“Like you’re better than me. You’ve known Alek for a day and now you’re going to marry him? You’re certifiably insane. That’s all I can say.”
“Susanna,” Nina murmurs but her younger sister isn’t listening.
“I don’t like you,” she says point blank, unafraid to look me in the eye. I’ve always had trouble maintaining eye contact.
“What have I done to you?” I ask.
“Everything I just said. You’re probably marrying Alek only for his money. You’re a gold digger. And I don’t like gold diggers.”
“Let’s just go,” Nina urges. “Come on.” She practically pushes her sister to the car where Ian is waiting in the driver’s seat.
The two of them settle in the back so that leaves me no choice but to sit up front with Ian. Sitting next to a man I don’t know sends another wave of panic through me but I have to get through this. If I don’t, I really am going to die from the stress of everything.
Ian takes us to a bridal shop. The sight of all the white wedding dresses in the window is overwhelming. I’m going to have to marry Alek soon. My entire life will be changed. Can Dimitri save me before then? I can only hope.
My legs feel wobbly as we walk into the store. A sales woman named Amanda approaches us.
“How can I help you today?”
The girls look at me but I can’t get any words out. I’m frozen, like a deer in headlights.
Susanna scoffs and rolls her eyes, filling me with shame.
Nina answers for me. “We’re looking for a wedding dress for… Katya here.”
“All right.” Amanda sets her kind eyes onto me. “What kind of dress are you looking for?”
Once again, I can’t get any words out.
“Unbelievable,” Susanna mutters.
“We’ll just look around,” Nina says. “And we’ll come get you if we need help.”
“Of course. Over there is are sales rack and –,”
Susanna holds up a hand. “We don’t go anywhere near sales racks. Only the most expensive dresses you have.”
“Then those would be over in that section.”
“Perfect. Let’s go.” Susanna strides over to the expensive section of the store like she owns the place. How can someone so young in such a tiny body have such a presence about her? I never thought I would be jealous of a sixteen year old but here I am.
Nina gives me a questioning look before following her sister. After a moment, I join them.
They flick through dresses with a critical eye like they’ve done this before. I set my hands on a dress tentatively like it’s going to bite me. When it doesn’t, I relax slightly. I can do this. I have to do this. Alek is leaving me no choice.
Dimitri always gave me a choice in life. Stay in my room or leave. I always chose to stay. But now I wonder if he should have forced me to leave. I would have hated him for it but it probably would have helped me out in the long run. Because now here I am, a twenty-one year old woman who doesn’t know how to conduct myself outside of my room. Who has a panic attack every time I inhale fresh air. It’s tiring, if I’m being honest.
“What about this?” Nina asks, pulling out a simple dress. Some lace, nothing extravagant.
Susanna huffs. “It’s so tacky. She needs to wear something else.”
“I don’t mind the dress,” I murmur.
“She can speak,” Susanna mocks, making me flush. “Why are you so quiet anyway? And so… weird.” She gives me a look up and down, making it obvious that she thinks I’m some sort of alien. And maybe I am.
“This is all new for me. Alek… do you know what Alek did to me?”
They both give me a blank expression. It’s like talking to a wall.
