Page 63 of Ashes

It doesn’t matter.

I trust Victor, and he trusts me.

We can do this.

“I think we should discuss this. In private,” Victor says to my father with a smile.

“That’s a good idea,” my father says.

As the two of them get to their feet, Victor’s gaze briefly meets mine.

My father isn’t so attached to his guards as Victor’s is, so it’s easier to get him away.

Now I hope my part of the plan will work too.

I wait for Victor and my father to leave.

“Would you like some more wine?” I spring to my feet, grabbing the bottle.

I tip over the bottle and spill most of the wine on Victor’s father.

“Oops,” I say.

He mutters a curse, and then his gaze narrows at me as he gets to his feet. “What have you done?”

“It wasn’t on purpose. I’m sorry.” But I know I don’t look sorry at all.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see my mother open her mouth, but she doesn’t dare to say anything.

“You little bitch! Your husband needs to teach you a lesson.” He roughly grabs my arm, pulling me with him.

“No! Let go of me!” I pretend to struggle.

His guards move as he drags me with him, but he lifts his hand to stop them.

After all, I’m just one silly little girl.

What possibly could I do to him?

“Let go of me!” I shout. “You have no right!”

“Where is your husband?” He looks into one of the rooms, but Victor and I left all the doors open on purpose so his father would know the only closed door had to be where he’d find him.

Victor’s father finds the right door and shoves it open.

Victor and my father are sitting at a small table in the corner of the room, away from the door.

“You need to control your wife!” Victor’s father snaps as he pushes me so hard that I fall to the floor.

The door closes behind us on its own.

Victor jumps to his feet. “What the fuck are you doing, Father?”

“Your stupid wife spilled wine all over me! On purpose!”

“I’m sure it was an accident,” Victor says, and I see him reach into his pocket where I know his phone is.

“No, it wasn’t, and I expect she’ll be punished for her insolence.” Victor’s father turns to leave, but when he tries the handle, he can’t open the door because Victor locked it remotely through an app on his phone. “What’s wrong with this door?”