AR
ing to
ept echoing through my mind
left the cathedral in Julian's limousine. The m
. The fact that he wasn't even looking
realize when his
ment, my breath was caught. I summone
what you
rlo
d. His eyes were
, bo
His order
on slowly slid down behind him. It
. I backed away on instinct, trying to
rabbed my chin roughly, his nail
t fault him if he wanted to. We had lied to
only inches away from mine. "You'll si
, he let
thing else, like I wasn't even worth his time. Then a
d forced my way in at my
d if I explained i
*
f long, grueling silence, we
hat surrounded it, high enough that
s, steel...and
ut
d to shuffle towards the door, but my ribs were hurtin
rescue, opening the door with a
immediately walked to the en
slow down for even one second, and by the time I caught up with him, I was a
he only o
He walked in after me, then hit the
eternity. Julian was silent by my side,
a glance at him, and my heart
I stood face-to-face with his luxurious pent
d ever seen. Expensive furniture and plush seats
h your si
brought back to reality. I tur
e corner, poured out two glasse
e handed
myself onto one of the sofas. Julian was still standin
ri
loudly in my chest wit
don't
tion." His eyes darke
ook a sip. The instant burn made me spit it out without thinking.
d me intently. I felt like a sitting duck, ju
let L
ath hi
he drink in his glass, one hand in his
ords came out befor
I didn't need people misidentifying
d before me, leaning close enough that I was su
lie t
sion at his question. "I didn
m ready to punish you." He
ything. How my stepmother had cornered me, my father being on the bri
cal for the longest time," I sai
ere paid for the marriage contract, my father woul
ent. It felt like he could read
n his glass, watching it like
went ahead with thi
shook my
always been to make sure I'm settled before he dies. My mother...she wants
my gaze. "A d
the drink aside
uld control. Someone prim, proper, and
not Vivian. But if you're being fo
oman my mother can easily use. She's pliable, eager enough
inst the headrest. His body was caging me
in his eyes made me s
nt. My stomach twisted as he le
y playing pretence and lying to me, s
up my spine.
your pretty little smiles whenever I ask you to. In secret, you're mine whol
but he only tightene
ay your father's medical
t he had to offer.
at if I
dbye to your father. And then you and the rest of your f
ne long finger down my neck. Whe
k you can last in pri
ocus. My heart was hammering so hard tha
gain, breath dancing dan
was unbridled darkness. I swallowed
er choice, Scarl
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