From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman) novel Chapter 448

From Best Friend To Fiancé

Chapter 448

I stared at her. Shock flooded me. Not only at what she was saying,

but at how easily she said it. How matter–of–fact she sounded. As

though this were common knowledge. As though she’d grown up

surrounded by disappearances and strange happenings and learned

never to question them.

She was sixteen. Sixteen, and she knew exactly how dangerous this

house was. And how dangerous her father was.

“Don’t look so shocked,” Riley murmured, reading my expression with unsettling accuracy. “He’s my father. I live here. I see everything.”

She glanced around the table, making sure no one was paying

attention before continuing.

“A few days before you arrived,” she said, “before Roman was even

shot. I saw the doctor on the grounds. The one with the beard.”

My heart skipped violently.

“I saw him with Sir,” she went on. “I was coming back from my harp

lesson. They were talking. Quietly. Like they didn’t want to be

overheard.”

1/6

Chapter 448

My fingers curled into my pants.

“Then two days later,” Riley said, “Sir announced he had to go to

Pennsylvania for something important.” Her lips pressed together.

“The next day, Roman was shot.”

The room seemed to tilt.

My hand flew to my mouth, trapping a gasp before it could escape. My

mind raced, fitting pieces together I hadn’t wanted to see. The

timing. The doctor. Reginald’s absence.

“And now,” Riley whispered urgently, “he wants you to take a test.

Because he knows you won’t. Because you know the baby is truly

Roman’s. He’s counting on your refusal.” Her eyes burned into mine.

“He’s playing a game,” she said. “And the prize is getting you out of

my brother’s life.”

My pulse thundered in my ears.

“I don’t know why he wants you gone,” she continued, voice shaking

now just slightly, “but I know it’s nothing good. And the doctor-” she

hesitated. “I don’t trust him either. He’s shady and he’s also-”

“Riley.” Reginald’s voice cut through the air. It was quiet, measured,

almost gentle.

2/6

Chapter 448

But it stopped her cold.

She jerked upright as if struck by lightning. “Yes, sir?”

Reginald dabbed the corners of his mouth with his napkin, unhurried,

his movements precise. Then he placed it neatly on the table.

“Is that a private discussion,” he asked calmly, “or are the rest of us

invited to participate?”

My stomach dropped.

“Oh–no, sir,” Riley said quickly. “Savannah and I were just talking

about the manor.”

Reginald didn’t look at her. “What about it?”

“How big it is,” Riley said smoothly. Too smoothly. “How beautiful. I

was… trying to convince her to stay. I already like her very much, sir.

I’d be sad to see her go.”

For a long moment, Reginald said nothing. Then he lifted his gaze.

The weight of it pinned Riley in place. “Is that so?”

“Yes, sir.”

316

Chapter 448

“And is it working?” he asked, lifting his glass.

Riley hesitated. “I… wouldn’t say, sir. That’s up to Savannah.”

To my surprise, Reginald chuckled–a soft, almost amused sound.

“How old are you, Riley?”

I blinked. What did that have to do with anything?

Riley looked just as confused, but answered. “Sixteen, sir.”

“I hope you remember that,” he said lightly.

Remember what?

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify