Page 51 of Forced Innocent Bratva Bride

My hand flew to my jaw, massaging it in a slow, soothing rhythm. It still hurt even after all the hours that had passed since those strong fingers of his inflicted me with pain.

My face contorted into a frown as his accusing voice echoed in my head.“Are you cheating on me?”

I gritted my teeth against the discomfort in my jaw, the twinge accentuating my anger.

Why would he even think that I'd cheat on him after barely a month of getting married? I swore an oath of commitment, and even if I were to break it—which I wouldn't—why would I do that now? I was pregnant with his child, for Christ's sake!

Was that how slutty he thought I was, a cheap nymphomaniac who went around spreading her legs?

My fingers squeezed against the hem of the blanket, my chest heaving slowly at the thought of his silly accusation. I’d only been out for a few hours, and he just had to make a big fuss out of it. He couldn't stop himself from exercising his dominance.

The reason that I was pissed off at him was because he didn't seem concerned about my well-being; instead, he was more worried about another's hands touching hisproperty.

I loathed him for the way he saw me as a material thing that he owned. Alexei had never understood that I was a human being with feelings and free will. I wasn't some robot he spent a fortune on, a robot that would answer only to him and do whatever he wanted without question.

Me? I wasn't wired that way, and he’d known that when he married me.

And then there was the incident with Bryce.

My blood boiled as I recalled my encounter with that lying scumbag, that manipulative and obsessed freak who clearly couldn't just stay the hell away from me.

I’d ended that chapter of my life with him a long time ago, but he decided he wasn't done with me yet. My brows narrowed, and my heart pounded faster at the thought of his audacity to kidnap me.

His nerves, though.

How dare he?

I’d said those mean things to him on purpose. Maybe my harsh words would finally sink into that thick skull of his. Perhaps it would make him stay away.

The last thing that I needed in my life right now was more complications. I had enough on my plate already and didn't have any room for anyone's bullshit.

But why did Bryce's insults against my husband hurt me so much? I hated Alexei probably even more than Bryce did, yet I couldn't stomach him talking trash about this same man.

Instinctively, my hands jerked to my hair, smoothing it backward, and my breath hitched in my throat. My expression softened, transforming into a mask of confusion within seconds.

I couldn't fathom the reason why I defended Alexei the way I did. Bryce's brows had yanked up at some point, adding to the puzzled look on his face. He clearly wasn't expecting me tostand up for my husband, considering the circumstances behind our union.

Yet, I had.

Honestly, even despite being angry at Alexei at the moment, I didn't regret defending him in front of that sicko.

At first, I’d thought I only did that to make Bryce feel horrible. I deluded myself into thinking that was the reason. But was it really?

Had I defended my husband because I wanted to hurt my ex-boyfriend, or was that a reflexive stunt pulled by a woman who cared about her husband?

But I didn't care enough.

Did I?

Why else would I feel offended by Bryce's insults when they weren't directed to me? Why was Alexei's shame my shame and his fight mine?

I let out a frustrated groan, slapping a pillow over my face. My mind reeled with the possibility of a growing affection for him.

Alexei Tarasov had a way of seamlessly toiling with my emotions, and I hated that. I hated the amount of control he had over me. I loathed how vulnerable I was around him.

Last night, I would have defended myself—I would have argued with him without caring about the deep scowl on his face. But I couldn't.

I'd never seen him that mad at me before. His fury had been scary, and it silenced me instantly. The rage that blazed in his eyes was a glaring warning that I'd get burned if I didn't tread with caution.

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