Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 31800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Ouch.
“H-He seduced me,” I end up blustering in self-defense. “He completely swept me off my feet.”
“And that’s why you want to divorce him?”
“No, of course not—” Aaaargh. “Stop trying to confuse me like I’m one of those suspects you want to charge for murder!”
“Then stop wasting both our time,” Grandma Jackie retorts, “beating around the bush like you’ve been doing since you got here.” She reaches for my hand, and I feel like crying again for some reason.
“I love you, and I want the best for you.”
“I k-know.”
Why does it feel like she’s about to hurt me...
“Then let me ask you again, and this time, you must speak the truth.”
...for my own good?
“Do you truly want to divorce him?”
I shake my head.
“Why?”
“You know why.” I feel like such a wimp, with how the words remain stuck in my throat.
“But you can’t say it out loud?”
“If I say it out loud...then there’s really no way out.”
“There never was, the moment you married him.”
“But I really don’t think he’s serious about having me killed—”
“I don’t think that either, but it’s not what I’m talking about.”
Oh.
“The world will tell you that you have a choice,” Grandma Jackie says softly. “It will even insist that you’re a fool to let a book written thousands of years ago to make decisions for your life...”
I cover my face with my hands.
This is not what I wanted to hear.
But I know it’s what I needed to hear.
“I’m scared,” I choke out. “I’m really scared that I made the wrong choice, and that I’m about to throw away everything for nothing.”
“How you two began isn’t ideal, but it’s not too late to make things right. You want the Lord’s blessing, you start obeying Him now.”
“I don’t even know if Lykan believes in God.”
“You do, that’s all that matters.” Grandma squeezes my flour-dusted hand with her own. “The Lord is with you. There is nothing to fear. What can man do to you?”
One hour earlier
The limo is ridiculous. Like, movie-star ridiculous. All buttery black leather and shiny chrome, smelling like expensive cologne and money. The windows are so dark I can’t see anything outside, and these soft lights make everything look golden.
Lykan keeps looking at me, and I can tell he’s...perplexed.
He’s probably wondering why I’ve yet to make a fuss, and frankly...so am I.
I keep wondering if any moment now, my mind will convince my heart to overrule my soul, and I’ll start yelling, ‘Let me out of this car this instant!’
But...honestly?
That moment doesn’t feel like it’s ever going to happen, and...huh?
The partition between us the driver slides up, and I look at Lykan, startled. Is he about to tell me something he doesn’t want anyone to hear, like maybe—
“What are you planning?”
Accusing me, his wife, of...
Huh.
I actually, honesetly don’t know what he’s accusing me of. Does he think I’m—
“You’ve been very reasonable,” Lykan says broodingly.
Oh, so that’s why.
“I...I thought it was just sensible to give our marriage a go.”
“Just like that?”
“Yes.”
Lykan’s gaze narrows. “There has to be something else. You’re not the type to change your mind for no reason.”
He’s right, of course...and I think that’s a good sign. He knows me, even though it’s only been days since we first met. That has to be another one of God’s signs...right?
I can feel Lykan’s dark gaze boring through me, and I have to fight the urge to start wringing my hands, which he might end up misinterpreting as a sign of guilt.
“Can I ask you something first?”
“Go on.”
“Do you...do you believe in God, Lykan?”
I was ready for him to take his time answering. Or even tell me off for asking him this—
“I believe He exists.”
But he shocks me instead with how swiftly and firmly he answers me, and...oh wow.
Lykan’s words are so much better than expected, so much easier to work with, that I know it can only be God at work.
“You won’t believe how glad I am to hear that,” I say shakily.
“I see.”
Something in his tone makes me look up, and his lips twist in a smile that I don’t quite know how to describe.
“Your faith is why you changed your mind.”
How did he know—
“If not for that, you would have probably tried filing for divorce.”
I don’t think he can say anything more shocking at this point.
He gets it.
I know it shouldn’t mean much, but it does.
And for some reason, this gives me hope.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks abruptly.
“How am I looking at you?”
“I don’t know how to describe it.” His tone is taut, almost stiff.
His words echo my earlier sentiments, and I realize that this is God at work again. There are times when we don’t see where we’re heading, and He asks us to walk by faith, and not by sight...just like now.
“I just want you to know,” I hear myself say unevenly, “that from now on, you can count on me to be the best wife ever.”