Page 122 of Beautiful Deception

“Woman,” Aria snaps. “I’m a woman now, Dad. Isn’t that why you’re marrying me off like I’m cattle?”

Aria sure does have an energy to her that’s drastically different from Inessa’s. No. Don’t think about Inessa. She doesn’t mean anything to me.

It’s been a few days since she came to collect her money. I was tempted to take it from her but she did work hard for it. Call it a one last act of mercy. Now I can kick her out of my life without regret.

It doesn’t matter if I miss her. I can’t miss her. I cannot be with someone who lied to me.

Aria will have to do. It’s better that she’s so different from Inessa.

Elio chuckles awkwardly from Aria’s snappish comment. “My daughter. Like I said: she says what’s on her mind.”

“And it’s going to get her in trouble,” Dante reminds her.

She rolls her eyes. “He’s a Russian. I don’t want to marry a Russian.”

“I married one.”

“That’s because you’re an idiot. Though I do like Nadia. She’s nice. But I doubthe’snice.” She eyes me over critically. “You don’t look nice.”

“What do I look like?” I ask.

“Like a man who never smiles.”

Inessa always told me she liked it whenever I smiled. No. Do not think about her.

“I only smile when I’m happy,” I tell her.

“And you’re not happy now?”

“To tell you the truth, Aria, I’m not.”

She huffs. “Well, that’s just great. You’re trying to marry me off to a man who’s not even happy to be here. Why force us both into this marriage?”

“It was Viktor’s idea,” Dante says. “Well, it was Erik’s but Viktor is agreeing to it.”

“Why? Why do you want to marry me?”

“It’s not you,” I admit. “It’s your connections. If I marry you, it will help bring peace between Dante and I.”

She shrugs. “Why can’t you guys find peace on your own without involving me? This whole arranged marriage act is bullshit if you want my opinion.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Elio grits out. “Be nice, Aria. Polite.”

“When am I ever polite?” she asks with a snort. “No offense. But I don’t like you, Viktor. You’re a Russian. You’re everything I was taught to hate. Anyone who even works with you is someone I was taught to hate.”

“Well, great,” Dante mutters. “You two will have a lovely start to your marriage.”

I can feel my own scowl deepen. This is not what I want. Marrying Aria will be fucking torture. Her bratty attitude is already getting on my fucking nerves.

But I can’t be with Inessa. Julia came home yesterday. I need to make this place safe for her. As best as I can. And that means making peace with Dante and Erik and marrying Aria is the way to go.

I was always going to marry without emotion. Now is no different.

It was Inessa who came in and tore my defenses down.

She doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. She can’t. I cannot miss her. I cannot care for her. She made me look like a fucking fool and that’s something I can never forgive.

“Can we just get this over with?” Aria says. “I’m annoyed. I’m not happy. And I’m going to let everyone at this table know about it for years to come. Might as well go get married and be done with it.”

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