Page 13 of Ruthless God

Lina followed close behind me, looking happy.

I knew why.

She escaped the marriage to a monster, and I was now the sacrificial lamb.

“He’s going to break you on your wedding night,” she singsonged, leaving for her room before I could say anything in retort. I didn’t have anything I could say to her, even if she had stayed. I stood in the hallway and stared after her, lingering far longer than I should. Then, I remembered there were strange men in the house, and I quickly moved to my room.

I got ready for bed on autopilot. I didn’t remember much of it, only that I had turned on the water as hot as I could stand and rubbed my skin raw, hoping to be transported to another place, another life where I was someone who had control over her life and not…me.

I didn’t want to be me anymore.

I crawled under the cover after that and pulled the blanket over my head, closing my eyes and trying to sleep, attempting to leave this reality behind.

I dreamed of forest-green eyes chasing me in the woods.

My limbs felt useless as I tried to outrun the monster. I woke up in a cold sweat just before the monster caught me and devoured me whole.

I stoodin the bridal suite alone, staring at myself in the mirror. I had my hair and makeup done already, and the women who helped me had left.

I was waiting for Mom to come by and help me put on the dress.

It was a beautiful princess-style wedding dress that fitted me well and showed off what little curves I had in the best way possible. The lacy long sleeves molded around my arms, and the dress was the perfect blend of modesty and elegance.

Too bad I didn’t feel like a princess, and this wasn’t a fairy tale.

There was no Prince Charming. I looked up at the clock hanging off the wall behind me through the mirror.

Mom was supposed to be here by now. What if… what if she wasn’t coming?

There was no way I could put the dress on myself. There were just too many buttons on the back.

What if I ended up being late to the wedding?

The only thing worse than marrying Massimo De Luca was being late to my wedding with the man.

I wiped my hands nervously down the bathrobe I had on.

Moving over to the doorway, I opened it and peeked my head out. I pulled up short when I saw the two guards who had come with Massimo the night of the dinner. They frowned down at me, making me feel nauseous.

“Is there anything you need, madame?” one of them asked me. I didn’t know the name of either man.

“Um, can you find my mother? I need her help.”

The men glanced at each other before one nodded and walked away. I moved back inside my room and closed the door, pacing around and trying to control my nerves.

Fifteen minutes later, a knock finally came at the door. I rushed forward, opening it and expecting to see my mother.

Instead, Massimo stood there, already dressed in his wedding suit, looking so dangerously handsome that I was left speechless for a long second.

“Luca said you needed help,” Massimo said when I couldn’t make my mouth work right.

I blinked. “I, uh, I was looking for my mom.”

“We can’t find her. What do you need help with?”

I blanched. He was the last person I would want help from with this.

His frown deepened as he stepped inside the room, leaving no other option than for me to back up a step, lest I wanted him to touch me.