Chapter 17
I bolted from the room, my breath coming in quick, shallow bursts as I sprinted down the hallway.
My mind was a blur of panic and determination.
I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I had to get away from him.
From the man who had chosen me, who had claimed me, who had just shown me exactly what that meant.
Reaching my room, I slammed the door behind me and twisted the lock with trembling fingers.
For a moment, I just stood there, leaning against the door, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.
The reality of what had just happened hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt my knees buckle as I slid down to the floor.
But I couldn’t let myself break. Not now. Not when I had to face him again in just a few hours.
I stayed in my room, curled up on the bed, until it was time to meet the caterer. I should have dressed nicely—put on one of the elegant dresses Colson would want me to wear—but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not after what had happened. Not after the way he had treated me.
Instead, I grabbed a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, pulling them on without even bothering to check how I looked. I didn’t care. Let him be angry. Let him see that I wasn’t going to play his perfect little puppet today.
When I finally left my room, I felt a cold, steely resolve settle over me. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower. Not today.
Colson was already waiting when I arrived at the dining room where the caterer had set up. He looked me up and down, his jaw tightening at the sight of my casual attire. Good. Let him seethe.
The caterer was a young woman with a polite smile, setting out an array of tasting options for us to try. I could feel Colson’s eyes on me, burning with anger, but I ignored him, focusing on the food in front of me.
“Shall we begin?” the caterer asked, her voice cheerful as she gestured to the first dish.
I barely glanced at it before wrinkling my nose. “No, that doesn’t look appealing.”
The caterer hesitated, clearly taken aback, but she quickly recovered and moved on to the next dish. I could see Colson’s knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge of the table, his patience wearing thin.
“How about this one?” the caterer asked, her voice a little less confident this time.
I leaned forward, pretending to scrutinize it before shaking my head. “No, I don’t think so.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Colson’s anger simmering, but I refused to acknowledge it. After this morning, I didn’t care how furious he got. I wasn’t going to be the docile, obedient fiancée he expected me to be.
The tasting continued, and with each dish, I found something to criticize, some reason to reject it.
The caterer’s smile grew strained, and I knew I was making this more difficult than it needed to be.
But I couldn’t stop. This was my small rebellion, my way of pushing back against Colson’s control.
Finally, Colson couldn’t take it anymore. “Judy, will you excuse us please?” Once she stepped out of the room, he leaned in close, his voice low and dangerous. “What do you think you’re doing, Josephine?”
I turned to him, meeting his gaze with a defiant lift of my chin. “I’m deciding what I like,” I replied coolly, even as my heart raced in my chest.
His eyes narrowed, and I could see the fury blazing in them. “You’re being difficult on purpose.”
“Am I?” I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “I thought you wanted me to have a say in the wedding.”
For a moment, I thought he might lose it right there, but instead, he straightened, his expression hardening into a mask of coldness. “You’ve had your say, Josephine. Now let the adults handle the rest.”
I stormed out of the room, Colson's words echoing in my ears like a cruel taunt. My heart raced as I tried to maintain my composure, determined not to let him see how deeply his words had cut. This battle was far from over.
As I rose from my chair, Judy re-entered the room. I shoved the seat roughly into the table, the scraping sound a small outlet for my frustration.
"Where are you going?" Colson's voice carried a hint of surprise and irritation.
I turned, meeting his gaze with as much defiance as I could muster. "You don't need me here," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "I have things to do. Pick whatever you want."
Without waiting for a response, I hurried from the room, my destination clear in my mind, the library, my sanctuary in this gilded cage. As I rushed down the hallway, my mind raced. I knew there would be consequences for my defiance, but in that moment, I couldn't bring myself to care.
Lost in thought, I nearly collided with Vaughn as he came down the hall, dressed in crisp tennis whites. His hands shot out, steadying me, his fingers lingering on my bare arms in a way that made me uncomfortable.
"Where are you going so fast?" he asked, his eyes searching my face.
I swallowed hard, trying to regain my composure. "I'm looking for cover," I admitted, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
Understanding dawned in Vaughn's eyes. "Colson?"
I nodded, feeling tears threatening to spill over. With a deep breath, I forced them back. I refused to cry in front of Vaughn, not when our relationship was already so complicated.
His grip on my arms tightened slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You don't have to go through with this, you know. It's not too late to change your mind."
I met his gaze, seeing the mixture of concern and something else – something I didn't want to name – in his eyes. Our encounters always seemed to end this way, with Vaughn pleading for me to reconsider marrying his father.
"I can't," I whispered, gently extricating myself from his grasp. "You know I can't."
As I continued down the hallway towards the library, I could feel Vaughn's eyes on my back. The weight of expectations, secrets, and unspoken words hung heavy in the air, reminding me once again of the precarious situation I found myself in.
Reaching the library door, I paused, my hand on the handle.
In this moment of solitude, I allowed myself a single, shaky breath.
The game I was playing was dangerous, and I was beginning to wonder if I was in over my head.
But there was no turning back now. I had made my choice, and I would see it through – no matter the cost.
I curled up on the couch, my mind reeling from the chaos of the past twenty-four hours.
The fight with Simone, Colson's aggression, and the wedding drama swirled in my thoughts, making my stomach churn with anxiety.
I knew there would be consequences for my actions, both from this morning and just now.
There was no real hiding place in the mansion.
Colson would check the video feeds and find me easily.
At this point, I almost didn't care. Let him do what he wanted.
I was just a facade, after all. It made no sense why he insisted on marrying me when he clearly didn't need a wife.
He had the world at his fingertips already.
I drifted into an uneasy sleep, my dreams filled with memories of life before Colson chose me as his bride. Our last Christmas together was so happy. Logan had given me a set of leather-bound classics I'd admired in the bookstore – an extravagant gift I'd considered too expensive to buy for myself.
I was jolted awake by the gentle brush of knuckles against my cheek. In the dim light, I saw Colson's face, but his expression wasn't the furious one I'd expected. Instead, his smile was soft, barely perceptible.
"I realize I've been harsh with you," he said, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.
Wary of his sudden shift in demeanor, I replied cautiously, "What do you mean?"
"I haven't given you the consideration you deserve," he continued, "but you haven't given me what I deserve either."
Confusion and fear mingled in my chest. "I don't understand."
Colson's grip on my chin tightened ever so slightly. "Do you think you're fulfilling your obligations to me as a fiancée?"
I frowned, indignation rising within me. "What haven't I done? I've done everything you've asked – the training, the evening visits, being the perfect employee."
His forehead creased, eyes darkening. "You've denied me. Remember, I can take everything away."
The threat hung heavy in the air. I knew he wasn't just talking about me – he could ruin my entire family. Logan's career, my mother's dreams, my father's business – all gone in an instant.
"I've given you everything you've asked for," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly.
Colson's voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Not everything. I've been so patient."
As his meaning sank in, a chill ran down my spine.
The gentle caress of his knuckles against my cheek now felt like a threat.
I realized with growing dread that the game had changed, and the stakes were higher than ever.
In that moment, trapped between Colson's expectations and my own desires, I wondered just how much more I would have to sacrifice to keep my family safe.
My heart pounded in my chest as Colson's words echoed in my ears, the weight of his threat sinking in with every passing second. This wasn’t just about the wedding anymore—it was about manipulation, about power, and he was making it clear that I was nothing more than a pawn in his game.
The realization hit me like a freight train.
I had been so focused on the wedding, on the dresses and the details, that I hadn’t seen the darkness lurking beneath the surface.
Colson was demanding the one thing I had wanted to keep for myself, the one piece of me that I had hoped to protect until I became an Ashworth in name.
But now, that hope was slipping away, replaced by a sickening dread.