Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
And, now, she's still impatient. Rushing into marriage. But for reasons they understand.
"He's so handsome. And she's so satisfied. I would rush too." Quyen holds up her drink to toast. "To true love."
"To true love," Aunt Mai says.
Her dad holds up his drink.
Nick holds up his glass too. It's just him now. Lizzy made an excuse to leave.
He told her the truth about Lucien. That's fine. It's his right.
But telling her what happened to me—
It was in her eyes. That look of pity. I'm no longer a monster who tried to destroy her relationship. I'm not even an asshole who needs to watch himself.
I'm a victim.
A pathetic creature who can't fend for itself.
Who doesn't deserve the respect full-fledged humans get.
She doesn't look at Nick that way. It's different. Almost tolerable.
How did he manage that? How did he claw out from under that sickening label?
"To true love," my brother says. "Or true lust." He winks at Jasmine's aunt Mai.
Mai giggles like a schoolgirl.
Quyen shoots Nick a knowing look. "Are you sure you aren't single?"
"There's no ring," Mai says.
"It's not over until it's over," Quyen says.
"What about yours?" Jasmine laughs. She's happy. At peace. She finds Lucien's presence strange, but that's where it ends.
She doesn't know he's here to remind me I'm under his thumb. To make sure I know I'll never escape this curse.
Even if we marry, and the board votes for me, and I beat him in this battle, he'll win the war.
He always does.
I need a drink.
"My husband is getting older. He won't live forever," Quyen says. "I need a younger man. Who can keep up with me."
Jasmine laughs along with Mai and Nick. "Nick is too slow for you."
"Oh?" Quyen raises a brow.
Jasmine nods. "Always working. Or on his computer. The only thing he does for fun is—"
"His fiancée," Ian offers. He eyes me curiously. He knows something is wrong. He knows I'm playing this stupid game with Lucien. But not why. No one knows why. No one but my brother.
Jasmine blushes. "I was going to say poker. But yes—"
"That's good. I need a virile man," Quyen says. "My husband—"
"That's my uncle!" Jasmine's voice raises to a shriek. "Please don't."
Mai jumps in. "Your uncle was a very—"
"Oh my God." Jasmine hides behind her drink. Her third of the night. It's good she's loose.
It's good she doesn't see this.
But if her tongue is as loose as her smile—
I can't let that bastard know the lengths I've gone to. I can't let him have the satisfaction.
"How about we keep the toast to true love?" Jasmine asks. "To love. And finding it where you least expect it." Her eyes meet mine. They fill with all the affection in the world.
For a second, I forget the awful circumstances. The people around us. The restaurant downstairs. The ticking clock over my head.
For a second, I look into the eyes of the woman who loves me. Who I… maybe it's not love, but it's as close as I can get.
For a second, the world is beautiful.
Then that fucking bastard offers his congratulations. "To true love."
He holds up his drink. Bourbon. Neat. To fuck with me, no doubt.
"I miss Liv every day." He twists the knife in my chest. "She was an amazing woman. So much like you. She saw the beauty in everything. She was always trying to understand more. To find deeper meaning in a painting. To get to know a colleague. To see how someone else lived. She was always searching." He looks to me. "She didn't find everything. But, then, some things are better unfound."
I dig my fingers into my glass.
"I'm sorry." He smiles that sickly sweet smile. "I'm going off about my marriage when this is your day. I have to make sure you know how proud your mother would be, Shepard. And you too, Phoenix. She would be proud of the men you've become."
"Excuse me." Nick places his glass on the table. "I've got to meet Lizzy at home."
Jasmine looks to me for explanation.
I shrug as if I don't know.
But she doesn't buy it.
No one buys my ignorance.
"It's hard to hear about Mom," Nick says. "Painful."
Thank fuck he's helping me for once.
"Shep, I have something for you. A wedding present. But I can't let the bride see." He motions to the hallway. "Can I have a minute?"
"Of course," Lucien speaks for everyone. "But first." He holds his glass a little higher. "To the Marlowe family. They deserve the world. And I hope they get every single thing they deserve." He smiles through the threat. He convinces the room he means it as a fucking compliment.
Nick stands.
I toast. Pray for my sparkling water to turn to wine.
It doesn't.
I swallow it anyway. Follow Nick to the hallway. The stairs. The quiet street outside.
We're at a cozy place near the park. A quiet area for families. A neighborhood for respectable people.