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Althea waved me off. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to thank us. You’re always welcome to stay at our house. In fact, I’d love it if you came to stay whenever Gabriel is out of town. The house has been too empty with everyone but Jude gone. And he barely ever comes home for anything but to sleep.”
We pulled through massive gates and crept down a long driveway. I’d heard people talk about the Olysses mansion and was excited to see it for myself.
The building didn’t disappoint. I’d grown up in opulence and excess. Lived in houses with more rooms than we would ever use. Never had to wash a single dish or piece of clothing in my life.
But the mansion still took my breath away.
Perfectly shaped hedges and bushes framed the immaculately groomed garden.And is that a real-life peacock?
The car came to a slow stop in front of the massive doors. A slight woman with a sleek bob and immaculate suit rushed out as soon as the tires stopped moving.
Constantine helped Althea and then half carried me out of the car since I was unable to do more than roll off my seat. Getting up the stairs to the front door would pose a challenge.
Althea gestured to the woman who had now made it to us. “Vanna, this is Nim. If you need anything at all while you’re staying with us, let her know.”
Nim clapped her hands, a wide smile on her face. “Congratulations on your wedding. You look gorgeous. Gabriel is one lucky man.”
She looked behind me as if waiting for my husband to appear. When it became clear that he wasn’t with us, her smile faltered for a second before she indicated for me to follow her. “I’ll show you to your room.”
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, my body ramrod straight, biting my bottom lip hard enough to hurt. Althea and Constantine had already gone ahead and were now disappearing inside the house.
Nim patted my hand. “Lean into me and you should be able to hop up each step. If not, I’ll grab some clothes, and you can get changed before going inside.”
“How did you—”
“Let’s just say the boys’ dating life has always been active. There have been quite a few women who regretted their tight wardrobes once they saw the stairs.”
I did not want to hear about my husband’s past hookups. Leaving me at our wedding was humiliating enough; if I had to hear all about his past dates as well, I’d have to throw up into one of their perfect bushes.
“That’s nice.” I knew I sounded off, but I just wanted to get out of this dress and take a hot shower.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
With Nim’s help, I made it up the stairs without issues. It wasn’t graceful, but there was nobody here to watch me hop my way up to the front door.
Althea was waiting for us inside the large doors. “Everything okay?”
Nim nodded. “I was telling Vanna about the gardens.”
“Wonderful. You’ll be able to explore them tomorrow. Just watch the peacocks. They’re usually friendly, but sometimes they decide to become guard dogs.”
I’d stay far away. Getting chased by a bird would just be the turd topping on my shitcake of a week.
“Help yourself to whatever you need. The kitchen is in the left wing. All the bedrooms are on the upper floors.” Althea stepped out of her shoes. “Program my number and Constantine’s into your phone, though, so you can contact us whenever you need to.”
I brushed my suddenly damp hands on the front of my dress. “I don’t have my phone.”
In fact, I had nothing with me but the clothes I wore.
Althea’s jaw went slack. “Where’s your phone? I’ll get someone to bring it here. They can get your clothes at the same time.”
The last time I saw my phone, it was in Aleksándr’spocket. And I wasn’t about to confess that his control over me was so absolute, he even monitored when and how I used the device.
“I don’t really have one. And I hate to ask but do you have something I can sleep in tonight?”
“Of course.” Althea turned to Nim, her eyebrows drawn tight. “Get some of Gabriel’s T-shirts and boxers for Vanna to wear for now. Then send someone to grab her things so she’ll have them tomorrow. And can you organize a phone for her?”
Nim had whipped out a tablet while Althea was talking, now taking furious notes. “Of course. I’ll get it all done immediately.”
