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Pain splinters across my head, in the back of my eyes, as it travels down my neck and disperses across my shoulders. The feeling of being crushed by Chase becomes overwhelming, and as I try to hit my head against the wall for the final time, he pushes my head back to stop me. “Tell me you still love me,” He demands with hope glinting in his eyes. “After today, I will never utter such words to you.” I sob, feeling defeated. “LIAR!” He roars. “You will love me until the very end, Keri.” Enraged, he releases my head from his grip and punches the wall beside my face. I jump, crying out with fright as shock and panic seep into my pores. Tears blur my vision as it becomes difficult for me to inhale a full breath of air into my starving lungs. A blurry figure steps through the door, it drops something on top of the coffee table as it rushes towards me too. I scream, struggling against Chase as terror fills me. Has this figure come into my home to rob me, will I be subjected to another
As I wait for the kettle to boil to make myself a cup of coffee, I look around my living room and make a mental note to find a local handyman to come through and fix the body-sized holes that currently decorate my living room walls. After Tobias had left last night, I sat in my living room stricken by shock for what seemed like a lifetime. I clung to the blanket wrapped around me like it was a lifeline while I tried to process everything that happened. My outlook on life has changed. I use to live by the quote: Live like someone is watching you dance as tomorrow is never promised. Now I think I’ll live by the quote: Some people will only like you if you fit into their box. Don’t be afraid to disappoint and say no to those that are too big for your box. As the kettle boils, I remember seeing Tobias throw something down on the coffee table, but as he left, he did not retrieve it. I push off the countertop with my hip and make my way to the coffee table. As I recalled, he did indee
“I wouldn’t hold my breath trying to figure it out,” I reply in a husky tone, swallowing thickly as my cheeks start to feel like they are on fire.Before I can predict his next move, Tobias's hand plunges into the scalp of my head, stopping me from pulling away from him, and tugs at the roots of my hair.“That’s the difference between you and me spitfire. I am willing to do the things you aren’t.”Licking the seams of my lips, my gaze drops to his mouth, and instantly I feel sick to my stomach. I hate that after all these years, he is still able to read me like an open book and stroke the desire that still yearns for him even after all this time and after everything that has happened between us.“I’m not in the mood for your bullshit, Landry.”I watch as his gaze drops to my lips too, “I can get you in the mood.”“I’m not interested.”Tobias releases me, standing to his full height, and I am forced to step away from him. He turns his back to me as he looks out of his office window.
As Tobias leans back in his chair and looks at me in a full of amusement, scrutinizing manner, that rubs me the wrong way. I open my mouth to tell him that if I agree to his proposal, he is to step away from Appleton Bakery and let me run my business how I see fit. But before I can utter a single word, my phone blares to life. Exhaling loudly out of my nose, I straighten while I extract my phone from my bag. My heart plummets into the pit of my stomach when I see who it is that is calling me. A coincidence maybe? Lifting a finger, I gesture to Tobias to hold that thought as I make my way to the far end of his office and answer the call. “Mr. Jameson, this is a surprise. Is everything okay?” I ask him in a hushed tone with my back facing Tobias. “Good morning, Keri. I’m afraid not, we need to talk urgently.” My accountant says in a grim tone, telling me shit’s about to hit the fan. I swallow thickly, “I’m all ears.” "I'm sorry, Keri, but the bakery simply isn't profitable enoug
Sitting down on the sofa in nothing but a silk robe, I recall the events that happened this morning in Tobias's office, skipping straight to the end where I eventually agreed to marry him. After he had declared that he wouldn’t touch me unless I beg him. I shoved him away from me, watching as a cocky smile erupted across his face before I marched across his office to where the contract sat on his desk, and I signed it with trembling hands. “There. It is done.” I hissed, dropping the pen on his desk as I spun around to face him, feeling like I had signed my soul over to the devil himself. “I get to keep my bakery, and you get your inheritance.” Tobias had rocked on the heels of his feet, shoving his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “I will have Melanie pick up our Marriage Certificate by the end of tomorrow.” He declared in a stern voice. I couldn’t help but shake my head while I scoffed at the same time. “I'm not concerned about the details, Landry. The quicker we get this don
"Now that you know I am here at the hotel, you can leave.” “Not before I give you this.” He says as he reaches into the back pocket of his jeans. “I should wait, but seeing you like this, in nothing but a silk robe… I have to see it on you, now.” Tobias opens a square jewelry box that contains a diamond-and-ruby-encrusted necklace. I gasp, placing a hand over my mouth as my eyes widen with shock. “I can’t accept this.” “You can and you will, Keri. After tonight, you will be known as the future Mrs. Landry and you need to look the part.” He says in a firm tone that is laced with a challenge for me to defy him. After a moment of admiring the necklace's shimmering beauty in the light, I turn to face the mirror on the wall, gather my hair in my hand, and offer him the privilege of putting it on me. Watching him in the mirror, Tobias delicately removes the necklace from the box before he snaps it shut and tosses it onto the sofa. He moves to stand behind me, pausing when he looks up a
Upon entering the living room, I pause at the threshold, my gaze rivets on Tobias’s back as he stands tall, looking out the window that oversees the city’s bright lights. My heart rate spikes with both desire and animosity. I have never felt so disgusted in myself for letting my guard down and allowing him to touch me in such a manner that had my toes curling, and me screaming his name like it was a fucking prayer. I could murder him. A life for a life. But I’ll have to wait until after we are married, so I’ll at least get to keep my bakery through our marital status. Shaking my head, I rid myself of the homicidal thoughts crossing through my mind. Gah! He truly does know how to bring the worst out of me without even trying. I continue to stare at him, marvelling as his reflection reveals a contemplative mood. His gaze is unfocused and his lips are drawn into a grim line. I wonder if he feels absolutely disgusted by his actions too… His folded arms betray an intrinsic unea
The limousine comes to a standstill and I look out the window with a silent prayer of gratitude playing on the tip of my tongue.I am at a loss and stunned into silence by Tobias’s confession with his use of vulgar words orchestrated at me. But it is also comforting to witness the struggle and torment blanketing him as he is realising his self-control is slipping through the hot tips of his fingers.He returns the bottle and glass to the mini bar, combs his fingers through his slick hair, and he exits the limo with a frustrated grunt. I wait for a beat or two to exit after him as he offers me his hand. Placing my left hand in his, I try not to indulge in the way his large hand swallows mine when he encloses his fingers around my palm and lifts my hand to his lips.“Where is the ring I gave you?” He murmurs, masking his soft, spoken words as he plants a delicate kiss on the back of my hand.My gaze wavers from his as I gulp with the camera flashes bursting around us like fireworks. A