Chapter 26

Go home, Layla ,” I order.

“Yes, sir,” she says and quickly grabs her bag and hurries out of the place like it’s on fire.

My hands are trembling, and it feels like a thousand frantic birds flapping in my chest. “I was forced into the betrothal, but I’m working on a plan to free myself of it. Layla is Sergei’s lover, and I’veneverlaid a finger on her. Since the day we met, there’s been no one but you,Chleo.” I take a step closer, encouraged that she seems to be listening. “That’s why I wanted you to move in with me, to sleep in my bed every night. I wanted you secure in the fact that you’re it for me.” I lower my eyes and nod. “Yes, it was wrong of me to keep that information from you, but I was terrified that if you knew, you’d have nothing to do with me.” I lift my eyes to hers, the expression is stern but at least she appears to be processing my words, weighing them carefully. “You can accuse me of lacking the courage to tell you, but you can’t accuse me of being unfaithful or two