“I don’t want anything from you.”
“You’re getting it anyway.” He flips open the lid. A necklace sits nestled in black velvet. Diamonds.
Intricate and dazzling.
But I know what this is . . . while it might look like jewelry, it’s nothing more than a shackle.
“A wedding gift.” He lifts it delicately between his fingers.
“A nice gift would be an annulment,” I fire back.
“That would be a gift for you,” he counters. “This is for me.”
I take a step back. “I said no.”
He takes a step forward. “I didn’t ask.”
His hand goes to the back of my neck, and he draws me close, the clasp clicking into place like a lock.
The metal is cold against my skin, and a shiver runs down my back.
It’s from the necklace…
Oh, who am I kidding? It’s from him.
His breath drags along my shoulder blade as he leans in. “Now,” he whispers, thumb brushing the frantic beat in my throat, “you’ll remember what you are. Mine.”
My whole body goes rigid.
I shove his hand away and lift my chin in defiance. “You don’t own me.”
His smile sharpens. “I bought your silence. Your family’s stability. Your future.” He tilts his head, eyes cutting. “Call it whatever you must.”
“You’re disgusting.”
“And you’re glowing in diamonds. My diamonds.” His low timbre makes my knees wobble. “I’d say the arrangement is working.”
“I hate you.”
He shrugs, the movement casual, almost bored. “Hatred looks good on you.”
I want to rip the necklace off and throw it in his face.
Instead, I walk out without another word, because if I open my mouth again, I’ll either scream or cry, and I refuse to give him either as a gift.
I can feel his gaze between my shoulder blades as I go, like a blade sliding down my spine.
The necklace digs into my skin like a chain.
Once I’m back in the hallway, I yank it off with both hands, the clasp snapping open with a tiny, violent pop.
I stare at the diamonds in my palm.
I should smash it.
Throw it out the window.
Drop it down a drain.
