“Oh my God,” I gasped. “I’m so sorr—” I’d quickly yanked my hand back, but it wasn’t due to the total mortification that was only now beginning to fill me. It was because of the sudden shock of electricity that sprang through my body. It was so strange that I was at a loss for words. James cou
Albert was still eyeing the salesman with an authoritative stare. The man was rushing now to remove the necklace from the case, and held it out to me. Suddenly it didn’t look so appealing and pretty. “I wish you wouldn’t make this into such a thing,” I said to Albert quietly, waving off the necklace.“You’re my wife now, in every sense except the paperwork. You agreed to the terms. You’ll need to learn to adjust to being Mrs. Derek, and Mrs. Derek does not tolerate, nor should she, any disrespect. You’re better than that.”Everyone was still staring.The manager, who had noticed the scene, came forward and began his own spew of apologies to us both. “Miss, please, if you’ll allow me,” he gushed, taking my arm and leading me toward an especially glittery case in the middle of the store.Albert, however, seemed satisfied with the flood of respect and reverence. The manager began opening the cases and pulling out rings as big as walnuts, setting them in a bright sharp line on the top of
There it was again - his casual dismissive attitude. The delightful thought of my bed vanished into a pop. I felt frustration rising to the surface. “NO! I want to go home, Albert! I’m tired, I’m so drained. I want to be in my own bed. You can’t keep making every decision for me like this! Take me home!”Albert scoffed. “That unsafe apartment complex? Come now, Mia. You can’t think that’s the proper place to raise a baby. And besides, I remember Chris, and I remember you. I know how many weird items he has collected over the years.”It was true. Chris, whose work kept him moving, tended to use my location as a dumping ground for his findings. My apartment was crammed full of oddities he had collected on his travels. Antiques, artifacts. Sharp breakable things, with rough cutting edges. I thought again about the dumpster outside my apartment and the rickety stairs. “Tell me that’s the proper place to raise a baby.”I sat angrily quietly, unable to argue. “Mia, you’ll see. My home is
I snapped my head around to face him and glared. “No, James! This is stretching things too far. You can’t just make all of these major decisions and expect me to go home with you,” I stated. “You are going to take me back home—to my home! Now!” Of course, James kept his demeanor resolute while I w
The second Lily and I turned around, we saw that we’d been confronted by a beautiful, well-dressed woman whose expression was laced with haughty scrutiny. Behind her, was a small group of women that mirrored her same look. She arched a manicured brow and pursed her lips. “A face I've never seen,
“I...I don’t,” I struggled to clear my throat. “I don’t see the need for us to, you know, need to share a bed—a room.”My face flushed uncontrollably as I felt James’ eyes peer into my. Good God. There was no way I could have sounded any more of a stuttering mess if I’d tried. There was nothing, tru
The door swung open and an unimaginable wave of fear took hold of my nerves. There was always going to be a small part of me that hoped it was Lily. But I knew better than to assume that it was her. After all, even as the headmaid, there was no chance that she would purposely barge into the master b
“Yes,” I told James shakily.I felt James’ heavy gaze drop to my lips before lifting back up to lock onto my eyes. He stood there for another long pause until he turned on his heels and headed toward the dining room. Had that been a look of disappointment in his eyes?I wasn’t sure.After breakfast,