Page 58 of The Pakhan's Forced Bride

I wait, biting my lower lip, anxious and confused.

Ardalion places his handgun on his desk and turns with his back to it, leaning against it.

Finally, he looks at me.

“Ardalion, what just happened?” I ask, my voice small, sounding fragile. I clear my throat and tilt my chin up, searching for my strength.

“I didn’t know he was coming to LA,” he sighs.

“That’s not what I meant, though. I mean—why was he so shocked to see me with you? I thought you were already negotiating with him for my release.”

Ardalion pulls his mouth to the side, biting the inside of his cheek. His silence is annoying me.

“Didn’t you tell him you had taken me?” I ask, getting angry.

“I didn’t,” he admits.

“Why? Wasn’t this a revenge thing, or a blackmail, or a ransom thing? What was the point of kidnapping me if you weren’t going to use me as a tool to get what you wanted?”

He shakes his head. For some reason, he has no answers for me.

I’m no expert on kidnapping, but this doesn’t make any sense.

I hate the fact that my brother and Ulyana have been worried sick about me. I hate the fact that Ardalion won’t tell me what’s going on.

The silence between us grows louder, building a wall and pushing us apart.

I can’t take it anymore.

“I’m going home,” I say, barely a whisper. My energy is completely drained from my body. Today was supposed to be special. I can’t believe how quickly it all went wrong.

I walk towards the office door, pausing to look at the picnic basket, lying on its side, the contents fallen out.

I don’t even have the strength to pick it up, so I just carry on walking.

I feel numb inside as I walk towards the elevator.

What worries me is that I don’t know what’s going to happen next. My brother is furious with me. He practically hates me. I can’t go back to Las Vegas until I’ve spoken to him.

But am I still welcome in Ardalion’s home now?

I’m married to him.

But that was for some revenge plot that apparently never happened.

So, what did happen?

The elevator doors close, and I’m carried down to the ground floor, my head spinning with questions and confusion.

Chapter 18 - Ardalion

Belle has been withdrawn for the past two days.

I can’t blame her. The situation that played out in my office was not pleasant. I wish I’d planned more or thought ahead or—anything.

I wish I could have avoided that, but I honestly didn’t expect her to roll up with a picnic basket.

It was sweet.