28
Aleksandra
The day of the wedding…
I have no way of contacting Antonio again. I still don’t have a phone. Mine was abandoned at Antonio’s home, and Mikhail has forbidden me from contacting the outside world.
The engagement party was a rouse.
I’m to marry Luka tonight.
And if that’s not bad enough, we’re leaving for Russia tomorrow. A country that I haven’t visited since I was a child. It’s not my home, and I suspect it isn’t Luka’s, either. But Mikhail has made the arrangements, setting us up with a place to live, travel documents, and transportation.
And Luka knows better than to defy Mikhail.
Unlike Antonio, who refuses to bow down to my brother or anyone else, Luka would never betray his boss.
To Luka, I will always come second.
It’s never been about what I want. It’s always been about what’s best for Mikhail, and getting us out of the country and away from him is his priority. But it’s not best for the twins or me.
The staff around the house are bustling around getting ready for the wedding. I’m trying not to puke.
Do I lie to Luka and tell him I’m pregnant with Antonio’s child?
I doubt that would help. Luka has already agreed to be a father to Sophia and Liam. While he isn’t particularly warm or friendly with the children, he isn’t cold-hearted, either.
But he isn’t their father, and I don’t love Luka.
Will Antonio show up tonight, and if he does, will he arrive before the wedding? I told him seven o’clock, but the wedding has been moved up to two hours.
There’s a wedding gown in my room, hanging on the back of the door.
The sun is setting, and all I can think about is taking the kids and running. But we wouldn’t get far without help.
And Luka isn’t going to help me flee.
While he doesn’t love me, he won’t betray Mikhail.
* * *
Day fades to night. I wear the dress required, not because I want to, but because there is little choice. Whether I wear a wedding gown, sweatpants, or nothing, I will still be forced to endure a wedding against my will.
The dress fits well, considering I had no say in picking it out or trying it on previously. There are plenty of gowns in my bedroom closet that they likely used one to determine my size.
I’ll require help with zipping the back, but I refuse to struggle and try to do the task on my own.
“Mama!” Sophia shouts as she beats on the door with her fist, and it flings open in haste. The girl knows to knock, but she doesn’t understand the principle of waiting to be let inside. And there’s no lock from the inside on my door.
Anyone can come and go as they please, which irritates me to my wit’s end.
Sophia is dressed in a daisy yellow dress. It’s frilly and fancy, and she twirls around to show me the new gown that she’s been gifted to wear tonight. “I look like a princess!” she squeals with laughter.
Liam tramples into the room a few moments later. He looks incredibly dashing in his black suit and white dress shirt. His face is wearing a scowl, his cheeks red.
He stomps on the wooden floor and hands me his matching daisy yellow tie. “Help,” he says, thrusting the bowtie at me.
Liam doesn’t appear the least bit pleased to be dressing up for tonight, and I’m not sure if he even understands what’s going on, that his mother is being forced to marry a man she doesn’t love.