Page 129 of Beautiful Secrets

Her eyes are glued to mine. And they’re brimming, and I don’t know what that means. Is she happy? Sad? Terrified?

I can’t feel my fingers anymore. When I swallow, I have to do it past my throbbing heart.

“Cole…” Her eyes shift left to right, scanning mine, and that jars free a tear.

Christ, woman! Don’t you get it? It doesn’t matter what the fuck you think about me. This is your chance.

Do it.

Just fucking do it.

She blinks hard. Her mouth trembles.

I take out the ring. It’s an ugly thing, but apparently it’s a fucking heirloom or something. I’m acting like she’s already said yes, reaching for her hand so I can slip it on.

“No.”

Blood roars through my ears. “Mika, please—”

“No, Cole.” She shakes her head, takes a step back. “I will not marry you.”

My chest collapses as my arm drops to my side. The ring falls from nerveless fingertips and bounces onto the carpet.

“Mika…What have you done?” I say.

But it’s barely a whisper.

Behind me, someone laughs.

And I don’t have to turn to know who it is.

Only one person in this room can have a laugh so sinister, so heartless.

I knew the only reason Yuri accepted the deal was because he’s been wanting to kill me ever since he first saw me. I guess it’s that alpha male bullshit. He has everyone cowed—but me.

Why wouldn’t he enjoy slitting my throat?

But first, he’ll have Mika. Not just me watching this time.

That was his deal.

He’ll have her right here, right now.

Again.

Christ…again.

46

Mika

Icannot bear to look at Cole, but at the same time, I am transfixed by the pain on his face. My heart feels like it is being consumed by flame. If someone were to touch me, I would surely crumble to ash.

No.

The word still echoes in my head, clear as a crystal bell.

I know what he was trying to do. He was hoping an arranged marriage would save me. Us. But from the moment I set foot in this room, Yuri has been staring at me like he knows the punch line of a joke that no one’s even started telling yet.