For all my protective instincts, I couldn't shield her from the fate her brothers orchestrated.
Now she’s doomed to a life of misery that will likely be cut short.
Second, I never gave her what we both desperately wanted.
Those stolen moments in the car, at the florist, I should have taken them all.
I should have kissed her until she couldn't breathe, touched her until she couldn't think, loved her until she understood she deserved more than being chattel.
Now it’s too late.
15
VALENTINA
I sit at my window overlooking the garden as I’ve done nearly 24/7 since that awful afternoon at Maksim’s five days ago.
Alessandro came to see me that evening asking about Maksim.
At first, I tried to be brave, brush off the vile behavior.
That is until I realized that Alessandro felt Cristian overreacted. At that point, I shared everything Maksim said to me, including things he wanted me to do with my mouth. Surely, he’d call off the wedding now.
But he didn’t. He simply said that I should stay home and avoid all this.
“Right. Why worry about it now? I’ll have the rest of my life to suck his dick.”
For a moment, I thought Alessandro might slap me. He took a breath. “You agreed to this, Valentina. Maybe it’s our fault for giving you so much involvement in the family business. But surely, you understood that once a deal is made, it needs to be honored. There’s no backing out without making things even worse than before we started.”
Since then, I’ve hidden in my room. I haven’t seen Cristian, but I’m hopeful he’s working to fulfill his promise to me.
"Miss Valentina?" Maria knocks softly before entering with fresh linens. "Would you like me to draw you a bath?"
I shake my head. "Has my brother received any calls today?"
"I wouldn't know, Miss."
When she leaves, I return to my vigil at the window. Part of me feels relief that there is no news.
But another part knows that means the wedding will proceed as usual.
My forged letter requesting a delay for security concerns has gone unanswered.
I'd imagined it might buy us weeks, maybe even months, enough time for Cristian to find another way.
But the letter has apparently vanished.
No acknowledgment, no outrage, no consequences.
Just silence.
Perhaps it never reached Maksim. Or worse, he read and dismissed it without a second thought, recognizing it as the pathetic stalling tactic of a frightened bride.
All hope vanishes. Soon, I'll walk down the aisle toward a man who makes my skin crawl. I'll speak vows binding me to a monster. And there’s nothing I can do about it.
And Cristian…
Has he given up on me? Where is he?
