Big mistake.
I bit down as hard as I could, and I didn’t let go until I tasted blood.
He screamed and quickly pulled his finger away from me. “You fucking bitch.”
I glared up at him, bracing myself for the hit. Sure enough, his palm connected with my cheek in a forceful slap. Tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t back down.
He grabbed a fistful of my hair and pulled until I was looking up at him.
“I hope he fucking breaks you on your wedding night. I heard the bastard has a real fondness for blood.”
Then he kissed me. I moved my head to the side, using my palms against his chest to push him away.
He relented when my foot hit his shin, and he cursed under his breath before moving away from me. He had never attacked me like this during any of my visits before. This was different, and I didn’t know why that was. His eyes shrouded in hatred, and I swore I caught a glimpse of bitterness in them as well.
I thought back to his words.
Who was he talking about?
He shot me a loathsome look before walking out the door. I ran my shaky fingers through my hair, trying to make myself look normal again before I stood and grabbed my clothes. I quickly changed, afraid of either Dr. Russo or Father walking in.
Thankfully, they left me alone, and when I finished, I left my hospital gown on the exam table, looking at the stirrups in disgust before coming out of the room. Father was talking to Dr. Russo like they were old friends, and I supposed in a way they were. Dr. Russo treated all of Father’s men whenever they got injured.
I stayed at my father’s side and looked down at my feet. I had on a pair of white tennis shoes today, with dark blue jeans and a pink cardigan. Most of my wardrobe was pink.
I hated pink.
But all my clothes had been picked out or approved by Father, and he seemed to think pink matched me.
I knew why.
Pink, like innocence.
Like naiveté.
Likevirgin.
I was twenty-two years old, and I had never even kissed a boy. I was not counting what happened in the exam room with Dr. Russo as my first kiss. I didn’t kiss him back.
My first kiss would be given, not stolen.
My shoulders sagged a bit from the thought. There was no such thing as a given kiss in my world.
But that was the least of my problems.
My impending marriage, on the other hand …
Father was picking out my future husband, and in return for agreeing to marry the Mute Princess, the man would get my virginity.
I knew Father wouldn’t agree to me marrying just about anyone.
This person had to be powerful or rich enough to help Father with his empire.
Age, looks, and disposition would be very low on the list of qualifications.
It didn’t matter that he might be abusive. Or old enough to be my grandpa.
Just as long as he helped with Father’s bottom line. And judging by what Dr. Russo had said in the exam room, it looked like Father already found the man.