Chapter 989

Mrs. Sterling shuddered. For some reason, the vicious threat felt like it was directed at her, too.

Delilah wore a triumphant smirk. Mrs. Sterling felt a sickening twist in her gut, but there was nothing she could do. Since Delilah had moved in, she had entirely usurped her daughters' places. Even Wren had fallen out of favor, and now Wren was off somewhere completely unreachable.

Maeve followed Alastair. The second they stepped into the study, he locked the door behind them. He sank into his leather executive chair, fixing Maeve with a stare so intense it made the hair on her arms stand up.

He casually lit a cigarette, taking a long, deep drag before finally speaking.

"You're back early. The agreed timeframe isn't up yet."

Maeve slammed her palms onto the desk, refusing to back down.

"You promised that if I completed the mission, you'd guarantee my marriage to Quinn. Now he's engaged to Delilah. Why did you do this?"

She felt utterly betrayed, but Alastair didn't show a flicker of guilt. Instead, he turned it right back on her.

"You've been shacked up with Layne this whole time. Do you honestly think Quinn would take you back once he finds out you've been playing house with another man for three years? I did you both a favor.

Two-thirds of your deadline is gone, and I haven't seen a single shred of progress. As for Quinn, it makes zero difference to me whether he marries you or Delilah, as long as he's useful to my network."

Maeve couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her gaze turned venomous.

"You're defending her like she's your own flesh and blood. Is she your real daughter? Was I the one you picked up off the street?"

The words barely left her mouth before Alastair snapped. He shot up from the leather chair, closed the distance in two strides, and delivered a brutal backhand across Maeve's face.

The crack echoed through the room. Maeve's ears rang violently, a piercing high- pitched whine drowning out everything else.

She stared at him in absolute shock. Growing up, whenever the maids tattled on her, Alastair had punished her severely-taking a belt to her or locking her in the dark. But she had always actually broken a rule then so she accepted the vicious beatings.

But he had never struck her across the face. The blow was so vicious that half her face immediately swelled up. Outside the study, Mrs. Sterling stood trembling, pressing a hand tightly over her mouth to stifle her sobs as tears streamed down her face.

She was so utterly useless. She couldn't even protect her own daughter from Alastair's cruelty.

She desperately wanted to kick the door open and shield Maeve, but she was paralyzed by fear.

Blood trickled from the corner of Maeve's split lip.

"You know damn well why I sent you out there. You completely failed the objective, and now you have the nerve to march back in here demanding your reward? Are you out of your mind?"

Maeve didn't know which of her words had triggered his explosive rage. Her eyes filled with furious tears. This was her biological father, yet he beat her without an ounce of hesitation.

"Am I wrong? Delilah is just a friend of mine. You moved her into my house and let her sleep with my fiancé. What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Alastair's fury boiled over. "Are you Alastair's fury boiled

deaf? I kept her because she's more useful than you! How many years were you dating Quinn? Did he ever once mention marrying you? You knew damn well he was a player He was just stringing you along. Did you' really think he gave a shit about you?

If you were actually capable, you'd be Mrs. Foster by now. Look at Delilah. She stayed by his side the second you left. They haven't even been together for six months, and she hasn't even let him in hebbed yet, but the man is already begging to marry her.