Chapter 34

THIRTY-FOUR

The next morning,I defiantly slammed the alarm clock countless times, but it wouldn't stop. The agitating buzzing kept sounding as if it were taunting me that this was not my apartment where I could do as I pleased. This wasn't some job I could feign an illness and call in sick. No, if I didn't obey and abide by their rules, then this was a death sentence.

I was hoping Conrad was simply agitated, jealous even, that Bradley was in my room alone with me. There's no way he'd marry me today. I almost laughed at the idea of it all until a moment later, the bedroom door slid open.

"Demi! What are you doing in bed still?" Becca stormed into my room, wearing a stunning short white dress with white tights and the same cushioned platform shoes. Her blonde hair was in ringlet curls, and her big, green eyes popped against the makeup she had layered on.

Why's she so dressed up?Swallowing the lump in my throat, I pushed upward in bed. "I'm not feeling well. I don't know how I'm supposed to work today." I forced myself to cough into my clenched fist and sniffled.

"Oh well, good news for you… you don't have to work! Honestly, I don't think you'll have the same job anymore now that you're going to be the next Mrs. Ivory!" Becca wiggled her fingers excitedly.

My breathing hitched as I realized the magnitude of it all. Conrad wasn't joking around; he was going to force me to marry him. Today.

"I think there has been some major misunderstanding. I need to talk to Mrs. Ivory." I tossed the blankets from my body and quickly ran into the bathroom as my stomach flipped. Gripping the bathroom sink, I dry heaved as my body broke into a cold sweat.

No, no, no… I cannot marry him. I will not marry him. You can't be forced into marriage.

"Darling Demi…" His voice sent chills up my spine as my name left his lips, and when I looked up into the mirror, I saw his reflection behind mine. Freezing, I didn't want to turn around.

"Come with me, dearest little bird," he cooed with his hands stretched out toward me. Turning around as slowly as I could, I looked into Dr. Ivory's eyes. "Please?" He nodded at his palms. My body was covered in chills as I swallowed and he squinted at me.

Placing my hands into his, I flinched as he closed his bony, cold fingers around mine. Guiding me to the bed, I swore my heart stopped in fear as flashbacks of this man hovering over my body in the middle of the night battered my mind.

"I've convinced Conrad to give you more time before your nuptials."

Lifting my eyes to Dr. Ivory, I couldn't believe this was the person helping me—and I knew better than to trust him. "Really?"

"Yes. You still have to get acclimated to our family, and it must be terrifying to think you're going to marry someone you haven't even gone on a date with yet. So today, my sweet girl, you and Conrad will be spending the day together in the gardens, having a picnic and planting your own peony bush. Planting a peony bush in our gardens is a tradition for each to-be-wed couple in the Ivory family. We've done it for generations." Dr. Ivory sat at the edge of my bed and tugged me onto his lap.

"I'll sit beside you?" I didn't know why the statement came out as a question, but it was the most awkward feeling sitting on a man's lap when he was clearly sexually aroused while discussing my marriage to his son.

"No, you'll sit right here where you belong… on me," he breathed into my ear from behind. He raked his fingers across my spine as if he were counting each vertebrae.

"I'd like to share why peonies are so very treasured in this family. Did you know there was once this gorgeous nymph named Paeonia? She was mesmerizing and consumed Apollo, the son of Zeus. Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, grew jealous of Paeonia and turned her into a peony flower." Dr. Ivory paused as I tried to interpret the meaning behind the Greek mythology story he was telling me.

"I always thought that the story was flawed. I can guarantee you, Demi, it wasn't Aphrodite who turned Paeonia into a flower. It must have been Zeus. He wanted the woman who was meant for his son, and if he couldn't have her, then no one should. But you see, sweet little bird, I'm not a monster. I want my son to have you, taste you, feel you… enjoy every single part of you."

It felt as if all the blood in my body had drained. I was sitting on Dr. Ivory's lap, facing away from him with my back against his chest. Pulling me in closer, he bit at my earlobe before licking it.

"No!" I tried to jump off, but he tightened his grip around my waist and tossed me onto the bed, pinning me down with my wrists above my head.

"Conrad will taste you first, because I'm an amazing, selfless father, but I can promise you… if you don't willingly let me have my turn, I'll turn you into a beautiful flower myself and put you in my garden where I can admire you all to myself." He licked my entire neck before shoving his tongue into my mouth, kissing me as I cried out in protest.

"Mmm… delicious," he groaned as he pushed off me. I scrambled up my bed to the pillows and hugged my knees to my chest.

"I can't handle your beauty, Demi. You know, I always assumed I enjoyed a certain type of woman. But it's true, my Conrad has excellent taste. I love the way your sultry brown eyes look at me. I love how I know you want me just as badly as I want you. I love how I know you're untouched, and you're a tight little virgin, dying to be pleasured." Peeling his scrub bottoms off, I cried softly as fear, panic, and terror muddled inside of me.

"No. Please, no," I whimpered. Looking around my room, there was no escape. I couldn't even open the door myself.

He pulled his briefs off and I slammed my eyes shut, whispering to myself that I was going to be okay. But I didn't believe an ounce of what I was saying; I wasn't going to be okay when this man forced himself on me.

"Demi, open your eyes. If you don't open them… Bradley will die," he warned.

Flinging my eyes open, I knew better than to gamble with this devil. His hand was around his hardened penis, and he smiled with satisfaction as he began to stroke himself. "Demi, yes… Oh fuck, you're so tight, gorgeous," he moaned out, staring into my eyes while he pumped faster.

Stomach acid rose in my mouth as I cried harder and began to shut my eyes again. "Close them and he dies," he grunted as he licked his palm and continued pleasuring himself. Prying my eyes open, I swallowed the burning acid in my mouth as it scalded my throat.

Ian Ivory turned around and opened my dresser drawer. Peeling a pair of my panties out, he walked closer to me, and said, "Hold them with two hands."

"Please, no." My voice trembled as I begged for him to stop. I prayed the tears flowing from my eyes would blur my vision completely.

"If you care for Bradley, you'll do as you're told, Demi. Do not play with fire because you will only get burned." Ian forcefully opened my hands as I made a face of disgust at the feel of his clammy fingers against my skin.

Holding my panties in my palms, he began stroking himself again until he closed his eyes and yelled my name in pleasure. His semen soaked my panties that were in my shaking hands as I sobbed harder.

Once he was done, he looked at me and grabbed the underwear. "Now, open your mouth," he hissed.

I couldn't stop sobbing, and as soon as my lips parted, he shoved the dampened panties into my mouth. The saltiness of his semen caused me to immediately gag as he pushed them farther in.

I began choking, unable to breathe with my nasal passages completely clogged and my mouth stuffed with the dirtied underwear. Bile rose in my mouth, and I turned away toward the floor and spat the panties and a mouthful of vomit out.

Ian laughed wickedly behind me. "Clean that mess up, Demi. Don't make my home filthy." I didn't hear him leave, I didn't hear the door open or close, but after a few grueling minutes, I wiped at my mouth and looked over.

He was gone.

I forced myself out of the bed and ran into the bathroom. Grabbing the mouthwash, I filled the cup and swallowed half of it. I wanted to clean my mouth, my throat, and every single part of me he had touched. Brushing my teeth rigorously, I climbed into the shower and waited for the water to steam before sinking down and crying while I scrubbed my body.

But no amount of stinging mint mouthwash or soap could make me feel clean after that. My skin was raw as I shoved my finger down my throat forcing myself to vomit.

"Demi?" Becca called out and opened the shower curtain.

Slapping my arms around my breasts and drawing my knees up, I screamed, "Becca! Get the hell out!"

"Demi… calm down. I can't leave without you. I have to get you ready for your date. Conrad is waiting." She had changed out of the formal dress back into her usual white suit.

"Please hurry. They don't like to be kept waiting." This time, she didn't say it with her usual quirkiness or joy. This time she was hoping I'd do as she asked so there wouldn't be further repercussions.

"I can't do this." I cried and pushed myself up. Quickly rinsing my body off, I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around myself.

"Please, Demi. They'll hurt me if you don't."

Tears trickled down my face as my eyes burned the same way my throat did. I had no choice. Everything I did would impact someone else. I was numb. Completely numb.

Sinking down into the small stool, Becca opened her large makeup tote and hurriedly began working on my face. I didn't feel the feathering of her brushes against my skin, I didn't feel the irritation against my eyes as she lined them with eye makeup. I didn't feel her blow dry and brush my blonde hair. I didn't feel anything anymore.

Perhaps, I never had.

Perhaps, I never was meant to feel in this lifetime.

Spinning me around, she handed me a tube of lipstick. "It's best when you apply it yourself." She tilted her head with a semi-smile.

Rolling the tube up, I stared at the nude lip color and lathered it over my lips. I didn't want to look at myself. I didn't care to.

"This white sundress will be perfect for today." Becca pointed at the outfit she must have laid out while I showered.

I changed into it, then followed Becca out. The doors opened and sunlight immediately hit my skin, but it didn't feel warm and reassuring. It was just light reflecting against my skin.

"There's your prince charming." Becca clapped happily as she looked in the direction of Conrad, who was seated at a beautifully decorated table for two in the middle of the garden. But I didn't notice anything about him; instead, I noticed Bradley, who stood by his cart with food and drinks lining it.

They were making him serve us.

My heart ached as I walked toward the table and Conrad jumped up to pull the chair out for me.

"You are a vision, Demi," he said as if he had not just threatened me the night before. "I was distraught that my father pushed our wedding back another month, but I suppose we have a lot of things to do in order to have the most beautiful wedding."

"Bradley pour my bride her wine," Conrad barked at him.

"Did you know this wine is freshly crafted with ingredients from our family vineyard in Napa, and our peonies are also blended into it?" Conrad lifted the glass to his lips as Bradley hesitated before pouring the blush-pink liquid into my glass.

"Drink it," Conrad demanded as my eyes locked onto Bradley's.

Taking a sip, I let the smooth liquid numb my mouth. I didn't care if it was poisoned… I actually hoped it was.

Chugging the entire glass, Conrad smiled proudly. "Delicious, right?"

I nodded. It was the first time I'd ever had alcohol, so I pretended the bitter taste didn't burn my throat. Or that I knew in a few minutes I'd probably be buzzed. Hell, I hoped it'd make me forget this entire day.

Bradley stood with his arms behind his back as we ate our meal, and Conrad talked about his dreams and ambitions. He rambled about his hobbies and his friends back at school he was excited to connect with when he was back at school.

"Am I going to be moving with you?" I asked curiously.

"Mother and Father want you to stay here if we conceive on our wedding night. They'd be able to provide you and our baby with the best care as I finish my medical training, sweetheart. We have exactly two months to conceive. I don't doubt that I'll be able to impregnate you on our wedding night or during our honeymoon. I'll visit you every weekend and then, we will eventually take over the family business together."

"Why do you need to become a doctor if you have this business?" I chose to pretend I didn't hear a word about pregnancy and babies. I chose to pretend that he didn't say those words to me. I knew my mind wouldn't be able to handle the thought of carrying a child from this family and being bound to them forever.

"Because there will always be weak girls who need to be… well, put down. But, my love, we don't waste our merchandise. The weak ones are perfect for well, fertilizing our soil or home décor. These peonies bloom from soil that is…" Conrad's tone had shifted completely. "Pour my bride another glass, Bradley."

"I don't think she should—" Bradley began.

"I hope a bastard like you doesn't actually think he has any say in what my soon-to-be wife does? Pour the glass or I'll smash your face with it," Conrad shouted violently.

"I don't want one." I looked at Conrad as Bradley poured a small amount into the glass.

"You will drink it, then you'll come with me so I can show you something…" he snarled. Grabbing my hand in his, we walked toward the peony garden—the same garden I knew, without a doubt, I saw a young woman's dead body bleed out in.

When we got to the garden, the swing was there, repainted in a fresh coat of white paint. I could see Misha's body bleeding out with her body crumbled on the swing. But when I looked at the swing today, it wasn't Misha's face I saw… it was my sister's. Stumbling back, Conrad constricted his grip on my hand.

"What is it my love?" He rubbed his thumb against the back of my hand as I stayed silent. "Bradley! Bring the plant!" he shouted again.

Bradley appeared, holding a small plant with tiny, closed buds and a bag of what I assumed were gardening tools.

"It's time for our Ivory family tradition."

What did he mean by putting the weak girls down? What did he mean by using their merchandise to fertilize the soil?

Bradley laid a small blanket down by the gorgeous blush-pink peonies. The heavenly scent of sweet citrus floated around us, and it felt like such a paradox to the darkest place in the world.

"Here, dig a hole for us, will you?" Conrad handed me a small shovel. I so badly wanted to bash his face in with the shovel, but this was survival. What would I do? Kill Conrad in front of Bradley, then sprint out of a house that every single door stayed locked in? What kind of torture would Ian Ivory put me through if I did something to his precious and only son?

I sat on the blanket and began to dig, brushing at the soft dirt with my freehand. "These are the peonies you just drank the wine from, beautiful," Conrad said proudly as I continued to dig. He took the small plant out of the wrapping and suddenly, my shovel hit something.

Jamming the metal into the dirt again, I assumed it was a root, or maybe a clump of dirt that had grown cold and hard?

Brushing away the loose top layer, I let out the loudest, sharpest scream I'd ever heard leave my lungs.

"Oh my God!" I pushed away on my heels, flinging the shovel away and crawling on all fours like a terrified animal.

"What is it?" Conrad asked without emotion. Bradley lifted me from the ground and held me in his arms as my body convulsed and my voice grew hoarse from the shrieks I couldn't stop.

"Demi, it's okay… Just breathe," he whispered against my hair, brushing my back.

I couldn't breathe, my ears were ringing from the echoes of my own voice, and my heart was pounding so hard I thought it'd crush through my chest walls.

"I… It was… Brad… I…" I fumbled through my words that made no sense.

"Oh, babe… it's just this. This is what made the wine you just consumed so very sweet." Conrad stood and held up a finger. A crushed, stabbed finger.

My head felt fuzzy, and suddenly, everything went black.