Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
I gritted my teeth. Was he doing this on purpose? I was aware he liked to play between Aurora and Slavik, but that was their own business. They had a history.
Other than changing my bride against my wishes, Ivan, as far as I knew, had nothing to do with Adelaide in the past. In fact, at all the family dinners, my current wife was never present. Bethany and her parents never talked about the other member of their family. She never attended celebrity events and was often kept out of the media.
I knew why. They were ashamed of her, often referring to her as the Ugly One.
The name alone angered me, for Adelaide was in fact a beautiful woman. She had the sweetest smile and the sexiest laugh. I was surprised years of being put down hadn’t affected her, but seeing her tonight in that dress, I’d already noticed a dozen men looking at her. They wanted to bed my virgin bride, but none of them were getting within touching distance.
I had the overwhelming urge to pull my gun out and shoot them all right in the eyes. Blood had always been a lovely sight to me, and the day I painted my old family home red had been a joyful day.
Some would say I’m a little warped, but that is a kindness I don’t deserve. I know there’s a darkness inside me. It’s cold and part of me is dead inside. A man like me should never be near the innocence of Adelaide. For now, she’s safe. This is all new to her. I’ve not exposed her to the real me, but the moment she realizes what I am, she’ll hate me.
“She’ll have the steak,” I said.
Ivan chuckled. “Have you not gotten to know your wife?”
I clench my jaw. “Is there something wrong with steak?”
“I don’t like it,” Adelaide said after a few seconds of silence. “I never have.” She looked down at the table, avoiding my gaze.
“Then she’ll have the chicken,” I said. I do not want Ivan ordering for my woman. Adelaide is mine. There were plenty of other virgins out there in the world. He wasn’t having mine.
Ivan snorted.
Adelaide nibbled her lip. “I’m a … vegan. I don’t eat any kind of meat.”
“And that’s why, Andrei, I chose this restaurant. They have the best marinated tofu. I cater to all tongues, including your sweet wife’s.”
There is a great deal I don’t know about Adelaide, but a vegan? Why did he have me marry her? She would be eaten alive in this world. There was no room for her or for us. She was far too innocent and I knew I had no choice but to break her.
Chapter Three
Adelaide
I didn’t announce my veganism to the world. What was the point? I wasn’t doing it out of protest. When I was younger I stumbled onto an exposé documentary of what happened in the meat industry, and considering how much I loved animals, I stopped eating them. My mother loved the idea because I was on yet another diet in her eyes. Also, my parents didn’t cook.
We had a chef, who happened to love the challenge, and so I was fed really well, much to my mother’s annoyance. My weight fluctuated but I never changed my eating habits for weight loss. I like who I am. In fact, I love who I am.
Something Miss Nicole always said to me: “If you can’t love yourself, who do you expect to love you?”
Or it was something like that. I found her words of wisdom to be completely wise. I missed her when she left, but her true passion had been to travel, and the moment an opportunity arose, she left. Not that I held it against her. I didn’t. I remember how happy she was.
Cutting into the slice of tofu that had lovely grill marks and a slight smokey flavor was so delicious, along with all the vegetables dressed in a gorgeous seasoning. I was in Heaven. It was so good.
I didn’t pay much attention to the conversation at the table happening between Ivan, Slavik, and Andrei. My husband didn’t look happy. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen him happy. He’d never smiled in my presence. He sipped at his wine looking rather concentrated.
Finishing off the food, I pressed the napkin to my lips.
Aurora declared she needed to use the ladies’ room, and it was the perfect opportunity for us to get away from the men.
I wanted to get away from them. In the car, the way Andrei had touched me had sent a flame shooting right through my body in a way I’d never experienced before. Was I attracted to my husband? I don’t know. There was a lot I didn’t know. Just like he didn’t know a whole lot about me.