Page 23 of The Pakhan's Arranged Bride
My heart tightens in my chest.
Guilt washing over me as I think about him, his family, his life and me becoming a part of it.
I’m immediately hyperaware of how I was lying to him today—and how I’m using him for my own goals. It isn’t fair of me.
But he’s using you too, Ulyana.
He is, but that doesn’t make it right.
It’s fine, though, as long as we are both benefiting from it. Isn’t it?
Chapter 7 - Benedikt
“Didn’t you say that your mother wanted you to marry someone else?” she asks, nervously fiddling with her hands on her lap, sitting in the passenger seat of my car as we drive towards my mother’s place.
“It wasn’t specifically because she liked the girl. It was for some other benefit to her that I wasn’t aware of. Are you worried?”
“No,” Ulyana replies tightly. She sounds worried.
And her fidgeting is an obvious sign of how nervous she is to meet my family.
I reach over and wrap my hand over both of hers, squeezing gently. Her skin is warm and smooth.
Her scent is floating in the car. Warm white jasmine. It’s sweet and fresh.
“They are going to love you,” I reassure her.
“I’m just worried because you told them we were already dating. Isn’t your mom going to be upset if she realizes we weren’t?”
“Ulyana, I promise you—it’s going to be okay. She will never know. And I’ll be right by your side the whole night.”
“Okay,” she sighs, nodding slowly.
“It’s just my mother and sister. It’s not a big event.”
“It’s actually worse that it’s just them,” she laughs. “It’s so much more intimate.”
I haven’t let go of her hands yet. I slide my hand off hers, but let it rest on her thigh, glancing at her toned legs and the way her tight jeans wrap them perfectly.
“Just be yourself. You don’t have to worry about anything,” I say, rubbing my hand up and down her leg.
She doesn’t push me away and my heart beats a little faster.
I turn into the street my mother lives on, driving past extravagant houses towards the end of the road.
She’s right to be wary of my mother finding out that our marriage was somewhat fake.
I don’t need her finding out. I honestly don’t have the patience or energy to deal with the lectures and drama that will follow.
My mother can be such a diva at times. I’m trying hard to change my views of her, to adjust our relationship so that she can be a mother to me. But it’s a process. One I’m willing to work on if she can learn to stay out of my business.
I love her, she’s my mother, but I can’t stand how she makes everything so much bigger than it needs to be. And how she meddles, thinking that her way is the only way.
Sighing loudly, earning myself a concerned glance from Ulyana, I turn into the driveway and park the car.
“Why do you sound nervous now?” she asks tightly, her brows knotting.
I chuckle and reach out to touch her face.
