Page 22 of Tangled In Lies

Where I was taken without my consent.

After I got the text message on the drive here.

I heard congratulations are in order. You’ll be a good fiancée and wife, won’t you, pet?

Theor elseis implied.

But why? A few years ago, I went on onedate, and the guy never talked to me again because Freddy vandalized his car and told him to stay away from me. But now he wants me to marry Phoenix? The more I think about it, the less it makes sense.

Being forced into an engagement, into an impending marriage, takes my life to a whole new level of ruin, especially when it’s with the man who will surely kill me if he ever finds out what I did.

And I couldn’t even explain to him why I did it, not without putting Ruby or anyone else in my life in danger.

Angry and frustrated tears well in my eyes, but I will the emotions away. I have to, or they’ll eat me alive.

At least then, you wouldn’t have to deal with all of this shit anymore. Then you’d finally be at peace.

Shut up, shut up, shut up.

I grasp my head, willing that malicious voice to go away. I can’t deal with it right now, not when I’m already so close to crumbling, so close to giving in and ignoring the warning my devil once gave me all those years ago.

If you ever think about taking yourself out of the equation, think again, because everyone will suffer for that. Every last person in your life.

A knock at the door saves me from spiraling further. The door opens after a few seconds without anyone waiting for a response.

I guess any form of decency is gone when you’re a prisoner in your own life.

“Miss Evangeline, are you all right?”

The gentle voice pulls me out of my head long enough to look up.

A tall, thin man with a full head of gray hair stands in the doorway, staring at me with a worried frown.

I let go of my hair and wipe at my face, painfully aware I probably resemble a complete nutcase and nothing like the put-together heiress I am supposed to be.

My spine straightens as I plaster on a smile and nod. “Of course, yes. Sorry about that.”

Old habits die hard—good manners that have been drilled into you your entire life even more so.

I’m unsure if he buys my terrible act, but he nods and pushes a cart I didn’t notice into the room.

“Mister Phoenix said you’d probably be hungry by now, so I brought you breakfast. Our chef said the food shouldn’t upset your stomach.” He wheels the cart to the table in the corner and glances at me with a more relaxed, pleasant expression. “Would you like me to set it up for you, or do you want to freshen up first?”

I blink at him, taken back by his friendly demeanor and the fact that someone must have told the chef I had an upset stomach.

“Miss?”

“Sorry. Freshening up sounds perfect.”

With a gentle smile, he takes a few steps back and gestures to the hallway opposite the giant four-poster bed I slept in. “In case you haven’t wandered, this hallway leads to the bathroom and the walk-in closet. Mister Holden will have your school items ready at your departure, and the remainder of your belongings should arrive later today. But I took the liberty to stock everything for you, so please alert me if anything is amiss or not to your liking, and I’ll attend to it immediately.”

With my head pounding now, and dumbfounded by this whole interaction, I manage another smile and a “Thank you.”

The man drops his hands to his sides and bows a little. “My pleasure, miss.”

When he reaches the open door, he grabs the doorknob and regards me. “Before I forget, my name is Huxley. If there’s anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to find me. I’ll see to it immediately if it’s within my power.”

The wooden door closes before I get my brain to form a reply and I stare at it. It takes me several beats to get back to my senses.

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