The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 537

"No."

Her rejection was as swift as a blade.

Leonard's jaw twitched furiously. She hadn't even let him finish his sentence.

A surge of uncontrollable anger flared in his chest. If he weren't desperately in need of a favor, he would have flipped the table.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his rage, he forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Nora, you haven't even heard what I'm asking. Don't be so quick to shoot me down."

"I am still your father. Would I really propose something that would hurt you?"

Nora studied him carefully for a long moment before giving a cold, solitary nod. "Yes. You would."

Leonard choked on his words.

Trying to have a conversation with her was absolute torture.

She used to be so sweet and obedient. How the hell had Grace raised her to be this ruthless and unfeeling?

He conveniently ignored his own monstrous actions from the past.

He also completely overlooked the fact that Nora was perfectly warm and kind to everyone else—it was only him she treated like radioactive waste.

He tried to project the image of a remorseful, middle-aged father desperately seeking his daughter's forgiveness.

But arrogance was carved too deeply into his bones.

No matter how hard he tried to mask it, the stench of his blinding selfishness overpowered everything else.

Nora honestly had to admire his commitment. Even now, he was still trying to keep up the charade.

If Leonard had channeled even half this level of endurance into his actual business instead of manipulative schemes, he'd be incredibly successful.

But there were a million paths to success.

And Leonard had confidently strutted right down the path of failure.

"Nora, I know you harbor a grudge, but the past is the past. Can't we just have a civilized conversation?"

"Listen to reason. A lowly cop can never give you the life you deserve. Break things off with him and choose the Devereaux heir."

Despite her self-control, Nora couldn't hold back her disgust. "Is everyone just a tool for you to exploit? Do you possess even a shred of humanity, Leonard?"

"Even an animal knows to protect its young, yet you spend every waking moment plotting to sell your daughters for profit. Doesn't that make you sick?"

"The Devereaux family is old money!" Leonard argued with shameless conviction. "Mr. Devereaux adores you, and you saved his son's life. You'd marry into ultimate power as the lady of the house. I found you the perfect match! How is that not looking out for you?"

"It's certainly a better future than ending up with that cop!"

The man was beyond saving.

Nora shook her head, instantly regretting her decision to sit down with him.

Knowing exactly the kind of monster he was, agreeing to this talk was just asking for a migraine.

"If that's all you have to say, then we're done here."

Nora stood up, leveling him with a look of barely restrained repulsion. "Instead of obsessing over my fiancé, Mr. Hayes, I suggest you worry about your own wife and daughter."