IMOGEN'S POV
"Really?" Elijah seemed genuinely surprised by my response.
I reached for a wine bottle on the table and poured a generous amount into my glass. "Yes," I told him, grabbing the glass and taking a sip of the sweet red wine. "Is there a problem?"
"No."Elijah retorted. "It's just that I expected you to refuse. Your response surprises me."
"It shouldn't," I assured him. "It is really the kindest offer you have given. Because we both benefit from it, while I am trapped in this marriage, I can pursue a man who actually loves me. So when the inevitable happens, it will not feel like I have wasted my youth with you."
I needed to show him that I was unaffected by his cruelty, and somehow, Elijah bought it—hook, line and sinker.
"Exactly." He nodded, munching his rice as a proud smile formed on his face. "We both benefit from this."
My husband had no sanctity for the union of marriage, and he seemed pleased at the idea that another man was going to take his place. I was angry. No. Scratch that. I was furious. How dare he? How dare he think I was that lowly?
I stared at him for maybe a minute as he cleared his plate, excited that I had given in to his proposal so quickly.
He wasn't worth it. I looked down at my plate, struggling to keep the tears in place as I shoved the now tasteless food into my dry mouth and forced myself to swallow.
It was lumpy and went down my throat with a level eight difficulty. But I didn't stop.
"I'll draft a legal document tomorrow." Elijah broke the silence. "But I am curious. Do you have anyone in mind?"
I didn't. I hadn't been a cheating bastard like him. He was the only man I had ever loved. I kept my virginity for him. I kept even my first kiss for him. I bit my lower lip, thinking about the kiss we shared in the church. A kiss that I had believed to be passionate. Perhaps because I was so lacking in that department.
I didn't look at him. Not while my eyes looked polished marbles from the tears that stained them. I picked up my glass filled with wine and took another sip. I welcomed the sweet yet burning sensation that shits through my body when it passed from my tongue into my mouth.
"Yes." I lied.
"That is amazing." He chuckled. "I used to think you were such a saint. I guess not. Who?"
Somehow, the tears in my eyes managed to drain elsewhere. I could taste salt passing from my nostrils to my throat. It must be the wine. I could feel my inhibitions away.
I dared to face Elijah, and I smiled. "Doesn't matter who he is?"
Elijah's face twisted. I wondered if it was because he didn't like that I didn't give him a direct answer or if it was because he realized his curiosity was upsetting me.
"No," he finally spoke. "I guess it is shocking that you had someone in mind. What if... What if this was a legitimate marriage?"
The audacity this man had.
"But it isn't." I chimed in. "You've made that clear to me. So, I do not intend to play by the rules anymore. You weren't the only man who sought my hand in marriage, you know. You were however the only man my parents approved of."
"Ha. I see." Elijah nodded. "Could you pass me the bottle?"
I weighed in two options. I could pour the entire bottle into my glass. But that would cement me as a loser in this game Elijah was playing. I needed to act unaffected. So, I chose peace. I pushed the bottle to his reach.
Elijah grabbed it and poured himself a generous amount. "One more thing, and I hope that you do not mind." He told me.
I stared him dead in the eye, again expecting nothing but the worst. "And what might that be?"
"My woman will be visiting this night." He told me. "I kind of had to push her away from me because of the scathing article that Isaac published. So, she is a bit on edge. Being a woman yourself, you must understand."
I blinked. What happened to staying clean while the reporters were doing a stakeout? Was he that horny? Was he that eager to desecrate this union even more?
"You are bringing your mistress here? Into our matrimonial home?"
Elijah looked like he expected me to just go with it. The confident hold of his glass as he brought it to his mouth and gulped wine in an ungodly amount told me enough. "Is that a problem?" He asked. "If you aren't up for it. I can leave for a hotel, but I figured the house was safer."
My grip tightened on my wine glass. Again, I reminded myself that this man was not worth it.
"I just figured out that since we already agreed to the proposal I brought to the table. You would have no problem with it, " He added, salt in my injury.
The proposal I just agreed to? The proposal I might have refused if I still gave two fucks about this marriage? Elijah was a vile man.
"I have no problem with it," I assured him. "You can bring your mistress."
His eyebrow quirked as he observed me. I tried not to break under his scrutiny.
"Imogen, are you sure?" He asked like he would consider my opinion if I refused him.
I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't let it show. Conceal. Conceal.
"Of course, Elijah," I replied. "This marriage is a farce anyway."
At the exact moment those words were spoken, the doorbell rang.
We both heard it open. There was a minute of hushed conversation before I heard footsteps approach us.
It was the housekeeper, Maggie. She looked uncomfortable as she regarded Elijah—the head of this house.
"Master Elijah, Deborah is here," she informed.
"Oh," Elijah nervously chuckled. "Lead her to my bedroom. Tell her I will be with her shortly."
Maggie gave me the look. I knew what it was. Pity. I hated it for what it was worth. I didn't deserve anyone's pity. I had done nothing to warrant such a vile emotion.
When Maggie vanished to relay my husband's information to his mistress, Elijah turned back to face me, his legal wife.
"Imogen, I have to go."
Suddenly, he was a being full of light. I wanted nothing more than to shove the fork in my hand into his throat and watch the life drain out of him. I was repulsed that such a thought even flashed in my mind. But that was what Elijah was making me into. A beast. A heartless one.
"Have fun." I managed to choke out.
My husband threw a wink in response. "I'll try to keep her out of your hair."
Worse, I chuckled at his evil words. "I sure will appreciate that."
I watched as Elijah left the room with his white and pristine teeth showing. How had it come to this? How had I become nothing more than a pawn in Elijah's game of deceit and betrayal? As I grappled with these questions, a sense of resignation settled over me, the harsh reality of my situation impossible to ignore.
Then insidious rage found me. I picked up the wine bottle I had pushed to Elijah earlier to pour myself some wine. But only a trickle dropped into my cup, and that was it.
Without thinking, I hurled the bottle at the wall, the glass shattering on impact and scattering dark emerald shards across the kitchen floor.
"Oh my God," Maggie exclaimed, rushing to my side.
I didn't want her, or anyone, to see me like this. I had reached my breaking point. Tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably, and my hands trembled with emotion. When I saw Maggie approaching, I couldn't hold back my anguish any longer.
"Leave! Just leave! I'll handle it myself," I shouted, my voice raw and ragged, as bile rose in my throat.
I hurried to find something that could take the mess before my nausea overwhelmed me completely.
In my haste, I found the trashcan and let it all out.
Once I finished retching into the trashcan, I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself.
As I stared at the food I just consumed, my eyes fell upon a crumpled newspaper nestled among the refuse. I recognized it instantly as Isaac's paper. I could still see the words; "The bride that never was" in bold.
A twisted idea began to form in my mind, fueled by anger and desperation.
Revenge.
The thought consumed me, driving out any semblance of rationality. How dare Elijah treat me this way? How dare he betray me so callously?
I snatched up the newspaper, the edges of my vision tinged with red.
He thought he had it all figured out, didn't he? He thought I couldn't cut him where it hurt?
I could, and I would.
It was time to fight back, to reclaim my dignity. I would bite Elijah Rossi just as he had bitten me.
Through his brother.