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)
“She told me that you liked … that you … this is … you enjoy pain. You enjoy making a woman bleed, and you relish hitting women. It was a whole big explanation about how in order for you to get off, you beat a woman to death, and that was what you would do to me. That my virgin status would only make you more thirsty for my blood.”
With Bethany, she’d used more descriptive words and vulgar language.
“She was trying to scare you, Adelaide.”
“I know. If you were so awful, you wouldn’t have left me alone on our wedding night, and other nights since we’ve been married.” I shrugged. I didn’t know for sure if I was happy that he left me alone. Was it a good thing? “I guess, looking at it like that, we could get an annulment. No need for death or divorce.”
“Not happening.”
“Andrei, you can’t be happy.”
“Happy or not, Adelaide, you’re my wife and you’re staying that way.”
It was like talking to a brick wall.
“I don’t want to be miserable,” I said, feeling the tears fill my eyes. He went blurry as I tried to fight them, but I couldn’t. “I don’t want to live like this anymore, Andrei. The way you talked to me, treating me like a child.” I glanced around the penthouse suite. “I’m not used to this. I need my freedom.” Running a hand down my face, I didn’t want to give up. “Don’t you want to have a marriage you can … enjoy?”
He looked at me.
Silent.
Pressing my lips together, I was ready to give up. There was no point in trying to find an amicable solution, but then, I couldn’t do it.
Weeks, months, and years of living like this—the very thought made me miserable. I didn’t even want to imagine the time spent actually living it.
“Can’t we be friends?” I asked. “Don’t you want that at least? I … you didn’t want to be married to me, but don’t you want to at least find some peace where you’re happy to come home, or to see me?”
“Is that what you want?” he asked.
“I want it for both of us.” I reached for his hand, and was surprised he didn’t fight me. “I know a lot of women as girls planned their marriage. They even thought about what their husband would be like. I never did. Not for a single second did I waste time looking through magazines, admiring dresses. I’ve always been a … I guess a loner, really. I like my own company, but if I were going to marry, I’d hoped it would be for love and with a man who could love me. I don’t expect you to love me, Andrei. I know you can’t, but I want to care about you, and I hope you can one day care about me.”
Was I talking trash? I don’t know.
Andrei looked at our hands and he gave my hand a squeeze. “What do you suggest?”
“You … you mean that?” I asked.
“I’m listening, Adelaide, but you only have this one time to sell it,” he said.
I laughed and couldn’t help but cup his face and kiss his lips quickly. “You’ve got to let me go out on my own, maybe even volunteer at the shelter.”
“No to both.”
My smile fell.
“I will compromise. You cannot volunteer, but you can donate and visit the shelter to walk the dogs or whatever it is you do, so long as you have a man of my choosing by your side.”
That didn’t sound like the greatest idea, but it was better than nothing at all. A compromise. “Deal.”
“Anything else?”
“I want to be able to have use of my cell phone and laptop whenever I want,” I said.
He tutted.
“I swear I will not do anything you regret.”
“You’re to make this place your home,” he said.
“What?”
“If you have your laptop and cell phone, you’re to put your mark on this penthouse suite.”
“You mean that?”
“I don’t say anything I don’t mean.”
I smiled. “Okay, and how about you try to make it home so we can enjoy dinner together?”
“I’m not going vegan,” he said.
This did make me laugh. “I’m not going to ask you to.”
“Deal.”
I felt so much happier than before. This was new. This was hope that we could finally make it work.
“I’m sorry about last night.”
“Don’t be, even though you did ruin a perfectly good scotch and an amazing decanter.”
I groaned at the guilt.
“I’m sorry.”
He waved his hand in the air.
I was about to say something else, but the sound of our doorbell rang through the penthouse.
“I’ll be back,” he said.
The moment he left the bedroom, I rushed to the bathroom, used the toilet, washed my hands, and then quickly brushed my teeth.
Staring at my reflection, I winced. My hair was a mess. At least I didn’t have puffy eyes or anything like that. I’d not cried myself to sleep. I grabbed a brush and ran it through my hair a few times, trying to bring some order to the wayward color.