“Oh, look at that, he’s leading by example!” A quiet chuckle escaped her lips.
“Can you please put down the bottle?” I asked politely.
“Why? Because you said so?”
“Because you’re drunk.”
“No, I’m not.” She hiccupped, the sound like a tiny drumbeat in the room. “I’m just intoxicated by alcohol.”
I rose to my feet and began walking toward her with quiet footsteps.
She made a funny face, hiding the bottle behind her back. “You don’t scare me, Adrik. You’re just a man. Not a god.”
I halted in front of her. “Gimme the bottle.”
She looked right into my eyes. “Only if you ask nicely.”
I locked my jaw and exhaled sharply. “Please, give me the bottle.”
Her lips twisted into a mischievous grin. “No.”
I frowned. “Don’t make me take it from you.”
Her scowl deepened. “Why are you so obsessed with control, hmm?” she snapped.
Silence.
“That’s not a rhetorical question; I need an answer,” she began, the words spilling out in a nervous rush. “Why do you always feel the need to control everyone and everything around you?”
I sensed the pain in her voice, and it broke something in me.
“You’re at war with my grandfather, a ruthless, selfish man who dragged me into this world of death and destruction!” she continued, her tone dripping with frustration. “I just wanna be safe from all this chaos—to get away from both of you!”
I didn’t say a word. I just listened.
She looked up at me. “The truth is, Adrik, ever since I married you, my life has sucked!”
That hurt me more than I cared to admit. It struck me like a bullet to the heart.
“It’s been one near-death experience after another, and I’m tired!” Her voice broke under the weight of all that emotion rushing through her blood. “I’m tired, okay!”
Her words shattered my stone-cold heart in ways I never imagined.
“I’m sorry I ran away, but I never would’ve broken our contract if my life weren’t in danger all the time!”
Silence.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her voice returned to normal. “I have a sick mother, Adrik.” She swallowed, her lips quivering in fear. “She’s in the hospital fighting for her life, and I should be by her side. But I’m not. You wanna guess why?”
I stared at her with an unwavering gaze, silently sharing pain.
She spread her arms wide. “Because I’m here. With you.” She jabbed my chest with her finger. “Playing wifely roles just so ‘my grandfather’ could secure an alliance with your family.” She let out a soft scoff. “Isn’t it crazy how the two families my sacrifice was supposed to unite now want to kill each other?”
I watched her raise the bottle and begin gulping uncontrollably.
“Emika….” I reached to take it from her.
She glared at me and swallowed hard. “Don’t touch me!” She lowered the bottle, tears trickling down her cheeks. “You’re all the same—all of you!”
