Chapter 4 Rest, Little Bride

~Liora~

The room is silent, except for my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. Dad stands behind me, a single plea in his eyes.

"Li, choose me," Adrian says. "We'll figure this out together."

I look at him and I so badly want to believe him. He's the man I love. He's the man I was supposed to marry. But I see the light tremor in his jaw. He can't protect me from Nikolai. No one can.

"Tick tock, little bride," Nikolai murmurs softly, a look of pure pleasure crossing his features. "Don't keep the audience waiting."

Tears gather in the corner of my eyes and I take a good look at everyone in the room. No matter what I do, someone gets hurt.

Adrian shifts closer, shielding me with his body like he’s preparing to fight if he has to. “Liora, look at me. You don’t have to let him win. If we run now—”

“And go where?” Nikolai cuts in, his voice sharp but still unnervingly controlled. “You wouldn’t make it ten steps outside my gates before I drag her back.”

Adrian’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t back down. “She’s not yours,” he says. “She was never yours. You’ve trapped her with threats and lies, but you can’t make her love you.”

Nikolai’s gaze slides to him, and for the first time I catch a flicker of something in his expression. Something.. dark. A shiver runs down my spine.

Liora,” Adrian whispers, pulling my focus back to him. “You know me. You know my heart. We’ve been through everything together. Please baby, just say my name. We’ll get out of this one way or another.”

My chest tightens. Memories rush through me. The first time he held my hand, the way he kissed me on the rooftop in my house, the plans we made for a future.

But now my father is trembling behind Adrian, and I see the terror in his eyes. If I choose Adrian, Nikolai will kill him.

He’ll do it without hesitation.

And that will be on me.

My hands are shaking so badly, I have to clasp them together. "I.."

My words trail off. I don't know what to say.

"Say it, Li," Adrian pleads, desperation coating his voice. "Say my name."

I open my mouth, but the word won’t come. My throat closes up.

“Please,” he whispers, his forehead pressing lightly to mine. “Please don’t let him take you from me. Say my name.”

I want to. God, I want to. But all I can see is Nikolai’s face when he said the words—If you choose the lover boy, Mr. Reynolds dies.

I pull back just enough to see Adrian’s eyes, and I shake my head.

“I.. I can’t,” I whisper.

Confusion flashes in his gaze. “What?”

Hot tears spill down my cheeks. My voice is barely audible. “I choose.. Nikolai.”

Adrian turns rigid.

For the next few seconds, the room turns quiet.

"N.. no," Adrian shakes his head. "You don't mean that, Li. You don't, right?"

I can’t even look at him. I can’t look at my father either, because I know if I see the relief in his eyes, it’ll shatter me.

Nikolai steps forward, his presence filling the space between us. “You heard her,” he says softly. “She made her choice.”

Adrian jerks back, fury blazing through his pain. “You manipulated her! You’re holding her father’s life over her head and calling that a choice? You’re a monster!”

“Perhaps,” Nikolai says, utterly unbothered. "But soon, she'll fall in love with this monster."

Adrian grunts frustratingly. "It isn't too late, baby. He's bluffing, he won't hurt your dad. He just wants you to—"

"That's enough, Calloway," Nikolai interrupts. "She's made her choice. You should leave now, before I forget I'm being generous."

"Li?" Adrian calls softly in pain and I shake my head, tears trickling down my eyes.

His chest heaves, his eyes locking on mine, raw and betrayed. “I’ll come back for you,” he vows, voice cracking. “I don’t care what it takes. I will get you out of here.”

He storms out of the room and I can't even run after him. My feet remains glued to the ground. I.. I chose another man over him. God. What have I done? My heart is splintering in my chest.

"Shouldn't you be happy?" Nikolai raises a brow. "You saved your father. And can you stop crying over a cheat?”

My fists clench. “He’s not a cheat.”

A small, smug smile tugs at Nikolai’s lips. “That’s what you want to believe? Then cling to it, little bride. It’ll make this easier.”

My hands ball into fists. Dad gives me a small smile and it only makes my heart shatter more. Adrian. I need to see him one more time. I need him to know I didn’t choose Nikolai because I stopped loving him. I need to explain and.. apologize.

I hold my gown up, dashing through the corridors, looking for an exit. I finally find one and a car is already pulling away from the parking lot. I run faster, standing in the way of the car until it screeches to a stop. Adrian steps out, his eyes bloodshot. Did he.. cry? I fall into his arms and he holds me close.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, sobbing against his chest. "I really am."

He says nothing in response and I raise my head to look at him.

"Adi?"

"I'm broken, Li," he says, pain coating his voice.

"I.. I'm sorry," I whisper and he wipes my tears with his palm.

"Don't.." he says. "It's not your fault. And I'm never going to give up on you. I love you, Li."

"I love you more," I breathe, then remember the photo. "Nikolai.. he showed me a photo of you and a lady curled up on a bed together. It's fake right?"

His jaw clenches.

"That filthy bastard," he curses, bringing out his phone from his pocket and showing me a photo. "This one right?"

I nod. It's the same picture.

"I told you I was auditioning for a role in a film,” he sighs. “She’s the actress playing my girlfriend. It was a scene. The production manager uploaded behind-the-scenes photos online, and I guess Nikolai found one. I emailed it to you with an explanation so you wouldn’t get the wrong idea.”

A strangled sob escapes me. “I.. I never saw it.”

“I know,” he says softly, cupping my face. “But you have to believe me.. I would never cheat on you, Li. You’re everything to me.”

Relief floods me and I hug him again. Nikolai's smug smile would fall when I tell him I was right after all. My Adrian will never cheat.

"I'll speak to my lawyer friends if there's anyway to null a contract like the one your father signed," Adrian says, pulling back and pressing a kiss on my forehead. "I'll keep in touch with you. If he ever tries something, just one phone call. I'll be here with the police."

I nod. "Thank you so much, Adi."

"That's enough!"

I freeze. Nikolai approaches us, lips set in a stern, disapproving line.

"You’re making a habit of testing my patience, little bride," he says softly, his gaze pinning me in place. "I won't tolerate even a hint of romance between you and him again."

"But—"

“Be quiet.”

I flinch at his tone.

Nikolai’s eyes flick to Adrian. "Leave. Now. Or I will reconsider my generosity."

Adrian looks at me, anguish in his eyes. "Li.."

"It's fine," I whisper, tears slipping down my cheeks. "I'll be fine."

He sighs, pressing his lips together as if swallowing back words. "I'll be back, Li."

He steps back into his car and drives away. I turn to Nikolai.

"Where's my father?"

"Enjoying a cup of tea," he lips curl wickedly. "I'm such a nice man."

I scoff. If only.

"You should go rest," he says, eyes glinting with mischief.

"R.. rest?" I stutter.

"Yes, little bride," he drawls, smiling. "You're going to need it."

"Wh.. what do you mean?"

"By night, we consummate our wedding."

The words slam into me like a physical blow. My throat closes, and I instinctively step back, but his hand shoots out, catching my chin between his fingers.

"Don’t look so pale," he murmurs, tilting my face up to his. "You’re my wife. It’s only natural."

"I.." My voice trembles. "You wouldn’t.."

"Oh, I would," his tone softens in the most chilling way. "And I will. You made your choice, Liora. Now you live with it."

My heart hammers so violently I think it might burst.

I saved my father.

But I think I’ve just sold myself to the devil.