Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“Mom.” I pause on the landing. About this, I can’t pretend. “We both know my relationship with Leon isn’t like that.”
“Every couple wants children at some stage.”
“You and Gus didn’t.”
“We already had you and Elliot.”
“Well, don’t hold your breath. I have no intention of making you a grandmother.”
Her eyebrows pinch together. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“Of course,” I say quickly. “But you know it’s not a normal marriage.”
A pained expression washes over her pretty features. “If it’s not normal then what is it?”
“Convenience, remember?”
“Oh, honey.” She pats my cheek. “Give it time. You’ll learn to love each other.”
I want to tell her not to hold her breath for that either, but I don’t want to make her concerns worse. Instead, I flee, opening the first door. “This is the main bedroom.”
She steps over the threshold and takes in the space. Trust my mother to make a beeline for the nightstand. Of course she’d notice the blue box with the Hart Diamonds logo first. My mom is well-versed in status symbols. Worse, she’s an incurable romantic.
Gasping, she picks up the box. “Hart Diamonds. You need an appointment to visit their showroom.”
“Unless you’re family,” I say with a wry smile.
My mom places a palm over her heart. “Family? You mean…”
“Didn’t you know? I thought Gus would’ve told you. At the very least, I expected you’d put two and two together, seeing how hard Gus was pushing to make Leon a partner.”
The minute the words are out, a bitter taste fills my mouth. Will I ever be able to forgive myself for what I did to Leon? Probably not. Just like he’ll never let it go. My forever isn’t the fairytale that reflects in my mom’s dreamy gaze as she traces the logo on the lid of the box with a finger. My forever is made up of paying penance.
“May I?” my mom asks, staring reverently at the box.
“Go ahead.”
When she flips back the lid, her face crumples with a swoony expression. “Oh, Violet.”
I wish she would stop saying that. She makes it sound as if my life is a Disney movie.
“These are so you,” she says. “Leon picked something that’s exactly your style.” She makes a puppy face. “He paid enough attention to you to get your taste right. Oh, my dear girl, you’re in trouble. That man cares about you.”
Snatching the box from her hands, I shut it and dump it on the nightstand. “You can’t say that just because he bought me expensive earrings.”
“It’s not about the value. It’s about the attention to detail. If he didn’t care, he would’ve gotten you something big and flashy. No, he spent time observing you. He had to. How else would he know you never wear anything but small stud earrings?”
If she knew why he gave them to me, how he gave them, her opinion will be very different.
“They’re perfect for you,” she gushes. “Oh.” She makes big eyes. “I get it. It was your wedding gift. How romantic. Did you wear them for your celebration dinner?”
Celebration fuck, not dinner, and the emphasis was on punishment rather than celebration. “He only gave them to me last night.”
Her eyes light up. “Why don’t you try them on?”
“Not now.” I don’t tell her I have no intention of wearing those earrings. Ever. “You must be hungry.” Heading for the door, I ask, “Shall we have lunch?”
“Violet, wait.”
I turn to face her.
“You trust Leon, right?”
The question catches me off guard. Do I? This morning, he said he wouldn’t hurt me, which was just code for promising not to kill me. He’s hurt me plenty of times and I have no doubt he’ll continue to do so, but those scars won’t show on my skin. They cut much deeper, leaving notches etched into my heart.
With regards to not putting a gun to my head and pulling the trigger, I do believe him. It wasn’t only the way in which the moment was stripped down to bone-deep truth, leaving no place for lies. A man like Leon wouldn’t lie about that. He doesn’t have to. If he wanted to threaten my life, he would’ve done so. He has no reason to lie or pretend.
“Honey?” My mom touches my shoulder, dipping her knees to put us on eye level. “Do you trust him?”
“Yes,” I say with conviction. “Leon will take care of me.”
The creases on her forehead smooth out. “Good. That’s my impression as well. He was too invested in marrying you, even when he knew it wouldn’t secure him the partnership.”
Biting my lip, I weigh my words. “Did Gus tell you why he changed his mind?”
“And made Elliot a partner? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe Elliot finally started pulling his weight.”
“Maybe,” I say, not meeting her gaze. “Come on.” I make my way to the stairs. “I’m starving.”