“You look beautiful tonight,” Dion says as the car stops in front of the concert hall, his gaze roaming over my body appreciatively. “I’m sorry I’ll have to miss your concert, Faye.”
I try to force a smile, but all I accomplish is making him frown in concern. He reaches for me and gently tucks my hair behind my ear. The way he studies me is unnerving. He does this sometimes; he stares at me as though he can see everything I try so hard to hide, and it scares me.
“You’re nervous,” he murmurs. “I thought you’d be used to playing in front of a crowd by now, but I suppose it never gets any easier. Think about what I said, Faye. If you feel like you need a break, take one.”
I nod absentmindedly, unable to tell him the truth. How do I explain that it isn’t performing that I fear — it’s my father? It’s only been a week since our wedding, but in that time, I’ve started to feel at home in Dion’s house. For a few days, I felt safe and comfortable, and the thought of returning to the reality that awaits me is terrifying.
Dion has treated me with such kindness and care that it’s been easy to forget about everything but him. We’ve fallen into a routine of sorts. I spend my days much the same as I used to, focusing primarily on piano practice, while the time I used to spend preparing for the wedding is now spent on charities and foundations. Dion has offered me a lot more help than I’d expected. I thought he’d ignore me for the most part, as he did in the years before our marriage, but he’s been incredibly attentive.
He went back to work the Monday after our wedding, but he’s made it home for dinner every night, taking his time to chat with me and enquire about my day. It’s been surreal to have dinner without a single hint of fear, and I doubt he has any idea how much I’ve come to enjoy it. I’ll miss it while he’s away.
“Will you be okay during your flight?” I ask carefully.
He smiles at me and nods. “Yeah,” he murmurs. “Don’t you worry, Faye. I’ll be fine, I promise. If the deal negotiations proceed as expected, I’ll be back in two days.”
I nod in understanding. If he doesn’t get the paperwork signed before then, I’ll have to join him in Canada so we don’t breach his grandmother’s terms.
“It’ll be odd to fall asleep without you in my arms,” he murmurs.
I look up sharply, my face heating.
“I think I’ll miss this hot little mouth,” he whispers, leaning in. His lips brush against mine, and I melt into him, instantly kissing him back. It isn’t just at dinner that Dion has been trying to get to know me — he’s made every effort to learn all about my body too, and I’ve enjoyed it more than I care to admit. With each day that passes, I find myself more intrigued by him. Nothing about our marriage is what I expected it to be.
He pulls away and drops his forehead to mine. “Be good for me while I’m away,” he orders, his voice soft. He cups my cheek and looks into my eyes, his gaze searching. Surely he doesn’t still think I’d go behind his back and contact Eric? I nod at him, uncertain what to say. How would he respond if I admit it hadn’t even occurred to me? That I haven’t wanted to.
Dion presses a lingering kiss to my forehead and sighs. “Go,” he murmurs. “I’ll see you in two days.”
I nod as Garret opens the door for me, my eyes trailing back to Dion one last time before I exit the car. For years I was scared of him, now I find myself scared without him. His mere presence is soothing to me, as though nothing can harm me when he’s by my side, and to a certain extent, that’s true.
My steps are reluctant as I head toward my dressing room, where I know my father is waiting for me. This building and the room I’m standing in front of are so familiar, yet they feel foreign. Never before have I been so reluctant, so defeated.
It wasn’t until I carefully opened my dressing room door that I realized what had changed. I never quite understood how powerful it would be to have someone in my life who treats me with respect and kindness, and who gives me the freedom to speak my mind without fear of retaliation.
I’m not foolish enough to take it for anything other than the alliance it is — I hold no romantic notions toward my husband, not even when his gaze fills with passion, or when he tells me how perfect he thinks I am. I’m aware he’s making the best of the situation we were forced into, but even so, I’m grateful for it, because it’s far more than I’d expected.
“Faye,” my father sneers as I walk in. “You’re late.”
My entire body tenses at the sound of his voice, resignation washing over me. “I’m sorry, Father,” I reply immediately, deep shame taking root in my stomach. I hate the helplessness I feel, and far worse, I hate how selfish I’ve been. For a couple of days, I allowed myself to forget about Abigail and my sisters.
“Come here,” he says, his eyes blazing with fury.
I’m trembling as I walk up to him, my steps reluctant. My stomach twists violently, and I take a steadying breath as his hand wraps around my throat. “You dare make me wait now?” he asks.
I shake my head and swallow hard. “N-no, Father. I… I had to wait for Dion. H-he insisted we drive t-together.”
He loosens his hold on me then, seemingly pleased. “Good,” he murmurs, letting his hand fall away. I don’t dare move, but every instinct in my body is telling me to get out of his reach. “I suppose that’s something, but it doesn’t explain why he’s leaving you all alone after barely a week of marriage. Why is he going on a weekend away with his secretary, Faye? You couldn’t even keep him invested for a week? Surely having a young, innocent wife should be thrilling for him? It should’ve been enough to divert his attention away from Maria, but I shouldn’t be surprised that you aren’t even good at keeping your legs spread. Pathetic.”
I look down at the floor, unable to bear the hatred in his eyes after being enveloped in kindness for days. Dion built me up, only to make the fall harder. I’ve never felt quite as worthless as I do right now, and I hate the way Father is making me doubt Dion. It hadn’t even occurred to me he’d be alone with Maria all weekend.
“Try harder,” he warns. “You need to get pregnant. Once you two have a child, he’ll never be able to leave you. Seduce him, play every trick in the book. Do whatever you must, but you’d better get pregnant as soon as you can. If you don’t, he’ll throw you out in three years and we’ll lose access to the Windsors.”
I can feel bile rise up my throat and swallow it down. The thought of deceiving and entrapping Dion in that way sickens me more than anything else ever has. Getting married was supposed to be the solution to all our problems. I thought the girls and I would finally get a reprieve, that things would finally get better. I’ve never been more wrong.
I’ll always be trapped, and there’s no escape.
