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7
HAVEN
I tryto swallow my food and place a smile on my face because that’s what Cillian ordered me to do. I’m surrounded by the O’Clery clan with food that would feed a small army, and I’ve never felt so alone in my life.
Everything is so perfectly set up in this large dining hall that Aiden O’Clery calls asmall gathering area, but it’s massive—something out of a castle for a Disney princess.
The silverware is made of shiny silver, and the plates have a gold rim around them. Stacks of additional plates and bowls since, apparently, just because the food is on the table does not imply that we will serve ourselves.
No, there is a wait-staff that has been filling my coffers with plenty of food, and I’ve barely eaten a thing.
Not when they put myfiancéin front of me so that he’s there staring at me every time I look up.
It’s unsettling.
I’ve tried to shake him off and stare back, but his dark blue eyes are too intimidating to ignore. His whole demeanor is terrifying to the point where I can barely stand it. Not even Cillian’s presence to my right brings me any comfort because he’s drinking away, enjoying his Irish whiskey, and laughing it up with the O’Clery brothers.
It’s absolutely ridiculous.
Mrs. O’Clery sits on the other side of her husband, and Papa wouldn’t allow me to bring Taylen, so I’m alone.
Surrounded by men and their agendas.
My future.
However, bleak that’s going to be because wedding dress shopping with Cillian wasn’t helpful at all. I couldn’t stop tearing up, and my brother got so irritated with me that he pointed at a dress and told the associate that it was the one I was going to wear.
I have no clue what it looks like or if it’ll even fit me, but I don’t care.
This isn’t the wedding of my dreams, so why should I bother having a dress to match? It’s not as though my future husband is going to appreciate it anyway.
In fact, he probably won’t even notice because he’s been too busy watching my eating habits and hasn’t said a thing about the Dior dress that was specifically laid out for me to wear.
I’m going to burn it in my fireplace when I get home.
Finn is as friendly and talkative as a porcupine. However, maybe he was forced into this arrangement, too, though I doubt it. Aiden seems to be a respectable character who speaks to his family respectfully and does not scowl as mine does me. Men have way more pull in this world over women, and I’m sure his opinion was counted in this debacle.
Yet, things can change behind closed doors.
“Eat, sister,” Cillian practically growls at me, leaning in to make his subtle threat known. “No man wants a woman who is going to look like skin and bones.”
“I’m not hungry,” I mutter, feeling safe enough to counter with something because my brother can only do so much while we’re here.
Later though, may be a different story.
“Maybe it’s best that you don’t,” he replies calmly, and I can feel Finn’s gaze boring into the both of us as if we’re coming up with some secret plan to overthrow him right now.
I wish.
Except, little does Finn know that my brother is just as much of a brute as he is.
“We have a little surprise for later,” Cillian tacks on when I don’t ask him any more questions to the contrary.
God, I can only imagine what stupid shit my brother has for me next.
My plate is taken away a few moments on and replaced with a strawberry shortcake of some sort, which is actually my favorite.
My stomach rumbles in response to the dessert as I pick my fork up and delve into the soft angel food cake full of whipped cream and sliced strawberries. It’s a dessert that my mother had made for me when I was little.
