Page 4 of Ruthless Reign

She beams, admiring her reflection, before she pulls me in for a quick hug.

“We better go down. Everyone will be here soon.”

“I need to take a selfie to send to my friends!” she exclaims. “I won’t be long.”

“Okay, sestra, see you down there.”

I don’t allow the smile to drop from my face until she’s gone from the room.

CHAPTER TWO

LIZA

Anatoly and his family are the first to arrive. My fiancé strides through the door, with the confidence of a man sure of his place in the world. He’s in his late twenties, with thinning dirty blond hair and a growing paunch he disguises with sharply tailored suits.

Back in school, he was considered handsome, but his looks have faded along with any charm he might have had. The only one who can’t see that is my mother, who's currently fawning over him like he’s the second coming of Jesus.

Anatoly’s parents are next through the door. Talya, his mother, offers me a quick air kiss, while helping her husband, Stepan, shuffle forward. I briefly embrace him. Having recently been diagnosed with colon cancer, he’s noticeably thinner and unsteady on his feet.

“I told you we’d be the first ones here.” Anatoly’s younger sister, Katerina, blows past her parents, looking around the foyer with disappointment.

It’s hard to say who my least favorite Petrovich is, but Katerina and Anatoly are definitely in the running for first place. Much like her brother, she believes she's God's gift to the world.

“Katerina,” I say in greeting, leaning in to give her an awkward half-hug.

When she pulls back, she gives me a slow once-over, her disdain for my dress clear. Well, that makes two of us.

Looking every bit the socialite she is, she’s paired a sparkly gold dress with thigh-high boots and enough bling to cause temporary blindness.

“So glad you could make it tonight,” I lie.

She doesn’t bother pretending she’s happy to be here. Instead, she tosses her hair behind her shoulder and scans the foyer. “I heard Roman Vasiliev is coming tonight. Is that true?”

My eye twitches. If I have to watch Katerina hang off Roman’s arm all night, I might just gouge my eyes out. Not because I care who he gets involved with, but just because that would be… irritating.

“That’s the word,” I confirm. “News sure travels fast.”

I'm not surprised she’s interested, he's exactly Katerina's type. Rich, good-looking, and ruthless—just like her.

Katerina offers me a tight smile before announcing she needs a drink and sauntering off.

Catching Sofiya's eye as she watches from the sidelines, I mouth, Bitch. My sister giggles, fully aware of my feelings toward Anatoly’s sister.

“Elizaveta. You haven’t greeted your fiancé yet.” I stiffen as Anatoly drops a kiss onto my cheek. His aftershave is too strong, and I hate the way his hand curls over my hip.

Well, tonight’s off to a great start.

“Excuse me, Sofiya. Your sister and I need to have some words in private.” He clasps my arm and pulls me into a quiet corner of the foyer.

After last night, I have to force myself to look him in the eyes, just as I have to force myself not to spit in his face.

His fingertips brush over my face, the very area he backhanded. “Good, no bruise. I knew I didn’t hit you very hard.” I bite my cheek to avoid telling him to fuck off. “You know I didn’t mean it. I'm just stressed out because of everything going on with my father.”

Does he believe his own lies?

I can’t hold my tongue any longer. “The reason you don't see a bruise is because I covered it with makeup.”

He dismisses my words with a flick of his wrist. “I don't want to fight. Tonight's for celebrating. By the way, you look perfect.”

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