Page 28 of Ruthless God

Her eyes widen, and she flashes me her pocketknife. “You’re not going to hurt Lyrical.”

I don’t like the urge I have to take care of the woman I used to love.

“Not more than I already have,” I say.

The girl, Lilac, looks timid, like she wouldn’t hurt a fly, so why would someone like her be interested in Irvin? Irvin did mention that she shares a similar kink to Lyrical. I don’t know the depths of their relationship, but I know they are fucking.

Getting up from the bed, I stroll up to Lilac, grab her by the arm, and usher her to the hallway, slamming the door in her face.

I make my way back to the bed and Lyrical rolls to her side, facing me. I glance at her and I miss everything about my best friend before the accident. I feel like I not only lost my sister, but I lost my best friend. She opens her eyes, pushing me away, and I see the fear lingering in her pupils. She curls up into a ball and cries. I’ve never seen her drowning in her sorrows like this.

I stand there, shoving my hands in my pockets, staring at her. Those tears are meant for me, and not in the way I like. For the first time, I don’t feel right putting them there, so I leave without a word.

Lyrical

My mother’s stylist combs through my hair and anticipation fills my chest. The engagement ball starts in thirty minutes and I’m not ready to tell the world that Snow is going to be my ball and chain.

My mind plays the night Snow took my virginity like a broken record. I cried myself to sleep the moment he left. I feel so disgusted for wanting him to do it again. I feel so disgusted for wantinghim. I shouldn’t want those things with him, especially with how he treats me. I want him to treat me like a whore, and deep down, I wanted him to take my virginity the way he did. The worse part, I was hoping he would hit me up to fuck me again, but he didn’t.

When I’m on my way to classes, I know he’s following me. Though I don’t know about his reasonings. He follows me everywhere I go.

I would say I’m disturbed by it, but I’m not. I’m used to him lurking around me. When we were in high school, he followed me everywhere I went. I used to refer to him as my shadow. Hecock-blocked any boy I spoke to, and if he got a whiff of a man on my radar, I suspect he threatened to hurt them. I wonder if what Bailey used to tell me was true, that he had a crush on me. She insisted we should hook up already, since we’re going to be married.

I get up from the vanity and wiggle my way into the mermaid gown that flares at the end. My face is covered with makeup and my hair is in large curls flowing down my back.

I look at myself in the floor-length mirror and try to keep the tears at bay.

This is me one step closer to signing my life away to a man who hates me.

My mother smiles through the mirror. She’s waited for this day. In fact, she planned it before I was even born. For her daughter to be married to a billionaire and follow a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. It’s a stupid-ass tradition.

“You look so beautiful, Lyrical,” she says, tears in her eyes. “You will make a beautiful bride.”

I don’t respond because this isn’t what I want for my life.

I clear my throat, and she loops her arm through mine. Once we stroll to the ballroom, I’m overwhelmed by all the people here. Being at my engagement ball is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Every woman wears a purple gown, and every man is in a tux with a purple tie. My mother planned the engagement ball so, of course, she will pick the color associated with the American Billionaire Club.

I glance up to find an expensive-looking chandelier made out of gold hang from the ceiling. The waitress and waiters wearing all-black suits maneuver through the crowd, passing out champagne flutes and various finger foods. The room fills with chatter, drowning out my thoughts.

I spot Keanu, Irvin, and Jameson, and they look dashing in their suits. They stand in a circle, speaking with Snow. I suck in a breath at the sight of him. He looks striking in his suit. His white hair has been cut short, and his muscles are thick and hard through his suit jacket. He looks bored and uninterested, but when his eyes capture mine, the hint of a glint shines in them. His gives me a once-over, a smirk spreading across his face. He bites his lower lip and winks at me.

My mother ushers me to a golden chair that resembles a throne, and I sit down slowly, trying not to wrinkle my dress. People gasp when they see me, because they are now realizing I’m the one who was chosen to be Snow’s wife. This is part of the ritual, where I pretend like I accept the marriage, but it’s all for show. People whisper amongst themselves. My heart beats in my chest, blood rushes to my ears.

Snow’s face is devoid of emotion, but he leans in and whispers, “You’re so beautiful.”

My cheeks flame and goosebumps sprout on my arms. Not sure if it’s from him or from the cold air. When he gets on one knee, he removes a box from his pants pocket. He opens it, a huge-ass diamond ring glinting from the lights.

“Marry me?” His tone is monotone.

I want to say no so bad. I want to embarrass him like he embarrassed me. I want him to feel the pain he caused me, but I can’t embarrass my parents nor his. Snow wouldn’t take no for an answer anyway, so why bother? Even if my parents give me a way out, he’ll force me to accept the engagement. I take my time before answering, enjoying the view of him on his knee before me.

My heart leaps in my chest as I feel the eyes on me. “Yes.”

He slides the ring onto my finger, and everyone cheers as he pulls me into a hug, placing his hand on my lower back.He presses his lips to mine, and a shiver snakes up my spine. Butterflies flutter in my stomach, and I melt like butter.

He slips his tongue into my mouth, and I slide my own into his. We stand there a second or two longer as we continue to kiss. He nips my bottom lip before pulling away. My gaze snags onto Snow as he steps back, the look of complete shock over our kiss on his face. A pool of emotions flashes through his eyes, then he clears his throat. His demeanor is weird.

He leans forward, bending down, whispering in my ear, “You’re mine. Now the whole world knows it.”

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