His palm lands against my cheek in a stinging slap. My head flies to the side, and he yanks on my wrist before his forearm lands against my throat. He slams me into the wall with even more force, and the back of my head bounces against the brick again.
“You think you’re so much smarter than everyone. Don’t you,Ness?” The way he spits the nickname he’s always called me makes it clear how much he hates me, and the feeling is mutual.
He knows how much I despise that nickname, especially when it comes from him.
His spicy scent gives away how angry he is, and it takes every ounce of stubbornness I can muster to avoid looking away from the dominance in his gaze.
I push my lips together to keep from snapping something that would get me slapped all over again.
When it comes to my brothers, I can argue and clap back without worrying about them getting physical. No matter how angry they get with me, they’ve never hit me. They just sigh and curse under their breath as they walk away.
There was a time Julian wouldn’t have dreamed of putting his hands on me, but once my mom and biological father died, there was no one left that he had to pretend in front of.
“You’re not getting out of marrying Grigoryan, so you can put that thought out of your pretty little head,” my father says, shoving me against the wall once more. He moves his hand up to cup my jaw painfully. “If I find out you had any part in sabotaging your appointment…” He chuckles an ominous sound. “Let’s just say, your brothers won’t be able to save you.”
He twists my wrist back at an awkward angle, and it’s so unexpected that I yelp.
His eyes sparkle as his fingers dig into my chin. He likes being able to sense my fear, and I don’t think I’ll be any better off with Grigoryan.
He finally releases me, rolling his shoulders back as he gives me some space.
“Get in the car!” he barks the command, and I jump.
I get myself in gear, taking off for the car as my face flames.
Trying to pretend like I’m not scared of him is exhausting, and I hate that he wins every time I crack and show him fear.
Tears sting my eyes, but I don’t let them fall.
I have no clue how I’m supposed to get myself out of this mess.
Chapter Six
Vanessa
All I want to do when I get home is cuddle in the makeshift nest in my closet. That gets cut short when Victor comes to let me know the makeup artist and hair stylist will be here within an hour.
I force myself to shower, shave, and do my skin-care routine, but the feelings of hopelessness get a little scary.
I’ve never felt so defeated before.
Under normal circumstances, I’d spend a few days feeling sorry for myself before scraping myself off the floor and making a plan.
I’ve got nothing.
No backup plan.
No last-resort kind of options.
Grigoryan will announce our engagement tonight, along with the details about when we’re to be wed. I have no idea about the exact time frame he’s planning, but I do know I’ll be returning here tonight. It would be inappropriate for me to live with him prior to us being married.
It’ll be soon, though.
My father had the housekeeper throw away my suppressants yesterday while she was deep cleaning my bathroom. She evenfound the backup pack that was in my tampon box under the counter.
Dr. Calderon was supposed to give us an estimate of when my heat would hit, but since I didn’t see him… I have no idea when to expect the symptoms to start.
My life might be in shambles, but I’m going to look hot as fuck while I watch the pieces fall.
