Chapter 237 CHAPTER 0237

Chapter 237 CHAPTER 0237
ROMAN'S POV

“No, not at all. I’m sure you saw the other vehicle that passed you just before you stopped here. That was Lauren. I’m standing here because I was seeing her off,” I said, my voice steady, calm, carrying just enough casualness to hide the tension under the surface.

“Seeing her off?” Elizabeth asked, a little confused, her brow slightly furrowing, eyes narrowing ever so subtly as if she was trying to read my tone, to figure out whether I was serious or joking.

“Yes. Didn’t she inform you that she wasn’t going to be around when you came?” I asked, letting my gaze linger just long enough for her to feel the weight of the question, to sense that this wasn’t a trivial matter.

“No, she didn’t. I texted her a few minutes ago. She should have told me, but she didn’t. Maybe she must have forgotten,” Elizabeth said, her words carefully chosen, casual in tone but a little too precise. I noticed it, the slight uptick in her voice when she mentioned Lauren not being around. It wasn’t blatant, but it was there, hiding underneath her attempt at normalcy, trying to make it sound like nothing mattered.

I squinted my eyes just slightly at what she said. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but I caught it — the small, almost guilty excitement that surfaced when she realized Lauren wouldn’t be here. She was trying to make it seem casual, almost innocent, but the excitement in her tone was unmistakable, the kind that betrays a thought she’s been trying to hide.

“I guess so,” I said, my voice calm, almost disinterested, though every bit of me was observing her, analyzing, weighing her intent.

“So, it’s just you and me then,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, biting her lower lip lightly, the gesture deliberate, practiced, designed to draw attention. There was a confidence in the way she said it, a calculated daring, like she believed she had the upper hand, like she thought this moment could be hers to manipulate.

“Wrong,” I replied evenly, letting a faint edge slide into my tone. “It’s you, me, and all my staff. By the way, you can just leave all your luggage here. They’ll take it inside for you. Come, I’ll show you your room.” Without waiting for her response, I turned and walked in, keeping my stride calm, measured.

So I was right. She was waiting for an opportunity like this, the kind that revealed itself in subtle glances, in the way someone timed their words. But is she that naïve or that foolish? Cameras were everywhere, every corner of the house covered. If I wanted to, I could have simply waited for her to try to cross a line, to make a move, and then the footage would show it all — clear, undeniable, and embarrassing.

Unless she truly believed that I would fall for her games, that I would secretly give in while being engaged. If that was her assumption, she had a rude awakening coming.

She had no idea the surprise that awaited her.

Lauren would find out soon enough, and when the pieces fell into place, the full picture became clear. Elizabeth’s attempts at flirtation, at manipulation, at trying to get my attention while Lauren was away, none of it would matter in the end. Lauren wouldn’t be heartbroken after realizing her sister had attempted to come between us. No, she would understand the full truth, and Elizabeth would be the one left facing the consequences.

The contrast between the two sisters was stark. From the very first time I saw Elizabeth, she had always been overt, always putting herself forward, always available. There was no mystery about her, no challenge. Am sure People grew bored of her eventually because there was nothing to pursue, nothing to discover. She made herself too easy to understand.

Lauren was different. She was reserved, deliberate, hard to find, and difficult to reach. That scarcity made her valuable, made her presence something to cherish rather than take for granted. She wasn’t easy, and that made all the difference.

Temperament was another key distinction. If it had been Lauren and the waiter had spilled that drink on her, she would have handled it calmly, with poise and measured grace. Elizabeth, however, couldn’t interact politely with someone she deemed beneath her. She let frustration slip through her tone, let irritation show in subtle ways, revealing the gap between her and someone like Lauren.

And wealth wasn’t a factor either. Elizabeth wasn’t even that rich. Imagine if I had treated someone below me rudely, people might have started calling me Rudeman, just for a joke. The thought alone made me smirk, almost uncontrollably, though I kept it hidden behind a neutral expression.

We arrived at her room, and I opened the door for her, stepping aside and watching as she walked in. She moved carefully, her eyes scanning the space, taking in every detail.

“It’s not that big, but I’m sure it’s better than that hotel you’re staying in,” I said, leaning casually against the doorframe, watching for her reaction.

For a moment, I saw it — a flash of irritation, subtle and fleeting, as if she wasn’t happy with what she saw. But she masked it quickly, a practiced smile replacing the brief annoyance, like a costume worn to hide the true feeling underneath.

“Yes, it is. I love it,” she said, stepping closer to me again. Her voice was softer this time, warmer, tinged with a note of gratitude she tried hard to keep casual, to make natural.

“Well, I’ll leave you to settle in. If you need anything, just ask the staff,” I said, straightening up, preparing to leave.

“Can I give you another hug, just to show appreciation for this place?” she asked, stepping closer, a little too close, her body language deliberate, her movements measured to create the impression of intimacy.

“There wouldn’t be any need for that. You already thanked me yesterday, remember?” I said, raising a hand gently to stop her from coming any closer.

“Oh, yeah, I guess you’re right,” she said, rolling the tip of her hair around her finger, a small, nervous gesture that betrayed a fraction of her anticipation despite her attempt to remain casual.

“Yeah, so I’ll just be in my room,” I said, turning to leave, my steps measured, calm, leaving no doubt that the moment was over, the interaction controlled entirely by me.

Then I heard it.

“Yes, daddy.”

The words hit me like a sudden gust of wind, stopping me dead on the doorstep. The sound lingered in the quiet room, wrapping around the air between us. That single phrase, so deliberate, so unexpected, carried weight, implication, and a subtle provocation all at once.