Page 33 of Point of No Return

The actual dinner passes by quickly. I’ve hardly eaten before Liv and her posse usher me away from our families toward the main hall. She walks Skar and me through each step of the ceremony, and though I’m bored out of my mind, Skar has this untroubled look on his face… like he doesn’t mind listening to what’s going to happen.

Our families have mostly taken to drinking in the reception area. There are so many people buzzing around like bees in a hive to get everything done, and it hits me like a tidal wave: this is really happening.

When Liv goes over the musical cues for walking down the aisle for the third time, I let out an exasperated sigh.

“I’m sorry. I need a few minutes,” I dismiss myself, crossing the hall toward the stairs leading to the bridal suite.

I lock myself in the spacious room, glad when I find that it’s empty. I lean my head against the door, inhaling for four long moments before repeating on the exhale.

I am safe. I am okay.I will not break. Breathe,I tell myself. But when the door opens, and my mother steps inside, the sentiment is short-lived.

I force myself to open my eyes, swallowing the emotions caught in my throat. “Hello, Moma.”

She frowns, pinching my cheek. “You look pale, dear.”

“Just tired,” I tell her, and she nods, tugging off her gloves and resting them on one of the couches.

“You and Skar look positively smitten.”

We don’t, and I know she’s only pointing it out. There’s no humor in her voice. Just cool, calculated indifference, and I know her better than that.

“You don’t have to worry about him. But we should talk about Tyson.”

She hums, heels clicking as she walks toward me, brushing a curl from my face. “What else did you hear, Lottie?”

I know she’s talking about the news I mentioned last time we were together. “Some investors came by last week. Jamison Thornhill and Thomson Laws. I overheard them talking with Tyson and Skar before dinner. They were rather interested in our history.”

She drops my curl, anger clear in her dark eyes. “Do they suspect anything?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. But they’re definitely planning something big. Things between Tyson and Skar have been more than tense.”

Her brows rise, curiosity piqued. “You sense tension between them?”

I nod. “Tyson’s made it clear I’m just a commodity. Skar… He- I don’t think he shares many of his father’s sentiments.”

“Careful,” my mother cautions. “Do not forget your goal. Your fiancé is not your ally- nor will he ever be.”

I scoff. “I know that. There’s just something off… Different about him.”

Her lips purse. “Different how?”

“What if we were wrong about the future?” My mother blinks at me. “I think Skar hates us as much as the next Westlan, but I don’t think he’ll be like Tyson. He’s thoughtful enough-”

My mother’s hand comes down so hard across my cheek that my head snaps sideways. The slap resonates throughout the room. Tears prick my eyes, the pain so startling for a second that I’m almost shocked.

“He will kill you if given the chance. These people arenotour friends.” I taste the blood in my mouth, tracing the split in my lip with my tongue.

She’s right.But it’s been so long since she used her hands that I almost forgot what the pain felt like.

“I’m sorry,” she says, but I stay silent.

She digs around in her clutch for a moment, withdrawing a smaller bag of makeup before walking toward me. With a white cloth, she dabs the blood from my lip, smearing away the moment.

“I shouldn’t have done that… You’re not mine anymore.”

The words clang through me:You’re not mine anymore.

She dabs a few spots of makeup over the wound, and I don’t bother pushing her away as she swipes on a new layer of lipstick over my mouth.

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