Page 8 of All The Pretty Little Lies

"You...you don't scare me," I manage to say, trying to keep my voice steady. But inside, my fear is growing with every passing moment. No one has ever dared to be this close to me or talk to me in such a vulgar manner for fear of my father’s wrath. Even the hint that my virginity is threatened would incite a war from the Rossi’s. If any of my father’s men happen to stumble into this room, and see us this close, Oscar would be dead on the spot. No questions asked. “The contract has been signed. I belong to your cousin.”

“You belong to no one.” Oscar's eyes narrow, his expression darkening. "Dmitri will not be just your husband; he is your captor, your warden, your tormentor. He will break you, Vesper, and not even your family will be able to save you. Your father has set wheels into motion that will not stop. Try as he might, your brother cannot stop the inevitable hell coming your way under the guise of this marriage alliance.”

I try to pull away from him, but he holds me in place, his hand tightens against my throat. His touch is suffocating, and I can barely breathe under his dominance.

"I know what life is like for women in my position. I see it every day in the face of my mother."

Oscar shakes his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "You have no idea what true suffering is, Vesper. Your father treats your mother far better than most wives in her position. In the brief time I was in your home, it didn’t take me long to ascertain that information. You, on the other hand, will be lucky to feel the sunshine on your skin again once your feet touch down on Russian soil."

“You say that like I have a choice in the matter. You said so yourself: the wheels are in motion. My fate is sealed. Luca’s trying…,” I blurt out before I stop myself from revealing my brother’s plans any further. Oscar is a Petrov. For all I know, thiscould be nothing more than a test from his uncle. A test of my loyalty to my future husband.

“So that’s why he’s suddenly following you around campus. Your brother is trying to save you.” Oscar smirks, the corner of his lips curling up in satisfaction. "That’s adorable. Misguided but adorable. What is his grand plan? To hand you cash and help you disappear into the night?"

I try to stop, but my face flushes instantly.

“He really thinks that will work. Luca is dumber than he lets on,” he mutters to himself. “He’s brave for attempting to go against your father. I will credit him for that, but it won’t work. You’d be better off with my alternative.”

My heart races in my chest, unsure of what he could mean. "An alternative to what?" I ask.

Oscar's intensity doesn't waver. "An alternative to being a pawn in your family's twisted games. Being a prize for Dmitri to claim." His eyes bore into mine, challenging me in a way I've never been challenged before. "An alternative to being locked away, controlled."

My breath catches in my throat. "What do you want from me?" I ask again.

He leans in closer still, his face mere inches from mine. "I told you, Vesper. I want everything," he repeats, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down my spine.

“You mean you want to take his place.”

“You think that’s why you’re here with me, isn’t it?” he laughs. “Don’t be as foolish as your brother, Vesper. It’s beneath you.”

"Then what do you want?”

“For you to not marry my cousin.”

“You say that like you can snap your fingers and make it happen.”

“What if I can?” He releases his grasp from my neck, drawing his hand up between us. “What if with a snap of my fingers,” he snaps them, “I could not only free you from your poor excuse of a marriage but give you what you’ve always wanted. Achoice.”

The idea of leaving everything behind, of escaping the life that has been chosen for me, is both exhilarating and terrifying. I've never known anything outside of the life that has been forced upon me. The pressures of being a Rossi, the suffocating expectations and duties that come with the family name. But to have a chance at true freedom, at making my own choices and following my own path. It's too much to comprehend.

"What if I want it?" I dare to ask, feeling some sort of rebellious streak rising within me. “What would you do?”

Oscar's smile widens ever so slightly as if he knows exactly what he's capable of igniting within me. "That," he says, leaning in until his lips are just barely brushing against my ear, "is a question better left unanswered until you’re sure.”

As I stand there, lost in thought, trying to decipher what this all means and what I want, the door bursts open, and Talon runs into the room. "Time's up. Cavalry is here. We've got to move. We can't risk getting caught." His urgent voice snaps me out of my trance.

Oscar steps back, his eyes never leaving mine. "Think about it. There is a choice beyond the fate your family has laid out for you. I’ll be in touch." He shoves away from me and joins Talon at the door. With just a wink, he disappears into the hallway. As the sound of footsteps fades into the distance, I'm left alone in the room with my thoughts. My head spins with possibilities and consequences, swirling like a tempest in my mind.

My chest tightens as the weight of Oscar's words settles upon me. The room suddenly feels smaller, the walls closing in like a vice around my trembling form. I gasp for air, but it's as if all the oxygen has been sucked out, leaving me dizzy anddisoriented. Images flash before my eyes: my father's stern face, Dmitri's cold smile, and the suffocating future that awaits me as a pawn in their power games. But now, interwoven with these familiar nightmares, are new visions - Oscar's intense gaze, Talon's roguish wink, and the tantalizing promise of freedom they represent.

The enormity of the choice before me crashes down like a tidal wave. Loyalty to my family or a chance at true happiness? The safety of the known or the terrifying allure of the unknown? My mind races through countless scenarios.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. The idea of leaving everything behind - my family, my life as I know it - is both thrilling and petrifying. But the thought of having a choice, of having the power to control my own destiny, is intoxicating.

I've always been told what to do, who to marry, and how to behave. But Oscar...Oscar represents something different. Something wild and free. And the idea that there might be a way out - a way to escape the life that's been chosen for me - is almost too much to bear.

I can’t think about that now. I need to find Luca. I need to make sure he’s okay. I head for the door. A voice calling my name echoes through the hallway, jolting me out of my hiding spot. I quickly step into the open, trying to find where the sound is coming from. As soon as I'm out in the hallway, one of my father's guards appears before me, his gun poised at his side. He grabs my arm, muttering a response in his earpiece. He leads me towards where I last saw my brother fighting with Zaire, Talon, and Alexander.

My vision blurs as we reach the center of the hallway, my heart sinking at the sight before me. My brother Luca lies on the ground, his head a bloody mess from a brutal beating. I struggle against the guard's grip, my body shaking with fearand anger. With every step towards Luca, the blood splatters on the ground stains my light-colored tights. But I don't care. All I care about is my brother's life. "Luca," I scream, but he doesn't respond. Desperation takes over as I turn to the guard, pleading and begging for him to call for help. But he just stands there with a blank expression, ignoring my desperate pleas. In a fit of frustration and rage, I shout at him once more to call 9-1-1.

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