Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
“What about Lan?”
“He wants to continue sculpting for a few more years before he sacrifices his, and I quote, ‘godly artistic talent for boring corporate work.’ As you know, Bran never wanted anything to do with the business side of his family, so that only leaves Eli. He’s also involved with the corporation from his mum’s side of the family. Let’s say, it's not fun being Eli these days.”
And yet he was here for the past two days after I woke up. Even when my parents were around. Even now, I can feel his presence somewhere outside my room.
Why?
Is this another game?
If it is, the rules must’ve changed, because I don’t recognize any of them.
We were supposed to annoy each other while remaining outside of one another’s lives. But now…what?
Married? Eli and I?
I still find it extremely hard to believe.
Ari clicks her tongue. “He’s been a massive doucheface to my Remi and overworking him at Steel Corporation. He better watch his back, I’m telling you.”
I narrow my eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re also engaged?”
“Unfortunately, no. Remi is still an idiot, but he’s my idiot, so you’re not allowed to call him names. I’m the only one who can do that. Anyway, he’ll give me a ring sometime before he dies.”
“You still like him?”
“Don’t be daft, Ava. I don’t like him. I love him. He loves me, too, by the way.”
“Does he know that?”
“Deep in his heart, he does.” She grins.
“How can you be sure? And no, delusion can’t be the answer, Ari.”
“I’m not delusional. You’re delusional.”
“Uh-huh.” Jesus. At least something hasn’t changed.
“Don’t give me that.” Annoyance bubbles to the surface through her voice. “You’re the one who’s delusional enough to think you’re still single or something.”
“Ari!” Cecily scolds.
“What? She got married against everyone’s recommendations and made Papa angry. I’ve never seen him so mad.”
“About that.” I lean back against my pillow. “Something is wrong. You both know I’d never marry He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named willingly. I hate the bastard.”
Ari lifts her chin. “Apparently not enough, because you said no one was allowed to interfere with your decision.”
“I said that?”
“To Papa.”
“No way.”
“And Mama and Nan and Grandpapa and me.”
“And me,” Cecily says in a murmur.
“And Papa let me?”
“Not in the beginning,” Ari says. “He was so pissed, I’m telling you. Like I’d never seen him before. He drove to the King household in the middle of the night and nearly drowned Eli in their pool. If Uncle Aiden hadn’t been there, you’d be crying at Eli’s grave as we speak. But even with that incident, and many others, including, but not limited to, chasing him with a golf club and sending thugs to beat him up, you still didn’t budge. Like, you weren’t even feeling sorry or anything. You were…cold.”
Cecily shakes her head at Ari again. “She wasn’t cold. She was going through something.”
“Stop defending her, Cecy. She nearly broke our family, okay?”
“Ari!” Cecily says.
“What?” I say at the same time.
Ari looks guilty. “It’s nothing.”
“Tell me. Now.”
“Well, Mama and Papa were fighting because of the stupid marriage. Papa said you’ll only marry Eli over his dead body and that his decision was final. Mama tried to calm him at first, but when he got violent with Eli and refused to change his mind, she put her foot down and told him he doesn’t get to dictate your life. Mama took you and left for the countryside for, like, two weeks until he calmed down. I hated that time.”
She doesn’t say it, but I can hear it in her unsaid words.
She hated me, too. For driving a wedge between our parents, who we always saw as the epitome of a perfect couple.
I single-handedly nearly drove them apart.
My worst fear materializes before my eyes in the form of a dark beast with hollow eyes and scaly, blurred features.
What have I done?
“And then what happened?”
“Ava, maybe you need to rest.” Cecily pats my shoulder, forever the pacifist, but right now, I need Ari’s brutal honesty.
And my sister gives it to me as she sighs. “He still didn’t agree to the wedding. I don’t think he does even now, to be honest. Especially after you asked that Eli be your legal guardian instead of him. Papa almost didn’t walk you down the aisle and Grandpapa offered to do it instead, but Papa changed his mind last minute. He was still mad and you were crying while hugging him and apologizing. You said you didn’t want to anger him, but you wanted to do this.”
“It just doesn’t make sense. I’d never go against Papa, especially not for that psycho Eli.”
“And yet you already did.” Ari pouts.
“Cecy.” I face my friend. “What did I tell you? There must’ve been a reason behind that out-of-character decision.”
“No one but you and Eli know.”
“But you’re my bestie. I must’ve told you something. Anything?”
She shakes her head. “Honestly, I was a bit hurt you didn’t want to confide in me, but you said it was for my sake. Whatever that means.”