Chapter 439
Chapter 439:
He simply shrugged and gave me that familiar smile — the one that used to make me want to disappear — and heat rushed to my cheeks.
“Why the hesitation? When were you going to tell me?” He clicked his tongue several times, clearly entertained. “I already know you’re married, Belle. Relax. Your old man isn’t offended that you kept it from him p>
“Dad p>
The moment he saw the color climbing into my face, he burst into laughter. All I could do was keep saying his name, which only made him laugh harder. I dropped my head in an attempt to hide my expression, which amused him even more.
“I want to meet him p>
“What?” I turned to him so fast I forgot to breathe. The seriousness of his expression made my stomach drop.
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“Your husband. I want to meet the man you married, Belle p>
The words left me frozen. How was I supposed to explain the truth? That Daniel and I had been bound by necessity, not love. That Félix was at the center of everything. That the marriage was nothing more than a signed agreement, meant to end within the year.
“I’ll listen. And whatever your reasons for marrying him, I’ll understand them p>
I stared at him as though time had stopped. Somehow, he already seemed to know everything.
“Hmm… Dad p>
“Hmm p>
It had all started as a practical arrangement. I walked him through it step by step, but somewhere along the way, what I felt for Daniel simply slipped out.
He was quiet for a moment, and then he caught me completely off guard.
“You fell in love with him p>
I looked up, unable to say a word. He wasn’t asking. He was stating it as fact, because he already knew.
A quiet laugh left him. “My little girl has grown up. I still remember when you were five years old and asked me what boyfriends were — and why your cousin had one and you didn’t p>
A smile found its way onto my face as those old moments came back to me.
“And here you are now. Married. It may have started as a marriage of convenience, but it’s still a real marriage. And since you’re in love, I don’t need to explain why you never had a boyfriend. You already have a husband p>
“Yes, I love him. But he doesn’t feel the same way,” I admitted quietly, lowering my head.
“What if he does? You decided he doesn’t because that’s what you’ve wanted to convince yourself of p>
I shook my head, choosing not to mention Daniel’s cutting words or the way he had judged me.
“I suppose that’s all there is to it, Dad.” Silence settled between us.
“Belle — the company has been sold p>
“What? That quickly p>
“Yesterday I told you about the crisis and my intention to sell rather than let it fall into the hands of the De Lucas. This morning, Benjamin called me. Someone scheduled a meeting to sign the documents, and the money has already been transferred to my account p>