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She shen she saw the scars, but they didn’t upset her like they had the first tih, that was all She had a few scars of her own, so as she to cast the first stone?

“I’ve got to go meet your dad,” he said casually as he pulled clothes out of his drawers

Panic squeezed at her chest “Why?”

“To let him know he broke contract”

“I thought he didn’t want to meet you for a few days”

“True But I’ve decided I don’t give a shit what he wants” He looked back at her, taking her in slowly “I want you to be able to have a life again”

Shetrapped in an ivory tower?”

“Not unless you want to be there”

She had to stall him somehow “Would you take et for it?”

He nodded his assent “Kai’s better at it than I aets for it”

“Okay”

He sat on the edge of the bed and waited patiently while she tugged at the hem of her skirt But after a few h, he finally passed her his knife, which made the process far easier She handed over all the jewels and his knife, which he placed on the dresser

“Okay?” he asked

“Mm-hmm”

But she couldn’t stop the dread that was seeping into her bones She blurted out, “Do you have to meet him face to face?”