Page 70 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Emmie assures me.

“You’ve met my parents, right?”

“Barely.”

I sigh, hating all this weight that’s pressing down on my shoulders right now.

Their expectations are exhausting. Good grades, a respected university, a worthwhile degree, a worthy husband and as many little boys as possible that I can force out of my vag to continue the empire.

I guess it doesn’t sound all that awful. Life could certainly be worse, but that doesn’t mean I’m happy about what my future holds right now.

I want to make my own choices. Not that I know what they would be right now. I just know I want them. I want control over my life, and it just constantly feels like it’s slipping through my fingers like sand.

“You guys ready to head out?” I ask, sliding my mug back while my stomach churns a little. I may have overdone it a little on the sweet treats. Or it could just be dread that I’ve got to go through everything in my room and see what that idiot ruined when he decided to pull that stunt last night.

“Yeah, I’m riding my sugar high nicely right now,” Emmie announces.

“Let’s go then.”

I slide out of the booth and alert Iris to my presence.

“Calli,” she calls, a wide smile curling at her lips.

Walking over, I plaster my own smile on my face.

“Hi, how are you? Hi, Jerome.”

He glances up at me, and I swear his cheeks heat at my presence despite the fact that he spent most of the afternoon in the library with me.

“We’re really good, sweetheart. I love your new hair.”

“Oh, thanks. Mum’s not all that thrilled about it,” I mutter.

“It really suits you. Don’t you think, Jerome?”

I’m sure if I could see through the table I would have watched her kick him in the shin.

“Uh… yeah. It looks… beautiful.”

Someone behind me coughs to smother their laughter. I’d put money on it being Emmie.

“Th-thank you,” I whisper, squirming on my feet and more than ready to get away.

“I must get in touch with your mum, see if we can organise a family meal again. It’s been too long.”

I mutter some kind of agreement before Stella steps up beside me.

“Hi, I’m Stella.”

“Doukas, right?” Iris asks.

“The one and only.” She grins wide, her eyes shifting between both of them—not that Jerome really looks up from the table.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much.”

“All good, I hope,” Stella teases. “We’re sorry to be bores, but we need to steal Calli away. We’re just having a break before we go and study.”

“Oh, of course. You guys go and do your thing. We’re doing the same, actually. Jerome is feeling the pressure of his upcoming exams too. We understand.”

“Thank you. See you soon,” I say in a rush before being dragged out of the café by Stella.

“Jesus, what the hell was that?” Emmie asks once the door is firmly closed behind us. “He’s like… I don’t even know.”

“Smothered. He’s the baby of the family, it’s always been the same,” I explain. “If you get him alone, he’s not actually so…”

“Pathetic?” Stella helpfully suggests.

“He’s a nice guy, he’s just being crushed by his family and their expectations of him.”

Something I understand all too well.