I froze. So did Gareth. Everything shifted.
He didn’t look at Michelle or the butler. He looked straight at like I’d personally spit in his drink. His jaw was locked, his shoulders stiff, and that cold, sharp light in his eyes—yeah, I’d seen it before, when he glared at Elliot. But this ti, it was aid at in full force.
“What is she doing here?” he asked tightly, voice low and nacing.
Michelle blinked, still holding onto his arm. “She’s my tutor. Isa hired her. Isn’t that great?”
He slowly peeled Michelle’s hand off his coat and stepped forward. His gaze never left mine. “Get away from my daughter.”
I froze. “Excuse ?”
“You heard ,” he growled. “What the hell are you doing in my house?”
I opened my mouth, stunned, but he didn’t give a chance.
“I told you to stay away from my family,” he snapped. “You think sneaking your way in through my daughter was clever? You think I wouldn’t find out?”
Sneaking? My heart dropped. He thought I planned this?
“Sir—” the butler began, clearly flustered.
“Silence,” Gareth barked. “Is this how you do your job now? Letting strangers into my ho to play with my daughter? Show her out right now!”
“She’s not a stranger,” Michelle snapped. “She’s aweso.”
“Michelle, not now,” Gareth said through clenched teeth.
I could feel the heat rising to my face. I was getting very angry.
“I didn’t sneak in,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Your daughter hired . She saw my resu, called in, and your butler let in through the front door.”
He scoffed and took a step closer, his voice low and sharp. “You really expect to believe that? You had the nerve to co here after everything I told you?”
I reached into my bag and pulled out the folder Isa asked to bring. My fingers trembled slightly as I held it out. “Here. This is my resu. See for yourself.”
He didn’t even glance at it. Just stood there, glaring like I’d spat at his feet.
So I set it down on a nearby table.
“I didn’t co here for you,” I said, my voice tightening. “I ca here to work. I applied like everyone else. I got hired. That’s it.”
He stared at the folder for a long mont, then looked back at . His expression didn’t change.
“You don’t belong here,” he muttered. “You’ve been a problem since the second you crossed my path, and now you’re worming your way into my house?”
Michelle, who’d been standing off to the side, frowned. “Dad, stop bullying her! You don’t even know her.”
Gareth shot her a warning look. “Michelle. Go to your room.”
She folded her arms. “No.”
His eyes darkened. “I said now.”
The butler gently placed a hand on Michelle’s shoulder, trying to guide her away. She yanked herself free and stomped toward the stairs, mumbling under her breath.
“You’re such a jerk.”
Once she was gone, Gareth’s gaze fell back on .
“If I find out this was planned... if you’re using my daughter to get to —”
“I’m not,” I said quickly.
He ignored . “I’ll have you thrown in prison next to your father. And this ti, no one will stop it.”
I flinched. With his power, it was too easy to turn that threat into reality.
My throat tightened, but I refused to look away.
“I didn’t know Michelle was your daughter,” I said quietly. “Or that Isa was your other daughter. I swear I didn’t.”
Still, he said nothing. The silence pressed against my chest like a weight.
I opened my mouth to speak again, but the butler stepped forward.
“Sir,” he said gently. “If I may...”
Gareth didn’t look at him but gave a short nod.
The butler straightened. “Lady Isabella was the one who placed the ad. It only said she needed a tutor for a strong-willed child. There was no ntion of nas or that the job would be here.”
That made Gareth pause.
“I didn’t know,” I repeated, softer now. “If I had, I wouldn’t have co.”
Michelle, who had been halfway up the stairs sulking, suddenly turned around and looked at in surprise. “Wait. You wouldn’t have co?”
I glanced up at her. “No offense, Michelle. You’re fun. But your dad—” I looked at Gareth and shrugged. “He made it very clear he doesn’t want near his family. And I don’t work for people who think I’m trash.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You don’t want my dad?”
I blinked. “What?”
“I an—every woman wants my dad. They all smile at him and try to get him to notice them. They wear fancy perfu and pretend to be interested in just to get to him.” Her eyes narrowed a little. “But you actually wanted to like you.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. But the way her voice cracked a little... it hit in the gut.
Gareth looked at her, frowning, then back at . He still didn’t say anything.
“I’ll go,” I said quietly, heading toward the door. “It’s clear I’m not welco.”
My pride was already scraped raw. I couldn’t stay in a place where I was treated like a criminal for existing.
“Wait—what?” Michelle rushed down the stairs again, panic rising in her voice. “You’re leaving?”
I stopped, “Yes.. Your dad doesn’t trust . And I don’t want to stay where I’m not trusted.”
Her face twisted in frustration. “You’re the only good one! I don’t want another one of those fake tutors who wear lipstick and heels and call princess like I’m stupid!”
“Michelle,” Gareth said sharply. “That’s enough.”
But she wasn’t done. She turned on him, fists clenched.
“You never care what I want!” she shouted. “You care more about your dumb reputation than about !”
“Michelle!” he snapped.
“I said I like her!” Her voice broke, and her green eyes were wet now. “I want Jasmine to stay!”
I stood frozen. I hadn’t expected that.
Not from the sa girl who threw a knife at an hour ago.
Michelle wiped her eyes angrily. “ You’re always telling people what to do. You never listen to . You always just pretend to care.”
“I finally found soone who treats like a person, soone I like...and you just... ruin it. Like you ruin everything!”
Gareth went still. The butler looked like he wanted to disappear.
Michelle’s chest rose and fell fast as she stared at her father. Tears stread down her cheeks, but she didn’t wipe them away this ti.
“If you fire her, I’m never talking to you again!”
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