Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
The people pleaser in me wants to remain quiet. I don’t want to disturb the peace. I want Bryant to feel like I’m easy to be around, pleasant, and maybe question why he’s taken so long to get to know me in the first place. But there’s still so much to say. So much to discuss. As we get closer to the States, I feel like I have to try to have a conversation about what occurred in Italy. I can’t simply say nothing and do nothing.
“Can we discuss what happened in Italy?” I say, my voice hoarse from not speaking for so long and obviously needing to drink some water.
“What’s there to discuss?” Bryant doesn’t even look up from his phone to speak to me.
“You aren’t expecting me to marry a complete stranger, right?”
He finally looks up at me. “That was the deal.”
“But…” I open my mouth to object, but how do you argue against such a crazy idea?
“What did you expect to happen?”
“Not to have to marry someone I don’t even know,” I answer, feeling a sense of betrayal. I had trusted my father. I had felt that deep down he’d never allow this to happen. “You don’t have to allow this.”
“I gave my word,” he says.
“I thought you just did that to get me home safely.”
He smirks. “Hardly. I just want this entire mess over with quickly. So I’ll say and do whatever needs to happen to assure that outcome.”
“But—”
“Don’t look at me with those shocked eyes. You put yourself in this situation, Lyriope. Not me.”
Oddly enough, I like the way my name sounds on his tongue—even in this heated conversation. I’ve waited for so long to hear it. But—
“If the Sidorovs want your hand in marriage, then fine. It’s not like you have any better options,” he adds.
“You can’t expect me to marry a complete stranger,” I say, trying to make my voice come out with more power—power I’m not exactly feeling right now.
Bryant has a way of making me feel so small with just a few words and little actions. I feel as if my surroundings are getting larger and larger, and I’m simply shrinking in his presence. I hate the feeling. I hate that this is the way my first time alone with my father is. I hate that this is happening, and I hate that I feel like I can’t regain my size no matter how hard I’m trying to withstand him diminishing my presence.
My father’s eyes darken, his jawline stiffens, and he leans forward with his arms resting on his knees. His laser focus on me sends a shiver down my spine. “That is exactly what I expect. I also expect for this conversation to be over. You made your bed. Now fucking lie in it.”
My father returns his attention back to his phone. I know immediately that the conversation is over unless I want a fight—which I don’t. Any further attempt at a discussion is futile.
Silence is all I got.
The worst part of the silence is that I had absolutely nothing to distract me from my thoughts of Nick. Remembering the way he looked at me as I said goodbye. His words, his body so close to mine as I fought the urge to throw myself at him and to beg for him to take me back to El Boro where we were happy.
God, we were so happy.
Nick would have fought for me if I allowed it.
He would have died trying which I couldn’t see happen.
I couldn’t risk his life for a fantasy. For a fairy tale that has to come to an end. Nick offered me a Wonderland that only existed for a short time.
Bright. Vibrant. Sparks of complete passion and joy.
But fleeting…
No. It was time to begin the next chapter in my life. That chapter is over and on to the next one.
As we enter the Morelli mansion, I can’t help but feel as if it’s the first time I’m seeing it. Even though I’ve been here before—in secret—I’ve never entered the front doors as me.
Lyriope Morelli.
“Where’s Sarah?” Bryant asks the butler standing in the foyer greeting us.
“She’s out running errands. She should be arriving shortly, sir.”
Bryant nods, audibly breathes out his nose, rubs his hand on the back of his neck, and frowns. He then looks at a small-statured woman wearing a uniform that makes her look older than I believe her to be at the edge of the grand spiral staircase. “This is Lyriope. She’ll be staying here for a short time. Please get her settled in.”
And just like that, I’m being dismissed. But there’s still so much to discuss. So much to plan. We haven’t come to a solution about my future, and there is so much to talk about. It’s like Bryant has completely moved on from what just occurred in Italy. As if it’s simply a blip in his schedule and back to business as usual. Except there is nothing usual about this. I was kidnapped, multiple times, and auctioned to the highest bidder. I was hunted down and now in a position to be married off to a complete stranger. And the worst part is that Bryant seems completely unfazed by this. He doesn’t seem to care.