Tempted By my Evil Lycan Stepbrother novel Chapter 85

Chapter 85: That’s The Man You Chose?

Riley’s POV

For a second, I honestly thought had misheard him.

I just stood there staring at Leon, waiting for him to laugh and admit he was joking. But he didn’t. He looked perfectly serious, standing there with that calm, polished smile still fixed on his face.

“Excuse me?” I looked at him in disbelief. “Rule number one?”

He tilted his head a little, like I was the one being unreasonable here Then he smiled again, soft and charming as

“You’ll have to understand that I come from a very prestigious and strict family,” he said. “There are expectations for my future bride. Nothing unusual. Just certain boundaries that help avoid gossip and embarrassment.”

I stared at him.

There it was again–that polished tone, gentle on the surface and hard underneath. He didn’t even sound angry or demanding He spoke as if this were obvious, as if I were already halfway molded into the kind of wornar, his family wanted

“If I’m going to marry you,” I said, keeping my voice flat with effort, “I’m not cutting myself off from every male friend I have just because you tell me to.”

He didn’t seem bothered by that at all. If anything, his smile softened.

“I get it. You’re not used to how upper-class family function. So we’ll take things slowly,” he said. “You’ll get used to it.”

The words made something cold shift in my stomach.

I wanted to correct him. But before I said anything, he stepped closer and lowered his voice as if he were trying to soothe me

“I’m not trying to upset you, Riley. I’m only helping you fit into the life you’re about to have.”

I frowned at him. The unsettling feeling in my chest was getting worst.

Then he added, “Actually, since we’re talking about the wedding, are you free tomorrow? I thought we could go choose the ring together. I want to make sure you like the style.”

I didn’t want to continue our previous conversation, which made me uncomfortable. Nor did I want to go ring shopping with

him.

“I have other plans,” I said.

Leon looked at me for a second longer than necessary, then shrugged, “I’m sure those things can wait.”

“No, they can’t. School stuffs. Please understand.”

He smiled again. “I understand, you’re a good student. But if you really can’t make time for the most important thing in ved life, I suppose I could mention it to your mother? Or the king. I’m sure they’d help rearrange your schedule ”

My stomach dropped.

Was he seriously threatening me???

And how could he do it while smiling?

My hands curled at my sides. He was doing it so neatly that it I repeated it to anyone else, they’d probably tell me I was being dramatic. He hadn’t raised his voice. He hadn’t grabbed me.

He had simply reminded me that he had access to the two people most eager to force this marriage through

+15 Bonus

And suddenly the whole corrido felt righter around me

I didn’t want to argue with hit of get my mother involved So after a moment of silence, I said through clenched teeth, “…Fine”

His smile brightened at once “Wonderful”

Before I could step back, he leaned in and kissed my cheek

i froze

I felt like I got licked by a snake

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow,” he said softly. “Try to look good for me, OK?”

Then he turned and walked away

I stood there in the hallway for another few seconds, staring after him, feeling something sick and heavy settle deeper in my

chiest

For the first time since I had blurted out that insane proposal at the school gaze, I had a very bad feeling about what I had done.

There’s something wrong with this guy.

Something underneath his perfect smile.

The next day, Leon arrived as if our argument had never happened.

He came to the palace in a dark tailored coat, looking decent and polished.

Leven heard the maids whispering excitedly about him. He’s not as dreamy or gorgeous as Ezra, but he’s much more approachable. He even smiled and thanked the maid who got the door for him. In just a few days at the castle, he’d already won a lot of people over.

Especially my mother.

When he greeted my mother, she beamed at him like he had personally descended from the moon to save our family.

By the time I came downstairs, they were already chatting over tea as if they were already a family.

Leon stood the second he saw me.

“You look beautiful,” he said with a sincere smile.

I muttered something polite and let him lead me out before my mother could start praising him again.

The jewelry store sat in the richest part of the city, the kind of place where the windows looked cleaner than most people’s mirrors and every doorman seemed to carry more judgment than air in his lungs.

Inside, the display cases glittered under soft white light, everything arranged to make even breathing teel expensive

A saleswoman in cream silk greeted us with the kind of smile reserved for wealthy customers and immediately began laying out tray after tray of rings.

Diamonds #lashed under the lights. Platinum bands. Delicate halos. Vintage cuts. Modern cuts. Settings that probably cost more than my grandmother’s whole house back in Pebble Creek.

Yet I barely paid any attention.

My mind kept slipping away from the words pouring out of the assistant’s mouth. Carat weight, clarity, setting, and exclusivity. I nodded when I was supposed to, absentmindedly

+15 Bonus

ventily Leon asked, “Which one do you like?

I wanted to say that I didn’t care. But I didn’t want him to threater, me again. So looked down at the tray in front of me

My eyes landed on the first ring that caught the light sharply enough to break through the fog in my head.

“That one,” I said.

The assistant lit up instantly. “Excellent choice, Miss! That piece is one of our rarer Gesigns — ”

Leon’s expression shifted slightly.

He raised a hand to stop her and said, “Could you give us a minute?”

“Of course, Sir. Take your time.” She vanished at once.

When we were finally alone, Leon turned back to me.

“You picked the most expensive one on the tray,” he said.

I frowned, confused. “I wasn’t looking at the prices”

“Weren’t you?”

Something in his tone made my skin tighten

I looked at him more carefully. He was still smiling, but it was the same kind of smile he had worn in the hallway yesterday- perfect, yet plastic.

“I just picked a random one,” I said “What’s your point

Leon folded his hands on the glass counter and looked down at the ring, then at me. “One of the reasons I liked you, Riley, was because you weren’t like the women in my social circle”

I looked at him coldly “And?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify