I smile to myself, the tears now flowing down my face. “It truly is. I was allowed to go to public school, but only because socialization is important for a wife. What I studied never mattered. He never cared about my grades. All he cared about was how I portrayed the family. Until you, I’ve never even felt like I had anyone to talk to. Which is crazy because you are the last person I should be talking to. Especially in secret behind my family’s back.” I sigh.
“I’m the exact person you need to talk to. I don’t want you to worry about this whole arranged marriage thing. Instead, focus on keeping yourself safe and getting to know me. I promise that with me, you will never be lonely.”
I bark out a laugh through my tears. “You are cocky as hell.”
“I’m confident. There’s a difference.”
“Oh yeah? Do tell.”
“Cocky men think they have it in the bag. Confident men know they might not but are willing to do everything they can to make it happen. I’m confident I’ll win your hand. It’s inevitable. I’ve already claimed you as mine. Only death will separate us now.”
A shiver runs down my spine at his words, but it’s not unpleasant.
Not at all.
For the first time in my life, I feel alive.
It’s not until much later after we’ve talked for hours that I look the symbol next to his name up. I’m nervous. He said it would scare me.
When the search result finally pulls it up, my heart catches.
Husband.
She has gotten under my skin. After talking to her tonight on the phone, it only solidified my feelings for her.
Hearing about how her father treats her? I want to murder him per usual, but for once it isn’t for a selfish reason.
No, I want him to suffer for making her suffer. For making her feel like she lost him when he’s still alive and breathing.
I may not have had a great relationship with my father but hearing her talk about the man she grew up with tells me she did.
I wonder what made him switch. Was it because she became a teen? Hit puberty? Started getting attention from men?
Whatever it is, he deserves a slow, painful death for making her feel alone in her own home. For not loving her the way she deserves.
I will change that.
I could tell how her mood changed the more we talked. I used all the charm I had to keep her laughing, even if I knew I was making a fool of myself.
For her, it doesn’t matter.
I would do anything for her.
As soon as she hangs up, I dial another number.
“What?” Callum’s voice fills the line.
“When do I get my second date?”
He chuckles. “Why the rush? She still hasn’t been out with the Russian.”
I tense, the thought of that lot getting a hold of her. I hear the Russians in the west aren’t bad, but the ones from the motherland are the worst of the worst. The laws there are so lax that they treat their women like cattle. They breed them and use them as property.
“If he touches her, I will kill him,” I seethe.
Callum lets out a sound of surprise. “Why would you do that?”
I clear my throat. “Never mind. Call me as soon as the date is done. I want my second date scheduled.”
