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I hitch one shoulder up, showing Aidan that I like what he’s asking. “It hasn’t changed. I want to open my own teddy bear and doll workshop—the reason why I moved from California to Europe in the first place.” I had a stint with the famous Steiff brand in Germany, and now I’m in Geneva, pursuing an art degree.
“Fixing toys.” Aidan smiles, tipping my chin up. “That’s the cutest dream I’ve ever heard.”
“For some people, they’re not just toys. They’re treasures, they’re companions.”
“I’ll make it happen. Imagine us, living in northern Italy. You’ll run your shop, and I’ll keep cooking and milking money from those fools.”
Aidan has wealth. He built his food empire by hooking up with the right people—royals, billionaires, celebrities, and diplomats. He could’ve written a check, and a shop in San Remo would have been mine overnight.
A southerly breeze sweeps across the lake, swaying the boat. I hold onto the railing. With one arm still clinging to my waist, Aidan’s free hand finds mine, wrapping over my grip.
“Do you know what my dream is?” he asks.
“Tell me.”
“To make you mine, till the end of time.” With that, my boyfriend unfurls my fingers so I let go of the railing, and then turns me around to face him. He bends on one knee, presenting a ring. “Amalia, will you make my dream come true?”
The solitaire diamond ring is stunning, but in Aidan’s hands, it looks cold.
“See, I’ve carved the initials A.R. inside. Whether you want it to be Amalia Rae, or Aidan Roland, it’s up to you.”Rae—my middle name. He looks pleased with himself for the idea.
Ice forms around my heart. An engagement. Wedding vows. A life with this volatile man until one of us is dead. ‘Forever’ sounds like a black hole when his name is attached to it.
“Aidan… I’m…”
“What do you say, my love?”
I smile, a last-ditch effort to avoid triggering him. My heart spits out cautionary beats.
He has acted sweet and remorseful before. But the glasses, the plates, the shouting—they didn’t stop. What will therapy do? How long will it take for it to make him stop? “This is lovely… but why don’t we wait?”
Sinister lines form around his eyes, rippling down to his cheeks. His mouth trembles, puckering like a volcano giving a sign of an imminent eruption.
“You’re rejecting me?”
“Let’s talk this through, Aidan. We both have dreams, but first of all, we need to be ready.”
“We’ve been together for two goddamn years! I’m going into fucking therapy! How much more do you want me to sacrifice for you?”
Now I can hear the time bomb ticking, and I’m running out of time.
“Women would kill to be with me. But I only wantyou.”
“Please calm down. You want to marry me. I’m flattered, but—”
Aidan takes out a sailing knife.
So, throwing things isn’t enough for him now. I should be afraid, but his move angers me. “Are you threatening me?”
He advances. “Oh no, I’m not!”
I lean back against the deck railing, both hands gripping it. When Aidan extends his arm toward me, I instinctively close my eyes.
Something swishes across my face.
I try to get away from him, but he’s too close. As soon as I open my eyes, his arm swings again. And again. Trapped, the only way I can go is down. I crawl on all fours along the deck. I can’t see anything but black.
“You’re mine, Amalia. Mine!”
