Page 199 of Cashmere Cruelty

It’s not a lie. Even if I wanted to eat, my stomach is utterly closed for business. If I took a single bite right now, I’d just throw it up on the spot.

“April…”

“I’ll heat it up later,” I concede. “There. Happy?”

But Matvey doesn’t look happy. He doesn’t look happy in the slightest. And yet, there’s no trace of anger on his face. Instead, he seems… weary. Spent.

Defeated.

Which doesn’t make any sense. This is Matvey we’re talking about: he doesn’t give up. He doesn’t take no for an answer. He doesn’t lose, not to anyone.

Certainly not to me.

So what am I looking at here? Is this for real? Was Matvey so convinced he’d get to have his cake and eat it, too? Was it such a shock when reality finally caught up to him?

… We decided on a date…

I don’t know if it’s the jarring sight in front of me or Dr. Allan’s phone call echoing in my ears. Regardless, for the first time all night, I open my mouth to speak.

And then Matvey cuts me off.

“You should know… a date has been set. For the wedding.”

My tongue turns to lead. Still, I manage to croak, “When?”

“This Sunday.”

I freeze.

There are a million things I want to say. A million questions, crowding my mind all at once.

But in the end, I only manage to ask one. “So soon?”

Matvey’s jaw sets. “We couldn’t wait.”

That’s what finally turns me to stone.We couldn’t wait.As if they simply loved each other too much to delay. As if that’s all I’ve been all along: a delay. A temporary setback. One that was never meant to last.

I rise from the table. Matvey does the same. “Congratulations,” I whisper.

And Dr. Allan’s phone call remains locked inside my mind.

“Hello, April. This is Dr. Allan.”

I walk him to the door.

“I have news. It’s about your induction.”

I open it for him.

“We decided on a due date.”

I watch him walk out.

“This Sunday.”

And I don’t say a thing.

63

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