Page 32 of Broken Princess

I frown, pursing my lips together to not reveal how irritated I am. "I take it you didn't find Milo?"

That hits its mark, and I can see the irritation in his gaze. He leans back in his chair and studies me for a moment before he continues, "I did not, no. And that's quite unfortunate for both of us, since it means there are going to be some big changes moving forward."

"What other changes?" I mumble. "I'm practically on voluntary house arrest as it is."

"Your agreement is neither here nor there," he says pointedly. "You've proven you can't be trusted, so you're being monitored around the clock. If you so much as leave to get fresh air on the balcony, I'll know about it."

I blink at him in shock. I haven't noticed anyone watching me other than Lorenzo. "You have a tail on me?"

"Of course," he says, like he thinks it should be obvious.

Maybe he's right.

I clench my fists in my lap hard enough that my nails dig small crescents into my palms. "So, what is the point of me being stuck at Lorenzo's, then?"

"That was his idea, not mine," Dad says pointedly. "And it was only until I could get back and set up more long-term arrangements."

My heart skips a beat at the thought of leaving, for some reason. I should be jumping at the chance, and yet, I don't want to. "What do you mean? I can't go back to campus."

"I agree," he replies. "Which is why you're going to move in here for the time being."

"Here?" I echo in disbelief. "To thehouse?"

"Where else?" he asks.

"You're the one who didn't want me staying here, remember?" I ask.

"Things have changed," he says in that infuriatingly calm tone that's a surefire way to get to my last nerve.

"What?" I demand. "Let me guess. Because Stefan Romero is sniffing around me, all of a sudden you're not embarrassed of my existence anymore?"

Dad narrows his eyes, and I can tell I hit the mark with that, too. "Watch your tone, young lady. And your words, while you're at it."

"What, too close to the truth?" I challenge. "Admit it. You never wanted to acknowledge me as your daughter until it benefitted you some way."

"You're being dramatic, as usual," he growls. "As for Stefan Romero, you would be a hell of a lot better off focusing on him than being Lorenzo Rossi's second choice."

His words cut me like a knife. I hate myself for the tears that immediately spring to my eyes, and as much as I want to slap him in the face, I'm even more furious at myself for the fact that he's right. There's nothing about what he's said that's incorrect at all.

"I'm not putting up with this," I mutter, getting up to walk over to the door.

"Amelia," Dad calls in a guttural tone that makes me freeze in my tracks in spite of myself. "Sit down. We're not finished."

"Youmight not be," I say, turning around to face him even though it feels like the tears are going to spill over at any moment. "I'm done with this conversation, though."

I’ve barely grabbed the door handle when he calls to me, “I know about the baby, Amelia. I know you’re pregnant.”

My spine turns into a solid blade of ice and my whole body grows rigid.

I turn to him slowly, feeling like I’m going to crumble the whole time, until I’m standing across the room from him, his frigid eyes locked on mine.

“Sit down, Amelia,” he says in an eerily calm tone as he walks over to put his hands on the back of the chair I just vacated. “I’m not going to repeat myself again.”

CHAPTER 16

AMELIA

Iknow you're pregnant.

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