Rival's Daughter: 5. Daddy Finds Out

Lila had never seen her father like this.

His voice thundered through the study, rattling the whiskey glasses on the shelf and making the chandelier tremble overhead. His hands slammed down on the desk, rattling the pens and scattering papers like startled birds.

“You’ve what?” he roared.

Lila stood frozen, her back pressed to the wooden door she’d foolishly closed behind her when she entered. Her father’s eyes were blazing—so like her own but darkened with fury, sharpened by years of ruthless deals and boardroom wars.

“With Damien,” she whispered, though her voice was steady. It shocked her. She had expected to tremble, to fall to pieces under the weight of his fury. But all she felt was the ghost of Damien’s hands on her skin, his mouth on her throat, the memory of his voice telling her she belonged to him.

Her father’s face flushed crimson. “Damien Vale is a viper. He’s poison, Lila! He’s been circling me for years, waiting for an opening, and now I