Lisa stood on the balcony of her room in her father’s mansion, staring out at the vast estate before her. The cool night air brushed against her skin, but it did little to ease the anger burning in her chest. Her thoughts were in chaos, still reeling from the unexpected dinner with Benjamin and his father. The audacity of it all, the betrayal disguised as dinner diplomacy, left her fuming. She could still feel the tension in the air, the weight of her father’s expectation pressing down on her.
The sharp knock on her door shattered her thoughts, followed by the sound of the door opening without hesitation.
“Lisa,” her father’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and authoritative. His footsteps were deliberate, each one punctuating the anger in his tone.
Lisa turned to face him, her bod
