Page 61 of Betrayed in the Dark
He lunges for me, his hands tightening around my throat, pushing me against the wall. “Do I need to refresh your memory and tell you what’s at stake here? What you risk losing should you not follow through with this wedding?”
I shake my head, clawing at his hands.
I know what’s at stake.
Everything.
“Good.” He releases his grip, and I fall to the floor, gulping down air and savoring every breath I can take. “You’re the one who came crawling on your hands and knees to me, looking for my help. It wasn’t the other way around.” He leans down, crouching over me. “I followed through on my end of the bargain. Now it’s time for you to do the same.”
With trembling hands, I remove my clothes and mentally prepare for what I’m about to put on.
After struggling for several minutes to wrestle myself into the dress, sweat coats my forehead, adding to the sense of impending doom in my stomach.
Rotating in the room, I realize there’s no mirror in here and groan in frustration, knowing what I have to do.
Opening the door, I see Eli a few feet away, facing the wall as he speaks on his phone. It’s probably that supposed “Angel” he misses so damn much while he’s stuck babysitting me.Blah… I roll my eyes in irritation, shaking my head.
Maybe if I’m quiet, he won’t even notice me.
Quickly, I gather the tulle and hurry toward the black podium, which is surrounded by a three-way mirror.
Stepping up, I brace my shoulders and put on the smile I’ve been practicing for my wedding day, but as my eyes catch my reflection in the mirror, my smile instantly fades.
I tilt my head to the side, taking in the sight before me: the enormous tulle gown engulfs my lower half, making me look like the top of a cupcake while an itchy lace fabric covers my upper body. Red splotches appear across my chest as the itching intensifies, and a bead of sweat trickles down my back.
From the other side of the wall, I can hear women laughing blissfully amongst themselves.
“I can’t wait for John to see me in this dress when I walk down the aisle,” one woman says.
“You’re so lucky you found someone who loves you like he does. That man would do anything for you,” another woman replies.
“Anything,” a third woman adds with a chuckle.
“I love him so much. My wedding day can’t come soon enough,” the bride remarks, and I can hear the love and longing oozing from every word.
Love… Who needs it anyway? Who wants to be with someone who would do anything for them? Who looks at them as if they hung the moon? Who puts the other person’s needs before their own? Who holds them when they cry? Who promises forever and means it?
I do.
My breathing quickens, and my chest feels strained against the tightness of the fabric. My trembling fingers reach hastily for the zipper while tears threaten to spill from my eyes.
I can’t breathe.
“Come on, please don’t do this to me,” I plead with the dress, my fingers fumbling as I struggle to reach the clasp. “Please,” I beg, letting out a low sob.
“Madeleine.” My eyes dart to the mirror, finding Eli behind me. “What’s wrong?”
“Off.” I let out a shaky breath. “Get this off of me,” I practically beg, my voice cracking.
He doesn’t hesitate as he pulls down on the hidden zipper, loosening the top of my gown. I remove my arms from the sleeves and push the fabric down, gathering it at my waist, leaving me in just my strapless bra.
Suddenly, my knees give out, and I drop to the floor. But before I completely fall, Eli catches me. He allows me to sink to the carpet, the tulle surrounding me like a cocoon, as he sits beside me and pulls me against his chest.
“Breathe, Princess,” he commands in his authoritative tone.
I press my hands to my chest, my lips parting as I try to speak, but I feel like a fish out of water.
It’s too much.
