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Choice.Ha!
“And the ring?”
I glance at the simpler one I liked. It’s cushion cut and much smaller, so it’s far less intimidating than the one he likes. Meanwhile, the asscher is just like him—stunning to look at, but way too much.
I can’t bring myself to pick a ring. It feels too much like consent.
“I’m not choosing,” I tell him.
“All right,” he says easily. “The asscher it is.” He plucks the ring back off the cushion and grabs my hand. I try to pull away, and his grip tightens. I meet his gaze warily, but there’s steely determination in his that tells me he won’t be moved. I know there’s little sense in fighting him. Whether he puts the damn ring on my hand or not, he’ll consider us engaged because he’s stark raving mad.
I sigh heavily and relax my hand in his grip.
Enjoying my submission, he smiles, his dark eyes glittering with approval. “Such a good girl,” he murmurs, and I hate myself for it, but my insides turn to jelly.
Trying to shake it off, I focus on the gorgeous, way too much ring instead of the gorgeous, way too much man. A ring is safer, despite its symbolism.
“And the wedding?”
I don’t say anything for a moment. A lump forms in my throat. I’m embarrassed to feel so emotional all of a sudden, but he’s demanding more than I want to give him—again—and this time, it’s… everything.
“Please don’t make me do this,” I say quietly.
He softens ever so slightly and reaches a hand out to cradle my face. It feels reassuring even though I know the reassurance is a lie. “The decision has been made.”
“Not by me,” I object. “This was never supposed to be forever. I didn’t agree to that. You said I had to stay until you were done with me, you never said it would be a life sentence.”
“You’re pregnant,” he says, as if I haven’t spent nearly every moment since finding out agonizing over the fact. “It can’t be temporary anymore.”
I shake my head miserably. I want to argue, tell him it can, that we can work something out, but I know it’s not true. Anything we tried to work out would always fall in his favor. Do I really want that? What if he did give up on me and meet someone else? I don’t see him casting aside the child we made together, but I could absolutely see him deciding he doesn’t want to share him or her with me anymore.
Cold seeps into me, deep down in my bones.
What would he do to me if I no longer fit into his life?If I were a hindrance instead of the object of his desire? He’s a bully at the heart of it. He has good looks, nice manners, and polished ways, but he’s tenacious with what he wants and doesn’t let anyone stand in his way.
But it’s not fair.
I shouldn’t have to give in just because he won’t give up. Especially not with stakes like these.
I had dreams, and he’s stealing all of them.
I feel the sting of tears behind my eyes. I know he can see the tears welling up, and he knows they’re because of him.
I don’t say it to hurt him, I say it because it’s true. “I don’t want to marry you.”
His voice is almost compassionate, as if he’s capable of such a thing. “I know.”
The tears touch the rims of my eyelids and I blink, trying to keep them from falling. “I don’t want… any of this.”
He’s silent for a moment, then he says more solemnly, “I know.”
Chapter Thirty Nine
Hallie
The bedroom is dark, but I can’t sleep. My skin is still sticky with perspiration after the long goodnight pounding I just got. I’m naked, but I don’t even care.
Lack of clothing is the least of my problems.
