Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“If there’s anything you want, just buy it.”
She wraps her arms around her middle and begins to nibble on the inside of her cheek.
Fuck. Of course.
I take my wallet out of my pocket and remove one of my cards. Holding it out to her, I say, “Just charge everything to this credit card.”
Yuki looks downright startled as she stares at my hand.
“Take it.”
Her hand trembles as she carries out the order.
“Come.” I walk through the rest of the house, and when I reach the guest room, I say, “This will be your bedroom.” I gesture to the walk-in closet. “There’s your luggage.”
She nods as she takes in the bedding, its pattern inspired by traditional ink wash art.
Weirdly, I feel nervous as I ask, “Are you okay with the temple and cherry blossoms design?”
Yuki’s eyes flit to my face. “Yes. Thank you.”
Tilting my head, I say, “If you want to talk to me, come find me. Until then, I’ll stay out of your way as much as possible, because I get the feeling I’m the last person you want to see right now.”
Yuki’s eyebrows draw together, but I can’t read her expression as she says, “You’re going to leave me alone?”
I nod while I let out a sigh. “All the stuff I’ve ordered for you is in the boxes in the garage. Use whatever you want and throw away what you don’t like.”
I turn to leave but pause and pull my phone out. “I’ll be at work a lot. Take my number in case something happens, and you need to get a hold of me.”
“I don’t have a phone.” She swallows hard before adding, “You took it from me at the airfield.”
Jesus.
Intense remorse slaps me upside the head as I’m once again reminded of the hell I inflicted on this woman.
“I’ll get you a phone tomorrow.” I walk to the doorway and stop again to look at Yuki. “I know it doesn’t mean anything, but I’m so fucking sorry for hurting you.”
Leaving, I head to my bedroom on the third floor. I chose this house because it’s similar to my parents’ place.
After shutting the door behind me, I sit down on the chaise, which is situated to the right of my bed, and let out a heavy sigh.
Rubbing my fingers over my forehead, the events of the day replay in my mind.
It doesn’t feel like I got married.
I stare at my suit jacket for a moment before I pull the piece of paper from the inner breast pocket. My eyes drift over the words and numbers, and learning that Yuki is only twenty-two years old, another sigh escapes me.
Jesus, she’s only a year older than Rosie.
Just to punish myself, I imagine someone torturing Rosie and forcing her to marry the bastard.
Anger burns through my chest, and in this moment, I hate myself.
You’ll do everything in your power to make things better for Yuki.
Chapter 13
Augusto
Knowing I’ll spiral if I keep thinking about things, I force myself to my feet to shower and change into a pair of jeans and a sweater.
With a comfortable pair of loafers on my feet, I leave my bedroom. As I head down the stairs, I wonder if I should make dinner for Yuki. She didn’t eat much at the reception.
The aroma of grilled steak hits me when I reach the first floor, and walking through the open-space foyer, I stop by the entrance to the kitchen.
Yuki’s changed into a dress that barely covers her ass.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean my shoulder against the doorjamb, watching as my brand-new wife prepares food.
There’s a slight frown line between her eyes as she concentrates on mashing the boiled potatoes.
She slips her foot out of the ballet flats and wiggles her toes before shoving it back into the shoe.
“Are the shoes uncomfortable?” I ask.
Yuki lets out a shriek, and a streak of mashed potatoes flies through the air. I have to move fast to avoid the utensil as it sails past me before dropping to the floor in the foyer.
She has good aim.
Looking at Yuki, I see the blood drain from her face. Her eyes are locked on me, her breath speeding up.
Not thinking, I move toward her, and just like in the hangar, she lets out a scared whimper while shaking her head wildly.
I stop dead in my tracks. “I’m not going to hurt you, Yuki.”
Approaching her slowly, I try to soften my expression as much as possible. By the time I reach her, her breaths are audibly racing over her lips, and she squeezes her eyes shut as if she’s bracing for a punch.
Unable to stop myself, I pull her against my chest and wrap my arms around her. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, another heavy sigh escapes from me for what feels like the hundredth time today.