Page 25 of Beautiful Beast

His laugh is dismissive. “I’d like to see you try, Anya. Just be a good girl.” He pats my cheek so hard, it’s almost a slap before heading back into the ballroom.

I take a moment to compose myself, then re-enter the party. Everyone else seems like they’re having a good time. Lucky for them.

My eyes fall onto Erik, who’s still seated at our table. His eyes are locked on me.

With a sigh, I go over to him. My father and Nadia are by the food, so they’re not at the table.

Erik looks at me for a long moment after I take my seat. “What happened to your face?”

“My face?”

He touches my jaw, which still stings from where my father held on too tightly. “Here. Your makeup is smudged.”

“I thought men weren’t supposed to notice makeup.”

“I’m an observant man, Anya. So, care to tell me what happened?”

I look at my father across the room and Nadia beside him. I doubt my father would want me telling Erik about his abuse. I’m supposed to be a good girl after all.

“I ran my hands over my face in the bathroom. I must have smudged my makeup then.”

He drops his fingers from my face. “Are you lying to me right now?”

I quickly look at him. “No! What makes you think I’m always lying?”

“Call it a hunch.”

“Not everyone is like you. Some of us are good people who tell the truth. I accidently messed up my makeup. Not a big deal.”

“Mmm.” He looks at me for a long time, and I force myself to look back. Eventually, he looks away from me and leans back in his seat.

James remains quiet, but he does look between Erik and me in a way I don’t like. Too studious. Too curious like he’s trying to figure us both out.

The party continues.

My father and sister rejoin us, with my father looking happier than ever while Nadia looks even more dejected.

I don’t dare get up to dance. My father might punish Nadia for it if he thinks my behavior is inappropriate, and I don’t want risk Erik distrusting me even more than he does, so I play the good girl and sit at the table the rest of the night.

Until the time comes when Erik stands up and holds his hand out to me. “It’s time, Anya.”

“Time … for what?” We both know I’m playing dumb.

“Our wedding night.”

My entire body freezes. It’s my father who grabs my arms and hauls me to my feet. “She’s ready. Go with him, Anya.”

“I got this,” Erik murmurs.

My father flushes and quickly nods. “Sometimes Anya can be stubborn. Just be aware of that.”

Erik takes my hand, and I force my legs to move as we walk through the ballroom. Some men whoop and holler and call outdisgusting comments, like “It’s time to deflower the virgin,” and “Have fun exploring unexplored depths.”

Erik doesn’t tell any of the men to shut up. Instead, he only smirks and keeps on walking. I shoot glares in all directions, but I don’t know who’s speaking. There’s too many people I don’t know.

This wedding wasn’t for me at all. I had no say in it. I didn’t pay for anything. Plan anything.

This party was for people who don’t even care what happens to me. Because if anyone did care, they’d help me escape so I didn’t have to be alone with Erik on our wedding night.

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