Chapter 18
Y ulianna
Today was the happiest day of my life. Not only because I was officially an adult and would be out from under my father’s control, but Eddie and I were finally starting our life together. I could hardly contain my excitement.
My reflection showed a girl in her prime, but in my heart, I’d already lived a hundred lifetimes. I knew I would marry Eddie from the moment I met him, and I’d dreamed of this day from our first touch.
I still didn’t know what to make of all this. Returning home from Wayward had been agony, and I’d been so sure that my father didn’t care what I wanted. It had felt like I was nothing more to him than a cash cow. Then again, maybe I was. There was no way in hell that I would ever ask Eddie what he had to pay. I’d want to kill my father for sure.
After Eddie left yesterday, I’d expected my father to come up and at least tell me that he’d arranged my marriage. But true to his brand, he acted like he’d done nothing more than broker a deal for one of his horses. I was never included in anything that involved my future. Why would I be when my only purpose was to honor my family and procreate?
“You look so beautiful,” Frida said, and I smiled at her as she finished pinning my hair into place. “This ice-blue color makes you look like a queen. You’ll command all the attention in the room.”
“I don’t want to be a parade pony, Frida. I want to work in fashion or the arts. I want to marry Eddie and have a family.” My long earrings jingled as I shook my head. “But, maybe for just one night, I can act like a princess.” I smirked, making Frida laugh.
“I wish that for you, too, and Eddie is quite the prince.”
She was right. I would never find anyone else who made my heart sing and my soul feel alive like Eddie. He was the best man I’d ever met, a true gentleman who wasn’t threatened by me or my spirit.
“You look stunning, too, Frida,” I said, turning in her direction. The rich red wine color of her dress matched her dark hair beautifully.
“Thank you. Are you ready to face the crowd of people you don’t know, who are thrilled to be at your birthday?”
Sighing, I nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”
Frida took my arm and smiled.
“Smile, you’re turning eighteen. It’s an important day, and you only get to do it once.”
“You’re only two years older than me, yet you manage to sound….”
“Like I’m an old fart?”
Giggling, I blushed.
“Something like that. Come on, maybe we can find someone for you to marry.”
“Oh, I don’t think anyone in this crowd will want a handmaiden.”
“You never know,” I said, hooking my arm with hers. “True love doesn’t see station, only what is in the heart.”
“Very true,” Frida said.
Guards surrounded us as we stepped out of my room, laughing. We walked the long hallways of the second floor, protected like rare jewels by a wall of black suits. I could already hear the murmur of people talking and the rise and fall of music.
As we rounded the final corner, my heart began to pound wildly in my chest. Glancing over the railing, I spotted Eddie immediately. He was standing with the sons of the other Dons and Marcus, and when he glanced up at me, everything was right in the world. The butterflies in my stomach soared as he gave me a subtle wink, the corner of his mouth lifting ever so slightly.
It was hard to believe that we’d met so long ago and were finally here. We loved each other so fiercely that it didn’t even feel real. It was like magic or a fairytale. My father had always been as cold and stern as they came, while Eddie was a breath of fresh air. He was so full of life. I was as addicted to that as I was to him.
We came to a stop in front of the massive doors that led to my parent’s rooms and waited. Frida patted my arm before she slipped away to join the rest of the party. Clapping ensued when the doors opened, and my father stepped out like a king. He gave me a curt nod as I walked toward him, and the moment I reached his side, he tapped on his glass with a spoon.
“Everyone, can I have your attention,” he said, his voice booming.
“Thank you for joining us this evening. As you are all aware, we are here to celebrate my beautiful daughter on her eighteenth birthday.”
My father raised his glass to the short cheer. He looked at me, and I could see something close to love in his eyes. It was rare, but it warmed my heart to see it now.
“You make me very proud, Yulianna. It seems like only yesterday when you were born, and now, here you are, a woman grown and soon to have a family of your own.”
And there it was. I wondered how long it would take for him to say it. My duty was to become a wife and continue the bloodline. What would he do if I couldn’t have children? Would he disown me, or maybe just blame me like it was my fault?
“Please raise a glass in honor and hope for health and prosperity for many years to come.”
The crowd toasted to my future as I smiled curtly and nodded to the guests. The music began to play while the guests mingled. Some filed into the ballroom where a feast waited while others chose to dance. Before my father could disappear, I touched his arm.
“Father, may I speak to you?”
Acting as the dutiful daughter who wanted nothing more than to make her father proud, I followed him into a small room nearby. I did want to make him proud, just not his way.
“Come, sit,” he said.
He led me to a little settee, and with a flick of his wrist, the guards moved away to block off the entrance. I wanted to learn how he did that. His guards always knew what he wanted with the simplest of gestures.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Father, I just wanted to say thank you. I know that this past year was difficult and that we found ourselves at odds more than once, but this party and accepting Edmundo’s offer…well, it means the world to me. I just wanted you to know how grateful I am that you chose to hear me and my wishes. I spent so many nights thinking that you didn’t love me at all or didn’t care what would make me happy.” I smiled wide and patted his hand. “But, you’ve made me so very happy, and I thought you should know that I love you.”
“I’m happy that you’re happy,” he said but looked away.
“Are you sure? Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. I was just wondering where your mother is. She missed my toast,”
He wasn’t telling me something. I’d gotten good at reading people, and Father was holding something back.
As if he’d conjured her, my mother walked past the guards, smiling as she approached.
“I’m sorry, I meant to be up here.”
She was a bright light in any room, and the way my father looked at her was how I knew Eddie looked at me. Father stood and kissed my mother’s cheek before addressing me again.
“Well, it’s rude to keep your guests waiting. Mingle with all the families. It is your party, after all. It would be impolite not to thank them for coming.”
The coolness was back in his voice, but I dutifully nodded, choosing to heed Eddie’s advice and not pick a fight. My father turned and walked away while my mother paused to glance over her shoulder. Her expression was troubled, but I had no idea why, and then they were lost in a sea of people.
Taking a deep breath, I followed after my parents and found Frida waiting at the bottom of the grand staircase. She smiled, but there was only one face I wanted to see right now. Fingers brushed against the back of my hand, and my body warmed as I looked up into Eddie’s soft grey eyes.
He made a show of bowing as he discretely kissed my wrist. My skin burned where we touched, and I craved this feeling forever. When I looked into Eddie’s eyes, I saw a future filled with happiness.
“Happy birthday, anima mia ,” Eddie whispered as he pressed his lips to my cheek.
My face hurt from trying not to smile too wide. Keeping my feelings for Eddie hidden had been challenging before, but now that we were engaged, I didn’t know how to keep it bottled.
“May I have the first dance this evening, or maybe all the dances?”
“Yes, my answer will always be yes,” I said, letting him lead me onto the dance floor.
“My meeting with your father is set for right after the party.”
“It cannot come soon enough.”
Eddie twirled me before pulling me back in close.
“I didn’t think you could look any more beautiful than yesterday, but you are a vision, Ana.”
“Stop with all the flattering. I may grow used to it,” I teased.
“You better because I plan on telling you how stunning you are and what you do to me every day for the rest of our lives,” he said, and I wanted to melt into the floor.
The world around me faded, and all I saw was Eddie. He looked dashing tonight in his midnight black suit with the small blue pocket square that matched my dress. Two songs in, and it was as if we were floating on clouds. Eddie stared at me like I was his entire world, and I could’ve stayed out here on the dance floor with him all night, never speaking to another person.
“May I cut in?”
Eddie’s face darkened, and I stared at Christov in shock.
“What the hell are you doing here,” Eddie asked, his hand tightening on my waist.
“It’s Yulianna’s birthday. I’m here with my family to celebrate just like you,” he said, and I wanted to punch him in the face when he smirked at Eddie.
“It’s fine, I better give the other guests a chance to wish me a happy birthday.”
It still took Eddie a solid minute of glaring at Christov before he relinquished his hold on me. The tension was so high between them that you could choke on it.
Christov put his hand on my waist, and I could feel Eddie’s rage radiating throughout the room. No part of me wanted to dance with Christov, but to avoid an incident, we moved across the floor to a traditional song.
“Do not embarrass me,” he snarled under his breath after we moved deeper into the crowd.
“Excuse me?”
His hand tightened on mine until it felt like he was going to break my fingers.
“You heard me the first time.”
Glaring at Christov, I yanked my hand away. I didn’t care if we were drawing attention.
“You will not speak to me in that manner. This dance is over,” I growled under my breath.
Christov’s jaw twitched, his eyes furious, and the way he drew himself up, I was sure he was going to try and hit me. I welcomed it. My father and I had our differences, but he would kill Christov for laying a hand on me.
“Do it, and you won’t leave this house breathing.”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“You’re quite the bitch, but you’ll learn to obey your master.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?”
“You’ll see.”
Christov stopped a server passing by, holding a tray of champagne. He winked, and my stomach flipped.
My insides were quaking as I turned and marched away. Christov was far too cocky, and I didn’t like it. Something was wrong, and I needed to find out what the hell it was.
“Yuli, Yuli.”
A small blur ran at me, and all the anger I’d been feeling vanished at the sight of my little cousin Nathaniel. He was wearing a black tux with a bright red shirt and looked so stinking cute with his hair cut in a little Mohawk. Every time I saw him, he was happy and singing, with a wide smile plastered on his adorable face.
“Happy Bithday,” he said, leaving out the R due to his missing front teeth.
Grabbing him under the arms, I picked him up and twirled him high in the air. He squealed and held his arms out like an airplane. I couldn’t get over his midnight black hair and onyx eyes that were so different from anyone else in the family. When he grew up, Nathaniel would turn heads.
“Yulianna, you look stunning,” Uncle Dimitri said.
Him and Aunt Helena walked over arm in arm and smiling. I only got to see them once a year and it was usually for a large family gathering like this.
“Thank you,” I said as Helena pulled me into a hug and squeezed me tight.
“It is so good to see you again. You’re practically glowing, my dear,” Helena said, as she stepped back so Dimitri could hug me next.
“I’m having a great time. It’s far too long between visits. I would love to visit you in California, if you’ll have me?”
“You’re welcome to our home anytime for as long as you’d like to stay,” Dimitri offered.
“Thank you, that means a lot to me and I’m excited to take you up on the offer. Are Ronan and Titus here?”
“They are with the rest of the boys causing trouble I’m sure,” Helena said, making me smile.
Turning my attention back to Nathaniel I poked him in the belly, and he laughed. “Do you want to dance,” I asked.
“A bithday dance?” I nodded, smiling at his excited face. “Yes!” He cheered.
“I’ll be sure to catch up with you more later, but I have a dance date,” I said, and Helena and Dimitri chuckled.
“You look so pitty,” Nathaniel said, with a massive smile on his little face. He was so happy that I didn’t have the heart to correct him.
“Why thank you kind, sir. You look very handsome yourself.”
I hoped that Nathaniel stayed this way and that this world we lived in wouldn’t turn his heart dark like it had with the rest of the men in the family.