Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Oh no.
He slowly pulls his finger out of my mouth, and I actually feel empty.
I think I've lost my mind.
"You've made the right choice, ma petite."
I actually haven't given him an answer, but why bother arguing over semantics? He commanded me to suck his finger, and I obeyed without question. I might as well have told him I'm psyched to be his baby mama—
Maman.
I can't believe I forgot about my mother.
"Monsieur." My voice comes out in a croak. My mother has always been my Achilles' heel and always will be. "My mother—"
"Is being cared for."
He says the words so, so simply.
"Her nurse has been informed that you're spending the night with a friend. By tomorrow, she'll know the truth—that her daughter has married well."
That he clearly doesn't understand what those words mean to me.
Maman...is being cared for.
The ropes around my wrists suddenly loosen. One of his men has moved behind me, freeing me on some silent command from his master.
"The ceremony will take place immediately," Monsieur Le Dernier says.
I know I should be terrified. I'm about to marry the most feared man in Paris. A man who uses the same hand to threaten me with strangulation one moment and touch me with a gentlessness that bordered on affection the next.
That's the kind of man my future husband is..but who cares?
Maman...is being cared for.
I always thought I could die happy once I've taken care of Maman. And the reason I have to remind myself every day that I still have a reason to live. And perhaps, that's still true. Only...it's not death that's about to take me away from her. But something just as dark. And inescapable.
But also...something more reliable than the God whom I used to believe in.
Because if You're real, then why do You let bad things happen to good people like Maman?
"Stand."
My legs are unsteady after hours bound to the chair, but my future husband doesn't offer his hand to steady me.
Unsurprising.
One of his men approaches with what appears to be a garment bag.
"Your dress for the wedding," he murmurs.
"Merci."
It's the only thing to say, since I've never been the type to cry over spilled milk.
I took a risk, stealing in one of his clubs, and now I'm paying the price with marriage.
C'est la vie.
Chapter Three
"DO YOU, LIANA, TAKE Monsieur Le Dernier as your lawfully wedded husband?"
Judge Grimault's voice echoes through the empty courthouse, and I look at him with wide-eyed shock.
"You're not going to use his actual name?"
Grimault gulps, and with his bloodshot eyes and rumpled suit, there's nothing dignified about him at all. He looks more like the hostage between the two of us, and it almost makes me feel bad for him.
Almost.
Grimault clears his throat. "Please answer with a 'yes' or 'no'."
But I don't, since here he is, officiating a marriage that can't possibly be legal.
I open my mouth so I can annoy him further. But then my groom gives me a look, and poof.
My desire to stay alive outweighs my puerile tendencies, and I give Grimault an angelic smile. "Oui." It's not much of a rebellion, but small wins are still wins, oui?
And besides...
"It is my honor and privilege—"
Who says I'm already done?
"To take Monsieur Le Dernier as my awfully—"
My groom's security team starts coughing again (they do love to do that, don't they?) while Grimault releases a sound that's somewhere between a horrified wheeze and a whelp of terror.
"Oh, sorry. I meant to say 'lawfully' of course."
I'm not sure what it was exactly, to be honest. All I know is that it's music to my ears.
"It's my honor and privilege to take Monsieur Le Dernier as my lawfully wedded husband." I slowly lift my gaze to his, peering at him from under my lashes like the virgin bride that I am (truly!), and...oh my goodness. Was that an actual twitch of his lips?
Whoever knew a monster like him is capable of smiling?
"Then by the power vested in me..."
Grimault's speaking again, and I lower my gaze to the marble floors, with its ultra-polished surface reflecting the fluorescent lights like a distorted world under my thrift-store-bought Louboutins.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
I'm not sure why, but I just feel like pretending I'm the very mindful, very demure, very cutesy type.
"You may now kiss your bride."
Well, scratch that.
The moment I hear those words, there's no need to pretend.
How could you have forgotten about this part, pauvre imbécile!
I know it's already a miracle that I'm still alive despite breaking the rules in his territory. I know I've been pushing him more and more with every disrespectful word I throw his way.
But...
I've never been kissed, okay?
And so to let this man, this monster of all people—
No, no, no.
I automatically step back. Or try to. But he's faster than my fear, his murderously good hands capturing my waist, his intoxicating scent invading my senses as he pulls me against him.