11 Chapter 11: Mistaken Intentions
“She’s not a stranger,” Michelle snapped. “She’s awesome.”
Michelle, who’d been standing off to the side, frowned. “Dad, stop bullying her! You don’t
even know her.”
“Wait-what?” Michelle rushed down the stairs again, panic rising in her voice. “You’re
leaving?”
She folded her arms. “No.”
Not from the same girl who threw a knife at me an hour ago.
“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?”
He stared at the folder for a long moment, then looked back at me. His expression didn’t
change.
Once she was gone, Gareth’s gaze fell back on me.
Michelle’s chest rose and fell fast as she stared at her father. Tears streamed down her
cheeks, but she didn’t wipe them away this time.
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11 Chapter 11: Mistaken Intentions
“If I find out this was planned… if you’re using my daughter to get to me-”
I flinched. With his power, it was too easy to turn that threat into reality.
“I finally found someone who treats me like a person, someone I like…and you just… ruin it. Like you ruin everything!”
Her mouth dropped open. “You don’t want my dad?”
I froze. So did Gareth. Everything shifted.
“Michelle,” Gareth said sharply. “That’s enough.”
I opened my mouth, stunned, but he didn’t give me a chance.
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 mention of names or that the job
would be here.”
He didn’t even glance at it. Just stood there, glaring like I’d spat at his feet.
I didn’t know what to say to that. But the way her voice cracked a little… it hit me in the
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gut.
He slowly peeled Michelle’s hand off his coat and stepped forward. His gaze never left mine. “Get away from my daughter.”
He didn’t look at Michelle or the butler. He looked straight at me 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 time, it was aimed at me in full
force.
“Sir-” the butler began, clearly flustered.
“You heard me,” he growled. “What the hell are you doing in my house?”
I froze. “Excuse me?”
I stood frozen. I hadn’t expected that.
My pride was already scraped raw. I couldn’t stay in a place where I was treated like a criminal for existing.
“Silence,” Gareth barked. “Is this how you do your job now? Letting strangers into my
home to play with my daughter? Show her out right now!”
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 me near his family. And I don’t
work for people who think I’m trash.”
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“Michelle!” he snapped.
His eyes darkened. “I said now.”
“You’re such a jerk.”
My throat tightened, but I refused to look away.
I could feel the heat rising to my face. I was getting very angry.
“I’m not,” I said quickly.
So I set it down on a nearby table.
He scoffed and took a step closer, his voice low and sharp. “You really expect me to
believe that? You had the nerve to come here after everything I told you?”
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“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?”
“What is she doing here?” he asked tightly, voice low and menacing.
“I didn’t sneak in,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Your daughter hired me. She saw my resume, called me in, and your butler let me in through the front door.”
“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.
“Michelle, not now,” Gareth said through clenched teeth.
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.
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 me princess like I’m stupid!”
That made Gareth pause.
“I mean every woman wants my dad. They all smile at him and try to get him to notice them. They wear fancy perfume and pretend to be interested in me just to get to him.” Her eyes narrowed a little. “But you actually wanted me to like you.”
Gareth looked at her, frowning, then back at me. He still didn’t say anything.
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11 Chapter 11: Mistaken Intentions
“I’ll go.” I said quietly, heading toward the door. “It’s clear I’m not welcome.”
Gareth shot her a warning look. “Michelle. Go to your room.”
But she wasn’t done. She turned on him, fists clenched.
“I didn’t know,” I repeated, softer now, “If I had, I wouldn’t have come.”
“Sir,” he said gently. “If I may…”
Gareth didn’t look at him but gave a short nod.
“I said I like her!” Her voice broke, and her green eyes were wet now. “I want Jasmine to
stay!”
“You never care what I want!” she shouted. “You care more about your dumb reputation
than about me!”
Michelle blinked, still holding onto his arm. “She’s my tutor. Isa hired her. Isn’t that great?”
I opened my mouth to speak again, but the butler stepped forward.
“If you fire her, I’m never talking to you again!”
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11 Chapter 11: Mistaken Intentions
He ignored me. “I’ll have you thrown in prison next to your father. And this time, no one
will stop it.”
Sneaking? My heart dropped. He thought I planned this?
I reached into my bag and pulled out the folder Isa asked me to bring. My fingers trembled slightly as I held it out. “Here. This is my resume. See for yourself.”
Gareth went still. The butler looked like he wanted to disappear.
Michelle wiped her eyes angrily. “You’re always telling people what to do. You never listen to me. You always just pretend to care.”
“I didn’t come here for you,” I said, my voice tightening. “I came here to work. I applied like everyone else. I got hired. That’s it.”
I stopped, “Yes.. Your dad doesn’t trust me. And I don’t want to stay where I’m not
trusted.”
I blinked. “What?”
Michelle, who had been halfway up the stairs sulking, suddenly turned around and looked at me in surprise. “Wait. You wouldn’t have come?”
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12 Chapter 12: Unspoken Promises
