“I’m not trying to defy you,” she argued. “I’m telling you that my family is a part of who I am. If you really loved me, you wouldn’t try to strip them away from me.”

He leaned back in his chair, contemplating her. Shadows played across his face, a slight breeze flickering the candlelight and making him look sinister. Her heart sank when he didn’t say anything for a long time. He was a cruel man who used cruel methods to get what he wanted. He would twist her until she was no longer shaped like herself, she was sure of it.

Then he did something unexpected. He said, “Alright, if your family truly is a part of you, then I don’t want to change that. I love you just as you are.” Her expression must’ve shown her shock because he chuckled and leaned across the table to tap her chin. “I’m not a complete monster. You’ll come to see other sides of me, küçük olan.”

Debatable, but she would accept whatever small concessions he threw her way. Then she’d push for more. “Does that mean you’ll let me see them?” He started to shake his head, but she rushed to add, “I don’t mean right away, but one day, when things settle down. I don’t want them believing I’m dead. It would destroy them.”

He nodded. “Which would hurt you, too.”

“Yes.”

“Then I can’t allow that.”

“But you said you wanted to hurt me,” she pointed out with a frown. “So what do you care if it upsets me that my family thinks I’m dead?”

“I said I would hurt you, not that I want to hurt you. There’s a difference. Given that sharp brain of yours, I would say we’ll be exploring that difference sooner rather than later.” He took a drink of his Champagne, then nodded to hers, encouraging her to pick it up.

She didn’t want to get drunk in his presence, but she was enjoying the warmth spreading through her from the alcohol. It helped to calm her after the upheaval of the past few days.

“I can’t trust you around your family yet, but I’m willing to let them know you’re alive and well.”

Hope leapt into her heart and she straightened in her chair. “Really?”

“You’ll have to do something for me.”

She should have known he’d want something in return for a kindness. He was a monster, after all. “What do you want?”