Page 61

“Yeah… after he caught us at the airport and brought us back here, I had a lot of time to think this past week. I realized I like him enough to actually do life with him. And I want Anya to grow up with her father. He’s really good with her, and she loves him so much.”

Mabel studies my face for a long moment. She clearly doesn’t fully believe me, but she doesn’t push.

“What about Luke?” she asks gently. “Have you told him about Luke?”

I sigh. “No. What’s the big deal? He didn’t tell me about all his exes either.”

“So that’s the route you want to go?” she says, raising an eyebrow.

“When I get to that bridge, I’ll cross it.”

Mabel lets out a long sigh. “I really hope you know what you’re doing, Rosie.”

Deep down, I have no idea what I’m doing. But one thing I know for certain? I am furious with my husband.

Chapter Seventeen

Rosie

That evening, after all the guests had finally left and I managed to get an overly excited Anya to sleep, I head out in search of Andrei.

I find him in his home office, sitting behind his massive desk, tie and jacket already discarded and sleeves rolled up, typing on his laptop. The second I walk in, he looks up, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

“Hey, wife.”

The casual greeting snaps something inside me.

“How dare you?” I burst out, voice shaking with fury. “How dare you force my hand into marrying you like that?”

Andrei groans, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his face. “Not this again. The last time I checked, you were happy marrying me. You said your vows with a smile on your face.”

“That’s because I was playing along!” I snap. “Vows that you wrote for me!”

He raises an eyebrow. “Now you’re angry at me for thinking ahead?”

I open my mouth to argue, but he cuts me off.

“You’re sounding like a broken record, Rosie. We’re married now. You should get used to it.”

I stand there speechless for a second, just staring at him in disbelief.

“You’re manipulative,” I snap, my voice filled with anger. “You orchestrated this whole thing without giving me any real choice. You used our daughter, you used my friends!”

Andrei doesn’t even flinch. He leans back in his chair, calm as ever, and looks me straight in the eyes.

“I don’t deny it,” he says evenly. “I am manipulative when it comes to you.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “At least you admit it.”

He shrugs one shoulder. “Being my wife is the safest way to ensure you’re fully protected. This is the only way I can keep both you and Anya truly safe.”

I stare at him, stunned by how casually he says it.

The sound of Anya stirring comes through the baby monitor sitting on his desk. I hadn’t even noticed it was there. He has one in his office too? In addition to the one in our bedroom?

I turn toward the door, but Andrei is already on his feet.

“I got this,” he says calmly. “Why don’t you go to bed?”