Page 53 of Betrayal and Vows

Such a simple wish.

And so fucking naïve.

I fold the paper, tuck it back into the box and replace the box in the drawer.

Time to remember who I really am.

Time to become him again.

Chapter 10

Lena

Brunch is a parade of people pretending to be important.

The Orlov estate has been transformed. Again.

I think it would be more fun to burn the money these people are spending.

The wedding is not just a wedding.

It’s a two-week celebration.

I’m so over it. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to marry Mikhail.

I want Anton.

He’s all I can think about.

His hands on my body.

His mouth.

His cock.

I hear someone laugh and bring my attention back to the moment. I hope no one notices my cheeks are flush.

I stare at the champagne towers, fruit-carved swans, and servers in tuxedos balancing delicate porcelain trays like the fate of the world depends on how many canapés they distribute per minute.

It’s all so elegant.

So curated.

Sofake.

I sit like a good little bride-to-be at the center table beside Mikhail. He’s barely said two words to me, which is fine. I don’t want to talk to him. He’s busy charming an oil executive’s wife. If I’m lucky, he’ll take her to bed tonight.

So far, I have avoided finding myself in it, but living under the same roof makes it tricky. I’ve seen the way he looks at me. Like I’m dessert and he’s trying to figure out what part of me to devour first.

The thought sends revulsion running through my body.

Here I am, acting the part of a Bratva princess and inside, I’m dying.

Can no one see?

My eyes scan the room. People see me, but they don’t truly see the real me.

They see my pretty dress. My hair perfectly styled. My makeup done just right. And my fake smile.