Mia’s POV
I sat stiffly in my father’s study, my heart thudding with frustration as I listened to them talk about my life like I wasn’t even in the room. My father, his expression serious, sat behind his desk, while Lucas stood beside him, arms crossed, his golden eyes watching me closely.
And then there were them.
The four men I had been trying to escape. The same ones who had once ruined me, who now stood like sentinels, their eyes dark, filled with something I couldn’t name.
I exhaled sharply, trying to control my temper. “I don’t need their protection,” I finally bit out, my fingers digging into my thighs. “I’ve survived this long without them.”
My father sighed, his gaze heavy with something that almost looked like guilt. “Mia, this isn’t about what you want. This is about what y
