Page 15 of Where Quiet Hearts Scream (Dark Hearts #3)

Andrew reaches inside his jacket and pulls out a small, square box.

I stare at it in disbelief. Trilby gives me a gentle nudge on the shoulder but I’m unable to move.

I can’t say I’ve ever been one to fantasize about my big engagement moment or wedding, but I certainly never expected it to play out this way… Without my consent.

With his gaze still resting heavily on me, Andrew pops open the box and the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen glistens up at me. Trilby gasps.

If the situation were different, it would be perfect. A brilliant cut diamond surrounded by smaller stones set in a platinum band. It looks like it cost as much as Boston and Connecticut.

Trilby gently lifts my left arm by the elbow, raising my hand.

Andrew drops his gaze to the box, carefully lifts out the ring then pauses to glance at my face.

I’m stunned. I can’t believe this is happening.

Fury and despair hover beneath the surface of my skin, confusion being the only thing stopping the darker emotions from bursting out of every pore.

He gently slides the ring onto my finger, the touch of his fingertips sending hot tendrils along my arm. I ignore his gaze and stare, open-mouthed, at the ring on my finger. Trilby rubs a hand up and down my back, drawing my attention to the fact I’m almost hyperventilating.

This moment should be one of the happiest of my life. It should be one that I hold close to my heart, that I treasure, and tell my grandchildren about.

These people— this person —has just robbed me of that. A little bit of fury leaches through to the surface and I want to throw this beautiful piece of craftsmanship across the room.

I dare not look up from the ring as I whisper, “Why did you lie to me?”

He snaps the box closed and pushes it back inside his jacket, then clears his throat. “I didn’t.”

I shake my head, unable to look at him. “Everything you told me was a lie.”

“No,” he insists. “I just didn’t tell you everything. ”

I flash angry eyes up at him. “You said you work in technology .”

“I do.”

“You told me you weren’t Italian.”

“I told you I was born in New York.”

Each time he corrects me or deflects from the real issue, I feel myself getting more wound up.

My teeth grit together. “What do you want from me?”

His head tips to one side as though he shouldn’t have to spell it out. “ Everything .”

His unequivocal response knocks me backward and even Trilby sucks in a breath.

“Why? What could I possibly give you that another woman couldn’t?”

I’m suddenly filled with so much anger that he is seemingly able to get whatever he wants without anyone considering if it’s what I want, and I don’t have any choice in the matter.

“Why would you choose me when I have my own life to live? Why me? You don’t need me to get your hands on a major city. You could have Boston with or without me.”

He shoves his hand back into his jeans pocket.

The kitchen—normally abuzz with clanging equipment and chef chatter—is eerily silent.

“An alliance between me and the Di Santos will create an empire . And, I’m afraid, a signature and a handshake don’t carry the same level of commitment as a wedding band. ”

His eyes are cold. His words are cold. Standing in front of me is not the man who made me smile and listened to my astrology-obsessed waffling. It’s a man who wouldn’t know a smile if it smacked him in the face.

“You could have chosen anyone at the wedding. Most of the women here are related to the Di Santo’s in some way.”

His eyes twitch slightly but the rest of him remains as still as a rock. “I want you .”

I feel like I’m going around in circles and not getting anywhere. I shake my head, suddenly devoid of the energy or inclination to fight.

“And I wanted Andrew Stone,” I say, tipping my chin defiantly. “Not you.”

Something behind his eyes disappears and his shoulders stiffen. He runs his tongue along his teeth, then begins to fasten his jacket.

“The wedding will take place in New York in exactly three months, Sera. We’ve agreed it’s probably best that you return to your parents’ house in Port Washington until then. We’ll spend our wedding night at the Americana and after that you’ll be moving to my home in Massachusetts.”

“What?” My heart bangs against the wall of my chest. “In three months? No! I’m not leaving the Hamptons. I haven’t even finished my internship!”

Surely he’s not serious.

Unfortunately, Andreas’ expression is dead serious as he assesses me coolly. “You’re going to be my wife. And my wife will not be an intern.”

I grip the sides of my face to contain the fury that’s threatening to perforate my skull. “But… this is my dream! You know it is. I told you!”

He continues, seemingly unaffected by the minor stroke I’m having. “You will have much to do as my wife. My reputation is good, and will benefit from having a wife at my side. You might hate this right now, but I assure you that in time, you won’t.”

My arms flop to my sides, helplessly. His face swims beyond the blur of my tears and he runs a hand through his hair.

“I’ll see you in church,” he says dryly, before spinning on his heel and walking away, with Cristiano not far behind him.

To anyone else, those words from that man would bring unadulterated joy. To me, they’re just the prologue to a life filled with nightmares.