Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 389

The laughter tippled around the Table

I let them talk. I kept my eyes on my phone

But perhaps because I had not fully recovered, perhaps because the baby and the hospital and the pills had left me raw in ways 1 did not want to examine, I eventually spoke up.

“Are we going to start the celebration or not?” My voice cutthrough the chatter. “I have to get back to work. I’m not idle I have a lot on my plate.”

My father turned to me, his eyebrows raised. “Work? What work? Everyone knows you waste your time in that lab pretending to be a scientist. What is there to show for it? You’re dead broke, Patricia. Everyone knows it.”

I sighed. I had thought I could put up with them. I had been wrong.

They were still talking about how my life was wasting away, how I was amounting to nothing, how my youfiger sister had surpassed me in every possible way, when the door was pushed open.

Someone walked into the room.

I turned, saw who it was, and my breath caught in my throat. I was so shocked I thought I was imagining things.

Kingsley Duke.

that it was impossible to look at him once and look away. His suit was tailored to perfection, his hair styled, his jaw sharp, and he carried himself with the easy authority of a man who owned every room he walked into. It was as though he had taken extra time, extra effort, to look exactly like this.

Everyone’s eyes fixed on him. He looked exceptionally handsome, so hands

My mother was the first to find her voice. “What is such a handsome man doing in our room?”

Kingsley smiled, a smile that could have melted stone. “Hi, everyone.” He glanced around the table. “Am I late for the party?”

Vivian rose, her eyes sparkling with interest. “Who are you? Do we know you?”

Kingsley turned toward me, and a look of surprise crossed his face. “Pat?” He walked toward me, his eyes wide. “You didn’t tell your family that your boyfriend was coming?”

“Wow!” My father’s face broke into a wide grin. “I can’t believe a millionaire like you could grace our simple event. Welcome, welcome!”

“Dad, don’t let him fool you.” Vivian’s voice rang out, loud and dismissive. “This broke man is nothing but an actor. I can tell these things from a mile away.’

My father turned to her, and before anyone could stop him, he drew back his hand and slapped her across the face.

The sound echoed through the room.

“How dare you disrespect Mr. Duke!” he roared. “Do you know who this man is? Apologize to him this instant!”

Vivian stood there, her hand pressed to her cheek, her eyes wide with shock and humiliation. Jonathan had risen too, but he did not know what to do, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

My father reached out and shook Kingsley’s hand, pumping his arm like he was drawing water from a well, his face split in a grin. “Please, Mr. Duke, please, sit down. Sit! Take my seat, please!” 1