His Father Bought Me-Chapter 37: I’ll Go With Him

Lena stared at him, her lips parting slightly, disbelief flickering across her face. "You don’t mean that," she breathed.

"This is just a plan," Roman said, running a hand through his hair as he searched for the right words. "She keeps the ring because my father insists we stay married or—" He stopped himself, exhaling sharply, shaking his head like the rest didn’t matter.

"Listen," he continued, stepping closer, his voice lowering. "Estelle agreed that you and I could still be together. The ring was the condition." He held Lena’s gaze, steady, convincing. "To the world, we play husband and wife," he said. "But behind closed doors, you’re the only one that matters."

Lena frowned, studying him carefully, her eyes searching his face like she was trying to peel back the truth beneath his words. "And she is fine with that?" she asked slowly, tilting her head. "You’re sure?"

"Of course," Roman replied without missing a beat. "It was her idea." The lie slipped out before he could stop it. "I just agreed," he added with a small shrug. "If it means I get to be with you, then nothing else matters."

Lena let out a quiet, almost disbelieving laugh, shaking her head. "You’re worse than I thought," she said. "Savage and completely heartless."

Roman didn’t flinch. "If that’s what it takes," he said, reaching for her hand, his fingers closing around hers, warm and firm, "then I’ll be the villain." His thumb brushed lightly against her skin. "As long as I get you." He held her gaze. "So, what do you say?"

Lena’s expression shifted, something guarded settling back into place as she gently pulled her hand from his."I say I’m not interested in being your woman in the shadows while you parade your wife in the spotlight."

Roman stepped in again, closing the gap, his fingers lifting to her jaw, tilting her face slightly toward his. He wasn’t thinking. He just reacted the way he always did when it came to Lena.

"It’s temporary," he murmured as his other hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer, her body aligning with his once more. "I’ll do whatever it takes to have you," he said, his voice dropping, rough with insistence. "Because you’re the only one I want... the only one I’ve ever wanted."

Lena searched his face again, weighing every word, and then she shook her head slowly. "I’ll believe you when you can say it to the world," she said, her voice soft but tinged with challenge.

Roman opened his mouth, ready to respond, but the door swung open and the sound cut through the moment. And both of them turned.

Magnus stood in the doorway, Vance just behind him, his presence filling the space like a shadow.

"Interesting timing," Magnus murmured. "Almost like everything is falling into place."

Then came the sound that made Roman’s blood turn to ice, the hum of the roll of rubber tires on hardwood announcing her arrival.

Roman’s eyes widened slightly as Estelle moved into view slowly, her hands resting on the arms of her chair, until she saw them. She froze, going completely still. His hands dropped from Lena’s waist instantly, like he’d been burned, but it was already too late. Estelle had seen them already.

Her jaw tightened, something sharp twisting deep in her chest. The air felt heavier suddenly, harder to breathe through. Her gaze lingered on the space between them, the closeness, the remnants of something she couldn’t unsee.

Why does this feel like this? The question hit her hard, uninvited, and her fingers curled slightly against the armrest as she looked at him, and whatever that feeling was that settled in her stomach, she hated it. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Roman stood still for a beat, his gaze locked on Estelle. Something unreadable flickered in his eyes, then he looked away.

Magnus let out a low, amused breath. "After the performance you just gave the world," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips as he looked at Roman, "what do you think they’d say if they saw you like this?" He paused, shaking his head. "Your life would be ruined overnight."

Roman’s jaw tightened, the muscles ticking visibly. "I don’t need lectures on how to live my life, and certainly not from you," he shot back, his voice sharp. Then he turned abruptly, reaching for Lena’s hand, his grip firm. "We’re leaving," he said. "Now."

The words landed like a blow.

Estelle felt it, sharp and hollow, carving through her chest before she could brace for it. Barely an hour ago, he had held her hand like it meant something, and now, he was holding someone else’s like it always had. Damn you, Roman.

Magnus’s gaze slid lazily to Lena, as if Roman’s declaration meant nothing. "Is that so?" he asked, his tone almost amused. "We haven’t even had our conversation yet." His eyes gleamed faintly. "Are you sure you want to leave?"

"Don’t even," Roman cut in quickly, his grip tightening slightly around Lena’s hand. "Don’t try to manipulate her." He tugged gently. "Let’s go."

But Lena didn’t move. Roman frowned and turned back to her, seeing that she was looking at him. Then, slowly, her gaze drifted past him to Magnus, a small smile curving her lips, and then her gaze moved further, past Vance, until it landed on Estelle.

Lena held her gaze a second longer, long enough to see it. Not anger, not pride, something quieter, something that looked dangerously like disappointment.

Lena’s smile sharpened, just slightly. "Well," she said at last, her voice almost casual, though it carried through the room, "I’ll go with Roman," she said, letting the words settle as she watched Estelle’s gaze drop, her head shaking faintly, like she was trying to push something away.

Then she continued. "But," she added, her tone shifting, "only after I hear what you have to offer, Mr. Whitehall."

Roman’s head snapped toward her, disbelief flashing across his face. "What?" he demanded. "Why would you even? Why do you care what he has to say?"

Lena didn’t answer him, she didn’t even look at him. Instead, she turned fully to Magnus, her posture straightening, composed. "Which way?" she asked.

Magnus’s smile widened, slow and satisfied as he gestured toward his office, the door standing slightly ajar.

Roman opened his mouth again, ready to argue, but before he could, Lena’s hand slipped from his grasp. Her fingers slid free of his grip with finality. For a second, he just stood there, staring at his empty hand, the lingering warmth already fading.

Then she turned and walked past him, her shoulder brushing his in a way that felt like a goodbye, and all he could do was watch and pray she would not betray him.