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He tossesa statement today”

I feel cold, like the blood has stopped h ainst the door

“Wear a nice dress,” he tells me “Do your hair, put on makeup, play your part, Mik”

“And if I don’t?” I question

He gives me a stern look “Don’t test me”

My chest feels tight I don’t have a lot of options right now I’ people who trust ain “It’s going to kill them”

Doing what he wants will break my family, more than he already has If I don’t do what he wants… My parents hter and I don’t know if they can take that either

Neither option is a good one

I rub a hand overin my chest “I can’t” I whisper, mostly to myself

“You can, Mik” He’s watching etting ready, rubbing cologne on his wrists, straightening his suit

“Noah” His name comes out whiny Maybe I am whiny I’m desperate “Please”

He whips around, his eyes burning a hole into ht, but not about this He wants ht now

He’sby his side will solidify that choice, and he knows it

He picks up a s in his palain, he’s vicious “Put on a pretty dress, do your ” He tosses the small black velvet box at me

I don’t catch it and it falls to the floor, a soft thud hitting the hardwood His eyes darken as he stalks over toout the ornate diaer than what I would have wanted if he would have asked