The Heiress He Underestimated novel Chapter 107

Chapter 107 Selling Regret

Finished

The next morning, Elera woke up to her phone exploding with messages. Again. She was starting to think she should just throw the damn thing in the ocean and live like a hermit.

Clara’s message was the most urgent: “TURN ON GOOD MORNING MERICA RIGHT NOW.”

Elera fumbled for the remote and turned on the TV in her room. And there, sitting on a cream colored sofa and looking appropriately emotional, was her father.

“Oh no,” she whispered.

“Tell us about Elera’s childhood,” the host, Katie Moreno, was saying with that perfect blend of sympathy and curiosity that morning show hosts had perfected. “What was she like as a young girl?”

Kieran’s smile was soft, nostalgic. “She was quiet. Shy, really. She’d hide away in her room with her books and her notebooks. I used to worry she was too isolated, too much in her own head. But then I’d find these stories she’d written and I’d realize she wasn’t alone at all. She had the entire worlds in her imagination.”

“Did you encourage her writing?”

“I tried to. I’m not sure I did a very good job of it.” Kieran’s voice cracked and he had to pause, composing himself. “I was so focused on the family business, on maintaining our social position, that I didn’t appreciate what I had right in front of me. A brilliant, creative, wonderful daughter who just wanted her father to see her for who she really was.”

Katie leaned forward, clearly moved. “And when did you find out she was Raven Shadowmere?”

“The night of the gala, like everyone else. I was watching when she walked onto that stage, when she revealed herself, I just broke down. I was proud and devastated all at once. Proud because she’d accomplished something so incredible. Devastated because she felt she couldn’t share it with me. Because our relationship had deteriorated to the point where she had to hide this huge part of her life from her own father.”

“Have you spoken to her since the revelation?”

“No.” Kieran looked directly at the camera, and Elera knew this part was aimed right at her. “Elera, if you’re watching this, I want you to know that I’m sorry. For everything. For not being the father you deserved. For being controlling and dismissive. For not seeing your brilliance until the whole world pointed it out to me. I’m sorry. And I love you. I’ve always loved you, even when I was terrible at showing it. If you’re willing to give me another chance, to let me be part of your life again, I promise I’ll do better. I’ll be better. You deserve that.”

Elera felt like she was going to throw up. The manipulation was so obvious to her, so clear and cunning, but to the millions of people watching? They were probably crying. They were probably thinking what a touching moment this was, how brave of him to admit his faults publicly.

Her phone started ringing. Drakonius.

“Are you watching this?” he asked as soon as she answered.

“Unfortunately.”

11:54 pm P P P P

Chapter 107 Selling Regret

Finished

“It’s a very effective manipulation. I’ll give him that.”

“He’s making himself the victim. The poor, regretful father who’s been cast aside by his cold, successful daughter. And people are going to believe it.” Elera could hear the comments already, could imagine the social media discourse. Half the internet would think she was heartless for not forgiving him. The other half would see through his act. And the fight between them would dominate the news cycle for days.

“So what do you want to do about it?” Drakonius asked.

“Nothing,” Elera said, making the decision at that moment. “I’m not going to respond. I’m not going to give a counter interview or make a statement. He wants me to engage, to fight back publicly, so he can play the hurt father trying to reconcile with his stubborn daughter. I won’t give him that.”

“The silence might be interpreted as confirmation of his story.”

“Let it be. The people who matter, the people who actually know me, they know the truth. Everyone else can think whatever they want.” She took a breath. “Besides, I have bigger problems than my father’s PR campaign. Like whoever sent me that cryptic message last night.”

“Frost is still tracing it. He thinks he’ll have a location by this afternoon. But Elera, I don’t like this. Between your father, Xan, Sarah, and now mysterious messages about the past, you’ve got too many threats converging at once.”

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