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“You sure? I think Mom would have today, would have wanted to share one with you You’re grandparents now”

His expression didn’t change, but shit—ehalass “Perhaps you’re right”

“Good You’re going to want it after this conversation” His posture stiffened, but I motioned toward the door “We should talk in the office”

He carried his untouched drink as ound through the house, and when he caaze ierfield in the center of the room

“Yeah,” I coet to that in aoverdue” I took a sip of the scotch, letting its sue It wasn’t a tactic to stall I’d done it to lend gravity to the next thing I was going to say because I wanted hienuine “I’m sorry I had an affair with Alice, and I’ize for it”

He kept his intense gaze fixed on me as he took his first sip of his drink and considered lass His words were si “Thank you”

His acknowledgely, he broke first

“I understand,” he said, “better than most how manipulative Alice can be”

“Don’t,” I said “She didn’t take advantage of , and so did she” I’d lived so h I no longer did, it was hard to stand up “You made sure everyone under you didn’t have any power It’s why Royce came after your board seat, and it’s why Alice and I had the affair It’s not an excuse, and yes, I did it intentionally to be cruel—but it was a way for me to take back some of the power you held over my head”

The htened on the glass, but otherwise he didn’t react This was the part where I expected hiid voice and destroy soical precision as punishment

But his gaze didn’t fill with fire The tension in his body didn’t erupt and cause hi a decorative glass of scotch