Chapter Twenty-Three
GEMMA
When I climb into Robert’s car, my skin feels like it’s melting off my body. I’m ready to internally combust after Victoria dropped the bomb that our wedding has been moved up.
Robert thinks he’s so cunning, but I see through this act, and I’m disgusted I fell for it. When Winnie messaged me more than usual this weekend, it should’ve raised some red flags. I went from talking to her every other week to getting questions every ten minutes. It all makes perfect sense now.
During the drive to his house, Robert goes on and on about how excited he is that Victoria’s interested in his company.
I don’t respond to anything he says and continue to stare out the window.
Instead, I get lost in my thoughts, wishing I was anywhere but here.
When we pull into his driveway, he notices I’m not playing the part of the ecstatic fiancée.
After client dinners, he loves to have his ego stroked, but I’m not in the mood tonight.
Too many revelations have come to light, and I’m questioning our relationship in a way I never have before.
Over the past few months, I’ve seen glimpses of this side of him, but I always made excuses for his behavior. I’d blame it on his drinking or jealousy, but an underlying issue exists that’s bigger than I ever imagined.
It’s frightening not to truly know who he is, and I hope I haven’t been scammed into marrying a man who doesn’t exist. I should’ve seen this coming, considering how pushy he’s been. I’m so stupid for falling for his manipulative ways.
“What’s wrong, darlin’?” he asks as he yanks my weekend bag from the back seat.
Without waiting for my response, because it’s not as if he cares anyway, he gets out of the car.
I grab my purse, then follow him to the front door.
I need to figure out how to bring up the receipt I found for the private investigator and list my other grievances, but it won’t be easy.
The last time I complained, he listened, but then nothing changed.
Once we’re inside the house and the door closes behind me, my emotions nearly boil over.
“How could you move the date of the wedding without consulting me first?” I finally blurt out. “That completely blindsided me tonight. It was disrespectful for me to have to find out from a stranger instead of my fiancé.”
Robert sits on the couch and slips off his shoes.
“For weeks, I’ve asked you about it, and you’ve been indecisive.
I understand you’ve been under a lot of pressure, which I assume is because you work with a criminal, so I’ll give you some slack.
I can’t imagine how stressful that is for you, not knowing if it’s safe or if you’re being robbed blind.
But I digress. Instead of adding more to your plate, I made the decision for us, something I’ll be doing a lot of when we’re married. ”
My mouth falls open at his pitiful attempt to throw jabs at me, but he doesn’t seem to notice or care.
I refuse to entertain him or argue about any of this because we have much bigger issues at hand.
I’m well aware that Robert will continue to throw this in my face until I bend to his will, but quitting the garage isn’t up for negotiation, and I’ve made that crystal clear.
“The last thing I want is for the happiest day of your entire life—our wedding—to cause any anguish, Gemma. I thought if I moved the date and took care of the major things, you wouldn’t have to worry about it.
And you said so yourself, you’ll be ready, so I took care of your dress and veil as well.
Everything’s in place. Winnie’s paid and so is the venue. Invitations are going out soon.”
“My wedding dress?” My blood is pumping so hard, I think I can hear my heartbeat echoing in my head.
I’m tempted to pinch myself to make sure I’m not living in some weird nightmare because this can’t be real.
He’s officially crossed the line, and he is delusional if he thinks I’m going along with this.
I want to slap the smug look off his face. Robert tilts his head and smiles, but it’s not kind nor inviting. Instead, it’s menacing, and his eyes are cold. It’s like the curtain has been pulled back, and the man behind it all is evil.
“Of course, Gemma. I’m sure you haven’t planned anything with Everleigh and Katie like you said.”
“Well, not yet but—”
“I knew you hadn’t, so I did it for you.
I’m sure they’re both too busy trying to support themselves since they don’t have men to provide for them.
So, I felt this was a better alternative, considering your mother is no longer here, and you have no one else of importance in your life.
” He stares at me, and I feel as if I’m suffocating.
Mentioning my mother is just so goddamn cruel.
I’ve voiced my dread of not having her with me on such a monumental day. Bastard.
“It wasn’t your decision to make,” I seethe.
“Well, I figured it was best for you. I even found a tailor to adjust my mother’s wedding dress to fit you based on some clothes you left here. Only the absolute best for my bride!” he proudly boasts.
My expression doesn’t change, which causes his helpful husband persona to quickly fade.
“You can thank me now,” he snaps.
I finally catch my breath from the whiplash he’s just given me.
“You want me to thank you for what you’ve done?
Have you lost your mind?” I walk toward my bag, and Robert rushes to stand.
He stalks toward me with annoyance on his face.
Wrapping his fingers around my wrist, he jerks me toward the couch and forces me to sit.
I can’t believe I agreed to marry such a controlling, manipulative man.
“Take me home,” I demand, wishing I would’ve driven myself.
Throwing his head back, he lets out a boom of a laugh as he sits next to me, but instead of it being welcoming, it forces a chill up my spine. “Not fucking happening.”
I try to wiggle from his grasp, but he doesn’t let go. Instead, he only holds me tighter. My anger rises, and I grit down, holding my tongue as I try to figure out how I’m going to get the hell out of here. My phone is in my purse across the room.
My thoughts are a jumbled mess, but I need to calm down to think clearly.
“The plan was for you to sleep over and stay with me, so you will. I won’t be taking you anywhere but to my bedroom. Would you like a drink?”
He gets up, but I don’t dare move, too scared to make any sudden movements. Robert goes to the kitchen, then comes back with a scotch on the rocks and settles in the chair in front of me.
Sitting straighter, I plead, “Please take me home. We can discuss this tomorrow after you’ve had some time to calm down.”
He chuckles darkly, then drinks half the glass. “Don’t you fucking listen? The answer is no. Quit trying to defy me, Gemma. It’s an ugly look for you.”
“I can’t do this,” I tell him, breathlessly. “I can’t do this anymore.”
“This, as in what? The wedding is set for November. You will not fucking embarrass me.”
“There will be no wedding, Robert. Call it off, immediately.” The words tumble out of my mouth, and I can’t stop from saying what I want.
Robert charges toward me. I run to my purse and manage to pull out my phone. He chases after me and grabs my hair, pulling me back. My scalp burns from the tug, and I scream out in pain before pushing him away. Angry tears stream down my cheeks as I hurry to the kitchen.
I pull a knife from the block and point the blade at him. When I cooked last, it was sharp enough to slice through meat with no issue, so I hope he doesn’t make me use it.
“Don’t you take another step toward me.” I hold it tightly in my grasp, my hand shaking from the adrenaline.
He’s in a blind rage, so my threats don’t faze him. He takes a step, holding out his hands as if he’s surrendering, but I’m not fooled.
I try to unlock my phone but fumble. If I can text Everleigh with one hand, then maybe she can come get me. Seconds later, Robert rushes after me. The sudden movement startles me, and I drop my phone and the blade.
He grabs me, squeezing my shoulders so hard that I screech. “You need to stop being a selfish bitch, Gemma.”
My phone rings, and the high-pitched tone nearly pierces my ears. Everleigh’s photo flashes on the screen, and I whisper a little prayer, hoping she won’t give up on getting in touch with me. “I need to answer that.”
Another dark chuckle escapes him.
I try to push away, and he grabs my dress, ripping the thin material of the sleeve from the hem. I look down, then back at him. “If you think we’re getting married, you’re crazier than I thought. The wedding is off, Robert. So do what you have to do to cancel everything.”
My phone rings again.
“Over your dead body.”
“I told Everleigh that I’m staying at your house tonight, so she knows I’m with you.
She won’t stop calling until I pick up,” I force out, needing to place some fear in him.
His image means too much, and if Everleigh catches wind of this, the entire town will know what he did to me by the end of the week.
My phone buzzes again, and Robert finally lets me go.
I eagerly grab it, but he watches my every move as if he’s waiting to pounce if I say the wrong thing.
“You better watch what you fucking tell her,” he seethes, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His shirt is still tucked into his slacks, and the sneer hasn’t vanished from his lips.
“Babe! Everything okay? You sent me a bunch of gibberish in a text,” Everleigh asks as soon as I answer.
Robert picks up the knife, and I’m afraid of what he’s capable of doing.
The light reflects off the blade as he looks at it, then glances at me.
The man I agreed to marry isn’t who’s standing in front of me, trying to force my hand at marriage and threaten me.
I try to steady my tone, but I hope to God Everleigh reads between the lines.