He had known all along. This entire time.
Had that been the real reason he wanted me to marry Stefan? Some kind of insurance policy, to prove his loyalty to Konstantin? Or were they in this together? Associating with my father would have lent KZ Modeling an air of legitimacy, protected them against any accusations of wrongdoing. Meanwhile, the agency could return the favor by offering my father campaign money and a network of political support. My marriage would have sealed the deal.
But if this was all true, then…
I heard movement behind me and turned to find Stefan standing in the doorway, his jaw clenched. It was clear he’d just heard everything that had passed between my father and me. And even worse, I saw resignation on his handsome face.
No surprise, no disgust.
He had known about the prostitution ring, too.He had always known.
My father-in-law, my father, and my husband were all involved in exploiting vulnerable women for profit, for the pleasure of rich, careless men. As if their bodies were nothing more than shiny objects to play with, commodities to be bought and sold—and violated. And I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about the whole reason they’d been victimized to begin with…it was the same exact reason I’d ended up involved in this situation myself. We’d all wanted a chance at a better life.
And we’d all been betrayed. Some of us had been hurt worse than others. I knew that, compared to them, I’d been handed what looked like a winning lottery ticket. But in the end, we’d all been forced into service, had been offered something that sounded like a dream come true and had instead found ourselves living in a nightmare.
I had never felt so deceived…and so trapped.
Just remembering the dirty money I’d spent on clothes and spa treatments made me sick.
I looked at the both of them, shaking my head. I had always known my father would go to any lengths to secure his legacy. His position of power. But I had never believed he would stoop to these levels to get what he wanted. I never believed he would be this corrupt.
And Stefan. The nights we’d shared together, the dreams we’d confessed. This was his dream? The company he’d spent years working himself to the bone to gain control of? The ‘path’ he’d self-righteously talked about forging?
I backed toward the door. I couldn’t stand to be near either one of them.
I had believed that by marrying Stefan, I would be free from the control of men like my father. That I’d be able to make my own way, on my own terms. Instead, I found myself trapped in a marriage—in a life—defined by lies and corruption.
And the worst part was, regardless of everything that had happened, and despite everything I now knew about Stefan…I still loved him.
Our eyes met, and in his cold green gaze I saw nothing but walls. I had no idea what he was thinking. His face was impassive, and he still hadn’t said a word. The man I’d give myself to, body and soul. The man I’d thought I would build a life with. This was the man I loved.
But I knew the truth now.
The question was—what was I going to do with it?
* * *
