Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 32429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
"It's not hard to make someone as pretty as you look good," she smiles. "If they had to do my makeup, it would be quite a difficult job. I haven't been as fortunate in life as you have."
She chuckles, but I grab her hand by the wrist and make eye contact with her.
"You're beautiful," I tell her. "I'm sorry you have to live this life. I'll do my best to make things better for you."
At that moment, her face breaks and I can tell she's the woman who helped me before. I can tell she's feeling guilty about not helping me when I was in a similar situation. But gone are my feelings of anger or resentment against anyone who didn't help me. In the end, I ended up with Xavier and that's all I've ever wanted.
"I don't deserve this, señorita," she tells me in a shaky voice. "I don't deserve your help because I didn't help you when I could have. I didn't help you get out of here when things were tough."
"But it all ended up okay," I say, patting her hand.
From her sad smile, I can tell she doesn't believe me, which makes me retreat and speak with an edge next time.
"Please finish my makeup and hair so we can get started on the dress. I don't want to be late today. I don't want to upset my husband."
"He won't be able to stay mad. He'll be delighted to see you looking like an angel," she says with a small smile. "You remind me of my daughter. She was just as pretty as you."
She finishes up my makeup, and we don't speak anymore. The maid adds a rosy glow on my cheeks and a faint tint of color on my lips.
My lashes are thick with mascara. I can imagine Xavier will enjoy making me cry off later. I look better than I ever have before, having filled out now that I'm finally eating properly again. And yet the nervous feeling deep inside me doesn't subside. I don't know whether I'm feeling hesitant because of the implications of what I'm about to do, or the finality of betraying my family for Xavier once and for all. Or perhaps it's just the fact that I've fallen for the villain. After a whole life of believing in fairy tales I've gone back to the worst person in my life... because I can't resist him. Because he owns me.
The maid finishes with my makeup and hair, and brings forward the dress. It's something Xavier had custom made for me before I left here, and when I tried it on for the first time it gaped on me, because I was so thin from my trials. But now that I've gained some weight back, it fits perfectly. The maid helps me put it on, lacing the corset in the back and allowing the layers of tulle to fall to the ground, embracing me in their cool feel.
We stand back together to watch her work in the mirror. I truly look perfect. Not even Xavier could find a fault with my appearance, and I'm excited for him to see me in all my glory.
The ceremony will be intimate with only us and Saul there to act as a witness and best man to my husband. I can't believe after today I'll be married to the love of my life, who also seems to be my nemesis.
My body and my mind haven't fully processed this yet. But I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that I'm an owned woman now. I have no doubt Xavier will put his own spin on our wedding to ensure I know I belong to him and him alone.
I never wanted a big wedding, and yet I still find myself wishing my parents were here. But then again, it's surely better that they're not.
After all, this is the ultimate betrayal to my mother and father who always hoped I would come back home after I finished my job here with Xavier.
They wanted me to kill him. But I knew even when I got here that it was never going to happen. I don't have it in me to kill Xavier, the man I love, the man I've devoted my whole life to whether I wanted to or not. To be fair, I think my parents started my obsession because they were so against him. From the first moment I met Xavier, I knew my dad didn't like him, and my mother was afraid of him. Even my little sister winced and whimpered every time he was around, hiding behind my mother's skirt, and pretending she was invisible to him if only to stay safe and keep herself out of his cruel presence.
But not me.
I was never afraid of the dark side.