Maxim scoffed. “You’re really willing to go through with it, huh?” He walked toward her, and Kira held her breath. She didn’t understand what he meant, but it didn’t matter. He was coming. Would he be kind to her? Or terrible? She hoped for the first but prepared for the latter. She knew how to close her eyes and bury herself in her head.
Maxim cackled. “I almost believe you. I can see the ridiculous panic in your eyes. You’re a very good actress.” He leaned around her and took his sweats out of his drawer, slamming it shut before going back into the bathroom.
Kira flipped her eyes about as her mind traveled over every word. Seconds passed, and the oddity of it began to sink in. She kneeled down, taking up her dress and pressing it against her chest. Something was terribly wrong.
Maxim reappeared dressed in sweats and a white tank. “No one is watching us here, Morozov. You can leave.”
She brushed her hair out of her face as she stood and cleared her throat. “I don’t–I don’t understand.”
He cackled, taking up his phone and lying on the bed. “Sure you don’t.”
Kira remained standing as he ignored her. Her brows deepened, her thoughts diving into insanity the more time passed. She thought of going, but this was her wedding night. She had one job to do, and she was failing it. “Am I missing something?”
Maxim tossed the phone on the bed and eyed her. “I’m losing my patience. Get out.”
How was she to get pregnant if she left? “No.”
He stood up. “You really think I’m gonna fuck you? Huh? You can’t be this fucking clueless. None of you Morozovs have a shred of decency. You are soulless bastards.”
Kira stood frozen. The tone of hate was more understood than his words. It brought back too many memories, full of people despising her for her family. “Why did you marry me?”
“Because I was made too.”
Tears burned her eyes, and disappointment smacked into her harder than she was prepared for. But it only made Maxim laugh. “Look at you!” He clapped mockingly. “What skill to cry on cue.”
Kira turned around, and a hand pressed to her mouth.This can’t be happening.No, she was the sister who was supposed to be happy. She was the sister who was going to fall in love. Kira faced him. “I don’t know what you think of me, but I’m not part of any of my father’s plans.”
“So you didn’t marry me because you had to?”
Her gaze drifted. That was an inescapable truth, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have any feelings for Maxim. She chose him out of every other suitor for a reason.
“Listen, Morozov, cut the shit. This pity-me pretense isn’t a good look for you.”
“You said you couldn’t wait to marry me. You wanted a quick wedding–”
“I needed a quick wedding so my family members would be saved from your fucking father.”
Kira stuttered. Her memory skimmed over the night, trying to find any moments that would have led her to a different conclusion. But all she saw was his smile. He was laughing and enjoying himself. “The kiss–”
A nasty snicker vibrated his throat. “What about it?”
She stumbled on her words. It was too great a vulnerability to express what she wanted. She couldn’t give him ammunition.
“Whores get the same treatment.”
Her brows knit as her lips twisted in disgust. Maxim treated her no differently than the women he’s paid. What kind of man brags about such a thing? But she didn’t know Maxim, did she. Kira knew nothing about him, and this was where that became a problem. She was naive to think it would all be a fairytale. The film that she pulled over her eyes was ripped away, and now the world looked darker than it’s ever been.
Maxim fastened upon her, and Kira backed up to the wall, clenching her dress to her body as she met his gaze. There was a craziness to them that Kira hadn’t seen before, but who’s to say it hadn’t been there all along? He placed his hands on each side of her, leaning in. “All you Morozovs are the same. You all lie and cheat to get what you want. You all manipulate and act. You don’t know what’s true. Every word out of your mouth is your father. You’re so far in it, I bet you really think you’re innocent, don’t you? You play the good daughter, the dutiful wife, the sweet mother, the perfect friend. But it’s all about who you can use.” He looked down at her chest and yanked the dress off. The flinch said it all. He cackled low. “You want me to fuck you? Huh?” His fingertips graced her arm, and she shivered in fear. She squeezed her lips tight as a tear fell down her cheek. Maximgrabbed her jaw, forcing her gaze on him. “You want to have my child? Or does Yakov want to solidify the contract?” He sneered. “Get out.” He pushed away, and Kira ran.
Chapter three
Distant
Kira sat outside on the balcony, overlooking a plain garden. She sipped her tea, barely paying attention to the servants darting around. After spending much of the night crying, Kira deduced that this was all just a misunderstanding and that Maxim and she needed to talk. ‘Communication was key,’ wasn’t that what all those marriage books said? She read a few in preparation, hoping to come into this with her best foot forward. But none of them talked about what to do if your spouse didn’t want to touch you.
It can be fixed,she assured herself.
Kira set her cup down in preparation and waited for her husband to join her for breakfast. The muffins sat just out of reach, and though her gaze kept coming back to them, sherefused to give in. It was annoying to accept that she ate more when she was upset. It was something Yakov pointed out years ago as an offhand comment, but one that stuck with her. Every time she was angry, sad, or aggravated, and she was searching the cabinets for a snack, her father’s comment would push her out of the room and away from the temptation.
