Page 116 of Beautiful Deception

Finn towers over me. “When you lie and deceive my partner, it does concern me.”

“Finn,” Viktor snaps. “Back down. Inessa is right. This is between me and her. Leave.”

“I came here with you.”

“Then just go wait outside. I’m tired of seeing your fucking face.”

“Viktor-,”

“Finn, go.”

With a huff, Finn shoots me another glare before walking outside, leaving me and Viktor alone.

Well, alone with my dad.

He turns to my father. “You deserve to die for what you attempted to do to me.” He pulls a knife from his shoe.

The sight of it makes me woozy. “Viktor. Please.”

“Be quiet, Inessa.”

“If you kill my dad then…”

“Then what?”

“Then we will be over. I can never forgive you for that.”

“And I can never forgive you for lying to me about who you really are.”

Now is not the time to point out that one is objectively worse than the other. I’m not proud that I lied but murder is murder. And there’s no coming back from murder.

“Viktor, please.”

“Stop begging me.”

“Why? Because it’s making you have a conscience? Because you know this isn’t the right thing to do?”

“Inessa, stop.”

“No. I will not stand back and watch you kill my dad. I love you, Viktor. I fell in love with you because you were so good at making me feel safe. If you do this, then I’ll never feel safe again. You’ll be proving why I lied to you. I lied to protect myself and my father. Was it wrong? Yes. But can you honestly blame me for that?”

“Stop,” he growls, shaking his head and clenching the knife tight.

“Can you blame me for that, Viktor? You’re here, trying to kill my dad. And I know a part of you is doing this because I lied. I know I’m partially responsible. But prove me wrong. Prove me wrong for why I lied. Show me that you’ll spare his life. That I don’t have to fear you. That I can just love you. If you’ll have me still.”

“Was this your plan? To marry me for money and kill me and steal it all?”

“Viktor,” I say softly, cupping his face. “I never married you for your money. I don’t want you to die. I married you because I love you. And if you truly love me, you won’t kill my dad right now.”

With a sharp inhale, he rips away from me. “You’re in my head.”

“Viktor…”

He turns to my dad and raises the knife high. Dad bucks and grunts against the rope strapping him to the chair but it’s pointless – he’s not going anywhere.

I gasp as Viktor lowers the knife towards my dad’s throat. This is it. He’s going to kill my dad. Our relationship is over. I only feel numb inside.

Viktor presses his knife against my father’s throat but he doesn’t move. He holds still as he looks down at my father before looking back at me. I don’t look away. I can’t. I have to be strong - not just for my dad but for myself as well.

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