Page 55 of Sweet Deception
I studied his face. “Unless I tell them, right?”
His jaw flexed. “Yeah.”
I met his gaze. “I won’t betray you.”
“You can try.”
His words should have felt like a challenge, but instead, they sent a shiver down my spine.
“How do you feel now?” he asked.
“Tired. I just want to go home.”
“You can’t. Grandma isn’t done with you yet.”
“Then I have to at least sit.”
Several minutes passed before he finally set me down gently. “They’ll be expecting us.”
I nodded and stepped forward, only to freeze when I saw her.
Gleb’s grandmother stood in the doorway, her sharp eyes fixed on us.
My heart slammed against my ribs. How long has she been standing there? The bathroom walls weren’t thick. What if she heard? What if she knows?”
Her lips curved into something that might have been a smile, if it weren’t so cold. “I need to know the truth. Anna, are you pregnant?”
I glanced at Gleb before turning back to her. “No.”
Her arms folded. “Why?”
I swallowed. “He refused to consummate the marriage.” My voice was even, controlled.
He shot me a sharp look the second the words left my mouth. My stomach twisted.
I’d made a mistake. A big one.
He wanted me to play along with his lie but why should I?
Her eyes snapped to Gleb. “So you lied to me?”
He said nothing.
“Why haven’t you laid with her?” she pressed.
His expression darkened. “I have no desire to touch her,” Gleb said flatly. His voice was cold, but I didn’t miss the slight hesitation before the words left his lips.
Grandma hummed, studying me with a long, lingering stare, as if committing every feature to memory. Then, to my surprise, she let out a low chuckle. “Honestly, I thought I’d want to kill her on sight. But she looks so innocent. Likeable, even.”
Gleb scowled. “Grandma...”
“Shut up,” she snapped. “Don’t you see? She looks like Anastasia.”
I stiffened. Anastasia? The name meant nothing to me, but Gleb’s whole body had gone rigid.
Her expression turned cold. “Your family has hurt us badly.” Her tone was as casual as if she were discussing the weather. “The Italians are our enemies. I could have you butchered and have the pieces sent to your father.”
I swallowed hard but kept my face blank.
