Page 23 of Dancing With Delusion

“Because I can talk to Dmitry.”

He laughs. “You think you hold all the power over him?”

I shrug, hurt by his words. “No, of course not.”

We fall silent, the only sound being the gravel crunching under our feet as we walk. We turn around the back of the house, and I slow until we come to a stop. “I know Dmitry’s father hates me, but why?”

“Why?” he repeats, frowning.

“I’ve never done anything to him, so why does he hate me so much?”

Marshall stares out over the field that lays beyond the house. “Dmitry’s life has been following a set path since he was young. Marrying Vivian would’ve been easier for him. It was all part of the plan.”

“So, I’m hated because Dmitry bagged off the witch and chose me? How is that fair? I didn’t force him.” Marshall smirks, giving me a side glance. “Okay, maybe I was a little forceful when I wanted him to notice me. But when I realised he was bloody rude, I soon changed my mind.”

“If there’s one thing I know about Dmitry Volkov, it’s that no one will sway his choices or decisions. His father will settle down,” he begins to walk again, and I follow, “as long as you hold in the crazy.”

Harriet Steele is staring, waiting for my response to her question. “Yes, I get jealous,” I admit. “I don’t like to see any woman hanging off Dmitry, especially not one like Vivian.”

“What makes her different from others?”

I fold my arms over my chest. “She’s had sex with him.”

“So, going back to the night you got angry, it was led by jealousy?”

“No,” I snap, frowning. “Yes. Maybe a little. She makes me feel like I’m not enough, like she’s better than me.”

“Is she?”

“What kind of fucking question is that?” I snap.

“Do you think she’s better than you?”

I think over her words. “No.” I sigh. “Maybe.”

“You said before that you think Dmitry’s father has a problem with you because you’re not her. So, what is it about her that makes her the perfect woman for Dmitry?” My heart sinks a little. I don’t like these questions, and I hate thinking about all this shit. “I want you to understand where this comes from.”

“I’ve had a lot of people in my life make me feel less than,” I admit, “so maybe, subconsciously, I don’t feel good enough to be on his arm. When it’s just us, me and him, I feel at ease. But out there, in front of his world, I feel like everyone is judging us, wondering what someone like him is doing with someone like me.”

“Describe Dmitry,” she says thoughtfully.

“You’ve seen him,” I say, shrugging.

“No, describe his persona. You said people might wonder why someone like him. What do you mean by that?”

“He’s powerful. His presence is powerful, and people want to please him. He’s got an air about him that makes people want to bend to his will. He’s dangerous. You can just feel it.”

“What about Vivian?”

I shrug again, not really wanting to think about her. “She’s spoilt. She wants to be important, but I don’t think she really is at all, though she looks the part.”

“The part?”

“Yah know, trophy wife. She knows when to stay quiet, and she smiles at all the right times.”

“What about you?”

“Me?” I arch a brow. “I’m normal.”

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