Chapter 153

She had no time left to think it through—her mind was blank. Ariella Rios choked back the searing pain in her chest and yelled at her father, “Stop! I’ll do it!” The words had barely left her lips when tears came flooding down her face. In that moment, Lucian Sterling felt like his heart was being ripped apart for this woman. Her voice, that scream—it tore right through him. It hurt, really hurt. But he wasn't the only one dying inside. He knew Oliver Rios had never approved of him. From the second Ariella arrived, he hadn’t dared say a thing, afraid to provoke him further, afraid he might actually jump. Oliver had been this close to jumping, but in the end, his daughter gave in. Technically, that counted as his win. He looked down from the edge of the building and instantly felt dizzy—the cars below looked as tiny as toy blocks. If he really jumped... He couldn’t bear to look any longer. Eyes squeezed shut, he started turning back. But as he turned, he wobbled and his body tipped towa