Something flickered briefly across Elena's face but he ignored it completely.
No.
He refused to fall for those expressions again.
Not after tonight.
"You don't expect love?" He continued with a hollow laugh. "Perfect… because I have no intention of giving you any."
The living room suddenly felt painfully silent.
Alaric shoved his hands into his pockets before continuing coldly,
"You want me to marry you and stay out of your life afterward? Fine. I can do that too."
"Alaric…"
"No." His voice cut through hers instantly. "This is what you wanted, isn't it?"
Elena looked at him quietly. For once, she didn't argue and somehow that only confirmed everything in his mind further.
Because to him, it looked like acceptance.
Like she and Victor Vaughn had already anticipated this outcome from the very beginning.
Finally, Alaric gave a slow nod.
"Congratulations, Elena," he said quietly. "You're about to get exactly what you and your father expect from me."
