Opposite 20_The Rogue King's Surrogate

“I’ll be here, waiting for your call–if anything goes wrong.”

 處

 D

 Emery gave a faint smile. “I know, Nina. I’ll call you as soon as I can. Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”

 Nina hesitated. “Your father’s not a man you just ‘handle,‘ Emery.”

 “I know,” she said quietly. “That’s why I didn’te unarmed.”

 She ended the call and lowered her phone, watching as the massive wrought–iron gates of the Be estate in Nevada slowly swung open.

 Beyond them, the long driveway stretched ahead–lined with trimmed hedges and centuries–old oak trees that shaded the road like a private tunnel. It wasn’t just a home, it was a fortress dressed in luxury.

 Her car rolled forward over pristine cobblestones, the tires nearly silent on the smooth path. It took nearly a minute of driving before the main house even came into view.

 The mansion stood like something out of another era—grand columns, towering windows, and white stone that gleamed even in the soft afternoon light.

 Several luxury cars were already parked neatly near the wide circr drive, but there was still plenty of space. The parking area alone wasrger than most city lots.

 Emery parked, cut the engine, and stepped out. The air smelled like roses and clean grass. Despite everything, this ce hadn’t changed. This was the same Nevada estate that she hated.

 “Miss Emery,” a woman in a crisp ck maid’s uniform greeted her with a shallow bow.

 Emery gave her a polite nod. “Darlene, right?” 

 The woman straightened with a small smile. “Yes, Miss. It’s been so long. I’m d to see you well.”

 “Has it been five years?” she asked.

 “Yes,” Darlene said. “The Master and the Madam are waiting for you in the back garden. Please follow me.” 

 Emery fell into step behind her, her heels clicking softly against the polished stone walkway. Every part of this ce felt carefully curated, as if chaos couldn’t exist here. But she knew better. Behind the calm facade was where the real power games were yed.

 Emery followed the maid through the side path that opened into the garden. The backwn was perfectly trimmed, framed by tall hedges and imported trees, likely rented three times over just to match the image Deana wanted.

 She immediately saw her father and his wife, or Emery’s stepmother. Her father sat on one end of the wrought–iron table, a porcin teacup in hand. Deana sat beside him, elegantly dressed as always, her posture straight, her expression unreadable.

 Emery stopped a few feet away and gave a shallow bow. “Father. Madam.”

 Adam Be didn’t look up from his tea. He exhaled sharply through his nose. “It’s good to know you still remember you’re a Be I’ve been waiting for you toe.”

 Deana set her cup down and turned slightly toward him. “Adam, don’t start ” Then she looked at Emery. “Sit down. Have some tea.”

 Emery stepped forward and pulled the nearest chair. She sat without responding. The tea set was untouched in front of her. She poured herself a cup and didn’t bother adding sugar or milk. Her hands didn’t shake, but she noticed how quiet the garden felt. Too quiet, 

 She couldn’t remember thest time either of them invited her to join them for tea. Not during her childhood. Not as a teenager. Certainly not after she left. She knew what this was. It wasn’t concem It wasn’t about family. They wanted something

 Her father set his cup down. “You lost.”

 She looked up.

 “The deal,” he continued. “You said you’d marry for love, without using the family naine You tailed. So, as agreed, you’ll marry the person I’ve chosen

 12:36 AM PP 

 “I haven’t lost,” Emery said, keeping her tone steady. “The agreement was based on whether or not I could marry for love. That hasn’t been decided.”

 Her father scoffed. “Don’t insult our intelligence, Emery. We’ve seen the news. You think we don’t know what happened? Samuel Dwight chose someone with influence. He dropped you the moment he saw something better. Just as I expected.”

 She lowered her eyes. There was nothing to say to that. He wasn’t wrong. Samuel had chosen someone else. That part didn’t need defending.

 Adam leaned back in his chair. “You gambled the family’s patience on a man who wouldn’t even im you. You’re lucky we haven’t cut you off yet.”

 Deana lifted her cup again, sipping slowly. She nced at Emery over the rim, then set it down again. “What your father means is–this can still be resolved. But only if you stop being stubborn.”

 Emery didn’t respond.

 She looked at her tea instead. She didn’t touch it. Her fingers rested lightly on the cup, steady and quiet. Her mother wasn’t offering her a second chance. She was delivering an ultimatum, just with a softer expression.

 “You made your point,” Adam said. “You wanted to prove you didn’t need the name. You failed. Time to move on.”

 “I haven’t failed,” Emery said, still not meeting his eyes. 

 “Did youe here just to tell me that you haven’t failed?” Adam’s face turned ugly. “You–you really are going to kill me with anger.” He got up.

 “Where are you going, dear?” Deana asked, but Adam ignored her. Instead, he red at Emery.

 “Follow me to the study!”

 “Yes, sir,” Emery got up as well. And soon enough, the father and daughter made their way into the second floor of the Be family mansion where the current patriarch of the Be family–Adam Be’s study–is located.

 When they reached his study, Adam removed his suit jacket and tossed it onto the back of the chair before sitting down. He leaned back, arms resting on the armrests.

 “What is it that you want this time?” he asked.

 Emery stood a few feet away, studying him in silence before answering.

 “I think you were right,” she said.

 Adam’s mouth curled slightly. “Of course I was right. No one in our circle would seriously consider marrying an orphan secretary. Now stop wasting time and honor your end of the deal.”

 “I can’t do that,” Emery said.

 Adam’s expression stiffened. “What did you just say?”

 “I said I can’t fulfill my end of the bargain.” Emery repeated, steadying herself.

 She braced for the usual reaction–raised voice, sharp insults, maybe even something thrown across the room. She was already preparing to sidestep it

 But Adarn didn’t move like she expected. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, opened a drawer, and pulled out a tablet. Without a word, he slid it across the desk toward her

 “This is the seron of the Moregardh family,” he said. “They’re a powerful political family from the Nethends. The engagement ceremony is scheduled for next week.”

 Emery didn’t touch the tablet. She kept her eyes on her father. She’d known he’d lined someone up. What she didn’t expect was how fast he would push forward the moment he believed she’d lost

 Slowly, Emery picked up the tablet and unlocked the screen A photo of a man filled the top half–Carl Moregardh, 45 years old. She scrolled through the file. Two adult children. Three previous marriages. She paused at that

 All three wives had died. Each death is </bbeled as “natural causes” or “sudden illness.” No further details were provided.

 12:36 AMP P

 Her fingers hovered over the screen. She read the names again and checked the dates. The gaps between marriages were short. The patterns weren’t subtle. 

 She pursed her lips and ced the tablet back on the desk.

 “I apologize, but I can’t marry him,” she said.

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Opposite 20