Page 27 of Cruel Promise

“What can he get away with?”

She sighs deeply. “Dear, he already got away with buying you and forcing you into a marriage. I think you know the answer to your own question.”

My heart constricts. I know she’s right, and I know asking these questions won’t get me what I want—my mom back. My freedom back.

I blink back tears and rush out of the kitchen before Claude can mock me for them.

Nikolai wants to have dinner with me tonight.

After ignoring me since our wedding, I find it interesting he finally wants my attention.

Of course, he doesn’t tell me himself. Mrs. Brown gives me the information through a note from Nikolai. It reads—Meet in the dining room and wear something nice.

The moment Mrs. Brown is gone, I crumple up the note and throw it away. It gives me some small satisfaction, but it doesn’t last long.

The dress I choose is black, hugs my body, and ends right above my ankles. It’s not too revealing, and yet it reveals everything.

I look like a mature woman in the mirror. Not the innocent girl I used to be. I’ll never be her again. Nikolai and my father have made sure of that.

The thought of my father reminds me of my mother. I have no idea what happened to her body. Did someone bury her? Did the police find her? The fact I haven’t had a funeral for her yet eats at my heart.

I head downstairs in my low heels. It’s strange to wear shoes in the house. At mine and my mom’s apartment, we were always barefoot.

Edmund stands at the double doors that lead to the dining room. “You look lovely tonight, Ava.”

“Thank you, Edmund,” I reply on autopilot. His kind words never help me like he probably thinks they do. They only serve to remind me of how messed up this situation is.

He opens the door, and thereheis. My husband. Standing at the head of the dining room table.

I pause in the doorway. Nikolai takes a moment to look me over. It’s both clinical and full of desire at the same time. I don’t know how he does it.

Once more, I feel a flicker of something between my legs. I know what it is, but I don’t want to say it. To say what I felt for just a second would be to betray myself.

“It’s nice of you to join me this evening,” he says.

“Did I have a choice?”

He ignores my jab. “Let’s eat, shall we?”

Edmund starts to pull out my chair, but Nikolai waves him away and walks over to me himself. There, he pulls my chair out the rest of the way and waits until I sit down. Once I do, he skims his fingers just lightly over my shoulders before heading to his seat.

Goosebumps break out onto my skin.

Edmund walks out of the room, leaving us alone together.

“I would ask you how you’ve been, but I think I know,” Nikolai says.

“What do you think?”

“I’m sure you’re miserable. I know you don’t want to be here … Ava.” The way my name rolls off his tongue sends shivers over me. “I know you didn’t choose me.”

“I didn’t want to choose anyone. I just wanted to go to school.”

“School?”

I take a sip of my wine. It’s red and too bitter for my tastes. “You’re telling me you don’t know? I feel like a man, such as yourself, would know a lot about me. At least do a background check.”

A small smile passes his lips. “I know you were going to Yale. I have to say, that’s impressive. Your father never mentioned that part to me.”

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