Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
I watch as he finishes his drink, and I abandon mine, placing it on the table next to my still partially filled plate of food.
“Would you like dessert, Marco?” My mother’s gaze flashes with disapproval as she looks down at my plate and back up at me.
“Oh no, I’m stuffed,” he declines and pats his stomach like a child.
Thank the lord. If I had to endure one more stiff minute of this meal, I was going to explode. Turning to me, he says, “Walk me out, Celia.”
Finally, something I am more than happy to do for him.
“I look forward to having you as my son-in-law,” my father says, shaking hands with Marco. Marco leans into my father’s ear and whispers something low. I shove from my chair and move to stand near the entrance to the dining room. Men’s conversations aren’t meant to be heard by women, so it’s best to stand and act like you hear nothing at all.
Once Marco pulls away, it’s a short walk through the foyer to the door, and I open it wide, resisting the urge to shove him out and slam it closed. I’ll have to get used to his presence since, in a short while, he’ll be my husband.
With a finger, Marco tilts my chin up, painfully, since he has almost a foot of height on me. For a moment, I think he might kiss me. Please don’t. Please don’t. Please don’t. I chant in my head. His lips tip up at the sides, almost like he knows what I’m thinking.
“I really think you could be exceptionally beautiful, Celia. Once we’re married, as my wedding gift to you, I’ll take you to this plastic surgeon I know. I’m sure they can do something about, well…” he breaks off, and I can feel the heat of his stare on my scar, “well, that.”
I blink because anything coming out of my mouth might spew lava along with it. It takes a bit of willpower to stop myself from lashing out at him, but somehow, I do. Forcing the corner of my lips up into a smile, I say, “I hope you have a wonderful evening, Marco. I’m sure without this scar, I will be much more beautiful.”
“I can’t wait for you to become my wife.” He smirks and then grabs my hand, placing a chaste kiss against the top. I stop myself from pulling away and merely nod, knowing that, if anything, I would wait a million years for us to marry.
Marco leaves a few moments later, and I shut the door behind him, nearly sagging against it. I take a couple of deep breaths and gather my wits. I’ll allow myself this one reprieve before I’m forced to mask my pain and put on a smile.
I suck one last calming breath into my lungs as I scrub a hand down my face and lift my chin. I might be drowning, but as long as a part of my head is still above water, I’ll continue on. I tiptoe past the dining room, hoping to escape without further notice. As soon as I reach the stairs, I race up them, stripping out of the itchy dress as I go. By the time I reach my bedroom door, the dress is off. I leave it in a heap near the door and slam the heavy wood behind me.
There, if one of them wants to come speak to me after that, at least they know what they are in for. The heels that I hate just as much as the dress fly across the room in opposite directions as I kick them off. Each of my toes ache, so I sit on the edge of the bed in nothing but my underwear and slip and rub some of the pain out of them.
It’s then that I notice the lights across the room in my bathroom and closet are on. The maids must have finished the packing they started yesterday and forgot to switch them off. The fireplace between the two doors is lit, the flames casting a soft warmth through the room.
The memories I made here with my sister threaten to bubble up, but I try to swallow them down with the rest of the people I have lost… too many in this life.
I experienced my first loss fifteen years ago. As I sit, my thoughts drift to the boy I thought I’d one day marry—Cici. The son of my father’s friend and business partner, of the now decimated Costa family. Cici had been my best friend for years, and then when I was only nine years old, he disappeared from my life forever. One day he was there, and the next, his entire family was targeted by a rival family and killed.
My father used it as a reminder to my sister and me of how quickly we can be taken away and why we should always listen and let him keep our family safe.