Lucas's POV
The instant she realized, it really dawned on her that her father had handed her over, as a piece of exchange for my money that he couldn't pay back, there was a flicker in her eyes. Disbelief. Anger. Something sharp and dangerous that amused me. But she didn’t stay there. No, that was too honest, too vulnerable for Isabella. She masked it immediately, sliding back into that defiant, sharp-tongued persona she wore like armor.
Good. That was exactly what I wanted.
I leaned slightly back, just enough to let her feel the space I commanded, the silent weight of my presence pressing against her even without touching. Her chest rose and fell faster now, subtle but obvious.
Every sharp tilt of her chin, every smirk that tugged at her lips, screamed don’t underestimate me. I didn
