Chapter 558
Chapter 558:
Liam laughed. It was a dry, humorless sound. “Love her? Skye, I want to destroy her p>
He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “If she stays in jail, she gets a lawyer. She gets a plea deal. She gets three meals a day and a TV. That’s too easy p>
“So what’s your plan?” Skye asked, intrigued despite herself.
“I’m her fiancé, remember?” Liam’s lip curled. “Or at least, I haven’t officially annulled it yet. I’m posting her bail. She’ll be released into my custody pending trial p>
“To the manor p>
“To the manor,” Liam nodded. “But not as the lady of the house p>
Skye looked into his eyes and saw a darkness there that chilled her. This wasn’t the Liam who used to bring her flowers and then forget her birthday. This was a man who had been broken and put back together wrong.
“You’re going to make her life a living hell,” Skye realized.
“I’m going to take care of her,” Liam corrected, his voice devoid of warmth. “I’m going to make sure she understands exactly what it feels like to be trapped. To be powerless. To be… nothing p>
He tapped the envelope. “The manor is yours, Skye. I’m just renting it for a few weeks. To finish things p>
Skye looked at the envelope. It was everything she had fought for. The destruction of the Kensington legacy, handed to her on a plate. And in exchange, she just had to let Liam be the monster he needed to be.
“Beatrice to the Alps,” Skye clarified. “Sienna to you p>
“Yes p>
“And the manor is mine p>
“Lock, stock, and barrel p>
Skye reached out and took the envelope. She opened it, scanning the documents. The transfer of deed was already notarized. All it needed was her signature. She pulled a pen from her purse. She signed.
“Done,” she said.
Liam let out a breath he seemed to have been holding for five years. He stood up. He didn’t look relieved. He looked like a man walking to the gallows, but willing to pull the lever himself.
𝖱𝖾a𝗱e𝗿 с𝗼𝗺𝗆𝘂𝗻i𝘁у 𝘰n b𝘦.𝘤om
“Thank you,” he said.
“Liam,” Skye called out as he turned to leave.
He stopped.
“Be careful,” she said. “When you look into the abyss p>
“…the abyss looks back,” Liam finished. “I know. I’m counting on it p>
He walked out of the diner into the rain. Skye watched him go. She touched the signed deed. She had won the war against the Kensingtons, but looking at Liam’s retreating back, she realized there were no victors here. Only survivors.
The iron gates of Kensington Manor swung open with a groan of rusted metal that sounded like a warning. The rain was coming down harder now, turning the manicured lawns into a swamp.
The black sedan rolled up the driveway. In the backseat, Sienna Quinn sat shivering, wrapped in a blanket Liam had thrown her. She looked at the house with wide, hopeful eyes.
“You bailed me out,” she whispered, turning to Liam. He was staring out the window, his profile sharp and cold. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me in that place. It smelled like bleach and poor people p>
Liam didn’t answer.