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I wasn’t going to cry. I wasn’t. No tears. Not a single one. Deep breaths.

“Oh my God. Holy shit. Elec, are you seeing this? I knew before but seeing her in that dress with makeup. Oh…my God.”

“ Kayla, no, stop. I’m trying not to cry.”

My lids squeezed tighter as I felt my new friend’s hand settle on my shoulder. Elec was holding the mirror, but I couldn’t get myself to open my lids to see how I looked. Mirrors had been forbidden during the healing process and that was over now.

“Open, Pearl. Look and see yourself.”

“I don’t know if I can. What if I’m still ugly?” I paused as emotions rolled through. Sadness. A little fear. Anxiety. Mostly it was the happiness that never left. The screams were still there, but they were so far away now. Not as far as the memories that were beginning to leak through, but I kept those to myself. No one wanted to hear about my accident or childhood, and me…I wanted to forget the trauma that had ruined my life for so many years.

“Open, Pearl. You’re far from ugly. You’re beautiful. So beautiful.” Kayla made a small giggling noise, and I cracked my lids. Immediately, my eyes shot open as my breath caught in my throat.

Smooth skin. Perfect skin. My eyes. My lips and…cheeks.

“Oh.” More broken breaths.

“I told you. You’re exquisite.” The Main Master’s lips tugged back at the side. “Just wait until Ethan?—”

I didn’t let Elec finish as I pitched forward, wrapping my arms around his neck. A laugh sounded, but it was almost just as hollow as he appeared these days. He wasn’t the same since he’d left my room all those weeks ago. I knew I had missed a lot, but I didn’t have the details on that yet. I would soon. Ethan would fill me in when I got to see him again. And I wanted to see him. Each day we were separated, my need to be with him grew to unmeasurable lengths. I was ready to be his wife. Dying to have his children. I wanted us to be together every minute of every day.

“Thank you, Main Master.” The tears filled my eyes, but I held them in. “Elec, you saved me. I really can’t thank you enough. You saved my life.”

“Maybe.” He laughed, pulling back. “How about we finally get you to the man who has made my life a living hell since you’ve been gone? He’s going crazy wanting to see you. He’s waiting now at The Six.”

I fanned my eyes so that the mascara wouldn’t run, and I couldn’t resist easing my hand out to Elec for the mirror again. “May I? Just real quick?”

“Of course.”

As I brought it up, I couldn’t stop the way my heart raced. My smile was automatic at the dream I never thought I’d have. It was just a face, but it was my face . It was the start of a life I could have never dreamed of. From monster to the wife of the most famous movie star in the world. We’d say our vows in less than a week. I’d be married to Ethan, and he’d be mine forever.

“Alright.”

I placed it on the bed, nodding as I took Elec’s arm he offered. The form-fitting, black lace dress I wore swished with every step. It was high on the neck, covering most of my scars as it went down to three-quarter lace sleeves. Kayla stayed even with us, and she grabbed my hand, holding to it as she kept the other at her round belly. She was positively glowing, and it made me so excited to start our own journey.

“Your bloodline is supreme.” Elec glanced over. “You haven’t even started your classes and yet you walk with grace. Your hand is in perfect placement on mine. You were made for this life, Pearl.”

“And I have it, thanks to you.”

He hit the button for the elevator, leading us in. As we got inside, he immediately stepped before Kayla, lowering to crouch and stare at her belly. His hand lifted, molding around the side.

“What are we thinking for dinner?” His eyes rose to Kayla, but he went back to staring at the bump under the raspberry-colored dress she wore.

Her lips twisted. “Something with mashed potatoes. I’m craving them like crazy.”

“Then you’ll have as much as you can eat,” he added in, his hand slightly shifting. “And cake. Cheesecake.”

“Elec.” One of Kayla’s hand’s rose. “I can’t. Not yet. I ate half of the entire thing you had delivered yesterday for breakfast. You’re spoiling me.”

“Ice cream, then. With hot fudge.”

Her head cocked to the side.

“That does sound good.”

“See,” he whispered. “Uncle Elec will take care of you. Always . Now, let’s go eat.”

He stood again, taking his place at my side just as the doors opened. The buzz of voices had anxiety hitting but it faded as we left the elevator and neared the opened double doors. Masters and Mistresses called out in greeting to the Main Master. Elec was poised. His smile was charming. And me, I kept my spine straight and my head high as we swept through the threshold.

The tables were decently filled as we walked through the center of the room. People whispered to each other, their voices buzzing as they took us in. As we turned, I saw Ethan, and all of it stopped, fading away with the racing of my heart. He was at the very back table, talking to a waiter. He glanced over to us, doing a double-take and easing to his feet. The waiter was still talking, but Ethan seemed to hear none of it as his stare held mine.

“Look at him, Pearl. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so in awe.” Elec slowed us to a stop, halfway through the room. When he turned me to face him, I couldn’t help but scan his conflicting gaze. Something was wrong with the Main Master. Different. I could feel it in the deepest recesses within me, and yet it made no sense as he portrayed a confident, if not slightly sad, protector. “Tonight will be unlike any other for you and Ethan. It’s your first night as a Mistress in Couple status. It marks a week until your marriage. And if we’re lucky, I timed this perfect enough that maybe your purpose will truly begin.”

“ A baby .”

Warmth appeared in his soft smile. “Let’s hope.” He glanced over. “Ethan’s waiting for you. Go show him how much you’ve missed him.”

I pushed on my toes, kissing the Main Master’s cheek. “I won’t forget this.”

“I know.”

My smile grew as I stepped back, turning to Ethan. With every step that brought me closer, I felt the screams increase a little more. I wasn’t so worried about them as I gazed into adoring green eyes. I could have forgotten the world in our moment. And maybe a part of me did as he rushed forward, scooping me into his arms to kiss.

It was a kiss worthy of an Oscar. A kiss that stopped time itself. My heart had never been so consumed by bliss, yet so cold with abandon. Even as we held and lost ourselves in each other, the missing piece that lingered in the shadows always walked the razor’s edge of my mind. Cutting a little here. Carving out a little there. What happened when it finally cut itself free?

Only time would tell. Maybe it never would.

“God, I missed you. Fuck. Let’s never be apart again.”

“Never.”

“Let me look at you.”

Ethan leaned his head back, cupping each side of my face. His thumb traced over where the scar used to be.

“Do you hate me this way? I know you liked the scar.”

“Hate you?” His head shook. “The Main Master was right. Elec…” His lips pressed together. “He made me see that this wasn’t about me. A husband is responsible for creating the happiest environment for his wife. And that’s what I am, Pearl. I’m going to be your husband. I’m not your Master anymore. You needed this, and I’m just glad it’s me that gets to be by your side while you embrace your new self.”

As the waiter reapproached with a large tray, Ethan’s eyes lit up. He led me over to the table, pulling my chair up almost right next to his.

“I have a very special night planned for us.”

“Really?”

I took my seat, letting him push the chair in for me. Before he came around, he dipped down, kissing my cheek. I could see his excitement and the pure elatedness to have me back. He took his place across from me as our plates were put down before us.

“Pearl, I want this to be a testament for our new life together.” He reached for my left hand, holding it as he pulled a ring from his pocket with his other. The Mallory Diamond had me gasping and tears blinding me. I took it in, surrounded by smaller, equally dazzling diamonds. As he continued, he slowly slid it up my finger. “I will never let anyone hurt you again. Not even me. I will love you. Protect you. Honor you. And I will do everything in my power to give you a life far superior than any other man can provide. My role as a future husband and father ” he rushed out, “will come before any other role I fill. Let me love you like you’re meant to be loved. I promise you won’t ever regret it. Say yes and be my wife, Pearl. For real this time. The right way .”

Screams. They won for the smallest moment as I gazed around the room, seeing eyes all on us. But I was already nodding, smiling with tear-filled eyes as the ring slid into place.

“Yes.” I laughed, using my free hand to quickly wipe away the tear that escaped. “Yes, I will marry you.”

Ethan stood, leaning over the table to capture my mouth. His fingers buried in my hair, and for the briefest moment, the screams stopped. What I saw in the flash of my mind was red. So much red. What it meant, I didn’t know. I didn’t want to.

“I can’t wait to start this new life with you.”

He pulled back and the lids were lifted from our plates. The steak had my eyes shooting to Ethan’s. The smirk left my pulse pounding.

“I couldn’t see a more special occasion than this. Say hello to your father, baby. Like I said. No one will ever, ever hurt you again.”

Was I seriously smiling back? Was there an evilness to that smile? I felt like there was. And I was lifting my utensils, using my knife to cut into the tender, juicy meat.

Father.

My father.

I brought the bite to my mouth, taking it from the fork and closing my eyes as I savored the flavors that burst over my tongue. More images. A warping of colors that didn’t make sense. I quickly pushed it away, not wanting to know what it meant. When my eyes came back to connect with Ethan’s he was licking his lips and adjusting the tie to the suit he wore. He wanted me, and I couldn’t deny how much I wanted him.

Husband.

Husband.

“So good. As your future wife, I mirror your threat and bring a new one of my own. No one will hurt us again. Let them try. I really hope they do .”

The End.