps tight.

My father scoffs, shaking his head. “Still the same.”

Across the table, Wilder sighs loudly and downs his drink. “Here we go.”

Wesley mutters, “You had to start it, didn’t you?”

My eyes snap to my father, burning.

Olivia’s thumb brushes over my knuckles, grounding me.

The only thing keeping me from slamming my fist into the table.

“And what do you mean by that, Father?”

I bite it out, jaw tight enough to crack.

His eyes slice into me. Cold. Unflinching.

“Still the same boy. Reckless. Disobedient. Always needing to make a scene.”

The air freezes.

My blood turns molten.

“You want to lecture me at your dinner table?”

My voice drops lower. Darker.

---