7. Her Savior, Her Jailer #4
"Tell me," he continued, leaning forward, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.
"Why did you push Holly onto me when I explicitly asked for Iris?
Was it so difficult to accept that I wanted Iris for herself?
There was nothing you had to offer in a marriage other than each woman's charms. Why were you so against allowing Iris to marry any of the eligible men that offered for her?
I have even more proof of several notable families that continued to try to save your failing company.
" He leaned forward slightly. "Tell me. All they wanted was an arrangement with Iris.
But you turned each and every one of them down.
Offering Holly to take her place each time. Which, obviously, none of them wanted."
Tension was clear in every muscle in his body. "It wasn't until I forced your hand by threatening to expose your shameful agreement with the Ackery's that you finally agreed to let her marry me. And I want you to tell me why."
Holly's face registered shock as if she'd been slapped.
Her wide eyes flickered between Nash and their parents, seeking an answer that never came.
Suddenly finding out that no one would marry you, or at least, no men of high enough caliber to please your family, was shocking enough.
But to hear that your little sister had many offers, she's sure that stung.
The revelation left her visibly shaken, but the hurt quickly transformed into something Iris was all too familiar seeing on her sister's face. Seething rage.
"Remarkable?" Holly spat out, her voice dripping with venom.
"If she's so amazing, why has she not set foot in this house for three years?
Why did she abandon us for some charitable quest, missing even the birth of her own niece?
Or refuse to do more than send a few measly emails or texts.
Not even a phone call." Holly's words broke, and she took a shuddering breath.
"For three years, her family needed her, and she turned her back on us! Doesn't sound so amazing to me."
Nash's shoulders shook with dark chuckles as he stared at her sister as if she was something disgusting. Something vile and unworthy. Iris's stomach churned slightly at seeing that expression on his face. It's what she imagined he looked like when he said she was nothing to him.
"Why would I allow her to interact with people so very far beneath her?
" Nash's laughing response quickly transformed into a glare so cold it could freeze blood.
"Need I remind you of the poison you and your mother spewed at her during our last unfortunate dinner here?
" He hissed, turning the atmosphere frosty with his fury.
"Are you that delusional? Have you never thought that it was your own cruel words and despicable actions that could have driven her away?
" Holly sat across from him and flinched with every sharp word lashed at her.
Nash cared nothing for her discomfort, nor for her condition, and continued attacking relentlessly.
"The last time we were here, she left with tears streaming down her cheeks.
You lashed out at her, insulting her. Treating her as if she was somehow beneath you.
As if she had no one to protect her." He lifted his hand and wrapped it around hers that sat limply on her lap.
He placed their entwined hands on the thick tablecloth for the whole family to see.
"And yet, you can't fathom where she has been?
You all but handed me the reins, insisting she was incapable, dimwitted, superficial.
Your exact words 'I hope you're ready to control every aspect of her life as she sure needs a very heavy hand'.
" He paused for a moment, letting their cruel words sink in for a moment.
"That was a challenge I was all too happy to meet.
You ended up making a deal with a man vastly more powerful than you.
" His words were filled with dark pleasure.
"You gave her to me, and now you're going to have to live with that.
" He knew he held the power in this dynamic.
And it was more than clear that, for the first time, so did everyone else.
The memory of that night surfaced in Iris's mind—a torrent of insults and mocking laughter, the stinging humiliation that had driven her to beg Nash to get her out of there.
She remembered Nash's arms around her, sheltering her from their scorn as he walked her out.
She huddled next to him on the way home, crying her eyes out, begging him to forget everything they said.
Humiliated and terrified that he would finally see her for who she really was, and call everything off.
Kick her out and never speak to her again.
Her eyes turned watery as she remembered every single insult that night.
Iris jumped slightly when a heavy, warm weight landed on her shoulder.
His hand left hers on the table to wrap his arm around her shoulders.
To give her the comfort he knew she needed.
His arm worked as a physical reminder that she was not alone.
Once again, gratitude welled within her.
How could she ever have believed he cared nothing for her?
Maybe she misheard? Why else would he have done all of this?
There was no benefit to himself other than getting her.
Her family had nothing to offer him. His wealth put theirs to shame.
His connections far exceeded theirs. They had nothing to give him that he would want.
No one could force him to do anything, that was more than clear now.
He wouldn't have cared about keeping up appearances like she had thought before. Using her as a way to stop marriage offers no longer rung true... He wouldn't have let her live with him unless he wanted her there. She had been a fool.
"Since then, I've taken control," Nash continued, breaking her inner musings.
His voice was a low growl that sent shivers down Iris's spine.
"After all, it was you who were adamant she needed guidance, a firm hand.
Left to her own devices, she would do nothing but embarrass me.
Wasn't that what you said? What you both said?
" Holly's pale face whitened even further.
Shame was evident in her glassy eyes and her trembling lip.
"You wanted her under someone's control.
And I've been more than happy to fill that role. "
Silence descended, heavy and oppressive, as each family member grappled with the weight of his confession. The glittering chandeliers overhead cast long shadows, turning the opulent room into a theater of suspense.
Iris sat motionless, her breaths shallow, feeling the eyes of her family upon her.
Nash's presence beside her was overpowering, his possessive love a shroud that both comforted and suffocated.
In that moment, she realized the full extent of his determination.
In order to protect her, he would obliterate anyone who dared to harm her.
She had zero doubts that the Ackery's downfall was his own doing.
He sat there in front of her family, blatantly lying to them.
For her.
Instead of letting them know she left, that she abandoned her duty and never once reached out to them, his picking up the mantle of a villain like he was born to it. He had no qualms in protecting her from every threat. No matter the source. Even her own family.
But at what cost to her own freedom, her own choices? She had barely completed the thought when her mind whispered tauntingly, would it be so bad to just give in? She couldn't shake her own ringing, intrusive thoughts.
As much as Nash was her savior, he was also her jailer.
But maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't mind being jailed.