Chapter 54: The Unknown Heir

Skylar's pulse raced as she stared at Chris, trying to make sense of what she had just heard.

Her father—a man who only respected wealth and power—had not just accepted Chris but had agreed to him over all other suitors.

That didn't happen by chance.

That only happened when someone had enough influence to demand it.

But that didn't make sense.

Chris was just… Chris.

A student.

A nobody.

Right?

Her voice was unsteady. "Who are you?"

Chris met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "You already know."

"No." Skylar shook her head. "No, I don't. My father—he wouldn't have agreed to this unless you—" She swallowed. "Chris, tell me the truth."

Chris tilted his head slightly. "The truth?" His lips curled into a faint smirk. "The truth is, I'm just a student. A man who wants you."

Skylar's breath hitched. "But—"

"You're overthinking," Chris interrupted smoothly. "Your father agreed because I gave him no choice."

Skylar blinked. "What do you mean?"

Chris leaned back in his seat, relaxed, controlled. "He was desperate. I solved his problem. Simple as that."

Skylar's mind spun. That didn't add up.

Because solving her father's problem would take an obscene amount of money—more than any student should ever have access to.

But Chris still looked like the same person she had always known. Same casual confidence. Same mysterious aura.

Nothing about him screamed billionaire.

Nothing about him made sense.

And yet…

Her father, Jonathan Huntington, had treated him like a man of power.

And that terrified her.

Skylar swallowed. "Did you… threaten him?"

Chris chuckled, shaking his head. "I didn't need to."

Silence stretched between them.

Skylar wanted to push for more, to force an answer out of him. But something in his gaze warned her—he wouldn't tell her anything unless he wanted to.

And for some reason… he didn't.

She exhaled shakily, looking down at her hands. "I don't get it."

Chris studied her carefully. She was questioning him now.

Good.

Because as much as he wanted to keep her, she needed to learn something first—

That digging into him wouldn't get her anywhere.

Because no one ever figured out who Chris Blackwood truly was.

Not until it was too late.