For weeks, she had hoped he would someday come to love her. In her wildest imagination, she never could have anticipated hearing that declaration delivered quite like this. Not that she believed him for a minute. He had fooled her at a time when she needed to trust her judgment more than ever.

She blinked rapidly three times, the only outward sign of the tempest of emotions raging inside her.

“An American spy in my house and an American company in our business. I never thought I would live to see the day.”

“Papa, I’m so sorry.”

“He fooled us all,” Alejandro said, compassion and frustration both evident on his face. “Tell me, though, how much influence did he have over who received the drilling rights here in Sereno?”

Suspicions bloomed, along with a searing pain that radiated through her entire body “He provided the information about Satori Oil. If he faked the reports . . .”

“He didn’t,” Alejandro assured her. “Darius did his own investigation and confirmed what Levi told you.”

“At least he was honest about that,” Cassie said. “How did you know Levi wasn’t who he said he was?”

“He knew about my illness.”

Cassie’s eyebrows drew together in confusion.

“The information about my medical condition has been tightly held. When I had Darius look into how it could have been leaked, our security team discovered the CIA had intercepted some communication between my physician and a specialist he consulted with.”

“That’s it?” Cassie asked. “You figured out Levi was CIA because he knows you have cancer?”

“That and his birth record wasn’t included in his background check. Darius found it today.”

Cassie absorbed the facts and tried to reconcile them with the kindhearted man she had fallen in love with. His interactions with the chateau staff, the confidence of the Meridian royal family. Everything had indicated he was who he had appeared to be.

“How did King Eduard not know Levi was CIA?” Cassie asked.

“I suspect he did.”

“But why wouldn’t he tell you?”

“As Levi said, he’s been working primarily for the Meridian royal family for two years. They have come to trust him. Obviously, they either didn’t consider my aversion to Americans, or they deliberately chose not to tell me.”

Cassie thought of the way Levi interacted with the royal guard. “No one ever acted like he was anything but a trusted employee of the royal family.”

“Which is why we were so easily fooled.” Alejandro reached out and took her hand. “I’m sorry, Cassie. I truly am, but we can’t trust a man with your safety who reports to someone else.”

“I know.” Cassie squeezed his hand before she pulled hers free and stepped back. “I should get back to work.”

“Before you do, I have something else we need to discuss.”

Cassie’s heart sank. All she wanted right now was privacy so she could let her emotions loose. “Can it wait?”

“I’m afraid not,” Alejandro said. “Levi was correct about the exhibit in Meridia being tied to the succession agreement.”