Page 53 of Vow to Hate You

He chuckled, relaxing slightly. “Really? Too bad. If you don’t want to see me, then move out.”

My lips parted in shock. “What?”

“You heard me, Natalia. If you don’t want this life, then leave.”

“You know I can’t.”

He raised an eyebrow. “No? You did it for five years.”

“That was different.”

“I’m not holding you hostage. If you want out, then go. But if you stay, then I’m going to act like a husband—which includes putting you in my bed.”

I tried to ignore the sexual tension growing between us. “I can’t just leave?—”

“Why?” he cut me off, the arrogance in his voice beginning to get under my skin. “Let me guess—you stay for the same reason I do.”

I scowled. “You stay because you have everything you want.”

“You could leave,” he continued, as if I hadn’t said a word. “Your father would cut you off. But you don’t care about the money. You’d walk away with nothing if you could. No…it’s about who you care for. If you walked away from this life, then you wouldn’t see Charlotte.”

Knots slowly twisted in my stomach. When we were younger, he had always been able to read me better than most of our friends. Even after being gone for five years, he could still surprise me.

“Your sister isn’t like you,” he said. “This life suits her perfectly. It's something she won't abandon. She doesn’t stand up to your father, and she never will. Which means if you leave, then all you’ll get is maybe a secret visit with her once a year.”

I bit my tongue, my pulse thudding. When I was overseas, Char had come to stay with me a few times a year, and I cherished every single visit. If I walked away, then Damian was right—I’d barely see her. She had no desire to leave. Her entire life was funded by our father, and would continue to do so until she got married.

“You never let me forget how I won’t go against my father,” he said, his eyes locked on mine. “But you’re the exact same, Talie.”

“No, I’m not,” I snapped. “I left.”

“Youlied,” he shot back. “You hid. You didn’t stand up to your dad. For the last five years, we’ve been doing the same thing. Appeasing our families while doing what we want in secret. We did it as kids, and it didn’t change when we became adults. You didn’t tell your father to fuck off—that you were going to college like you wanted.”

“I lived how I wanted for five years,” I said, anger creeping into my voice. “I did what I wanted without having to ask permission. It was fucking great until you ruined it.”

He scoffed. “Ruin it? You weren’t living free, Talie. You were sneaking around. You want to be angry at me for not turning my back on everything for you, then go right ahead. But don’t lie to yourself. Because you’re doing the same thing.”

I clenched my teeth. No matter how much his words got under my skin, I couldn’t even argue with him. As much as I craved the life I lived for the past five years, I wasn’t ready to give this part up. Mostly, it was for my sister. If I left, our father would never forgive me. He had enough power to find me no matter where I went. But it wasn’t only that—he would control Charlotte even more if his other daughter disobeyed him.

“If you want out, then go ahead. Divorce me. Tell your father you’re leaving. You can survive the fallout. That’s choice number one.” He dropped his head until his lips were nearly brushing mine. “Choice number two is you stay here. But I’m telling you now. If you stay, then I’m not leaving you alone.”

“More games, Damian?” I taunted, giving him a smirk. “This will never be a traditional marriage.”

“I love playing games with you, Talie,” he replied, his voice gruff. “And you clearly like it too, seeing as you’re still here.”

“For now,” I retorted. “Maybe I will leave.”

“Well, until you do, you’ll be sleeping in my bed.” He released me, stepping away. “We’re leaving in a half hour.”

He strode out of the room, leaving me pressed against the wall as I stared after him. My heart was pounding, and I blew out a breath.

So much for living separate lives under this roof.

CHAPTER 22

talie

“Is that what you’re wearing?”

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