And yet, I keep my mouth closed.
Sarah and Amanda help me into the church. The front entranceway is empty. I know behind the large doors in front of me is the main church where Nikolai is waiting for me.
“Are you excited?” Amanda asks.
I don’t respond.
The door behind me is ripped open and my dad surges on in. The sight of him is so shocking, it takes my breath away.
“Dad?”
“You’re coming with me,” he says, grabbing my arm and tugging me towards the exit.
“No,” I say, wrenching away from him. “What are you doing here? You have no right to my life anymore. You…” My eyes flick to Sarah and Amanda, who walk away to give us some space. “You sold me off,” I whisper.
“And that bastard Nikolai is the one who bought you. I didn’t want him getting his hands onto you.”
“But he bought me. Won’t you get the money? All your debts will paid off. You should be happy.” There’s a venom to my voice that has never been there before.
“You don’t get to talk to me like this. I am still your father.”
“You sold me,” I hiss. “You lost all of your rights. How could you do that to me?”
“Nikolai didn’t buy you. I never received the money owed to me. So I am taking you back. Come along.
“What do you mean? He paid six million dollars for me.”
His eyes widen. “What? I never got any of it. I called the theater this morning and they said that Nikolai took you. He never paid.”
Nikolai didn’t pay… So that means he never actually bought me. That makes my stomach feel funny in a way I can’t explain.
“That bastard was trying to marry you without paying off my debts. I will not allow that to stand. Now come along.”
“No,” I scream, backing away from him. “I don’t trust you anymore. You’re going to sell me off to another man the first chance you get. I know it. I won’t go with you.”
“So… what? You’re just going to marry Nikolai instead? He refuses to help me, Irina. Your own father. He wants me under his boot.”
“Maybeyoushould pay off your debts by yourself and not include me in that.”
“Are you disobeying me?” The incredulousness in his voice is obvious.
I hesitate. Is that what I am doing? I’ve never done it before in my entire life.
“You’re coming with me,” he snarls, grabbing my arms. On instinct, I rake my hands down his face. He lets out a shout and pushes me back so I land on the hard ground.
At that moment, the doors to the main church open up and Nikolai storms into the entranceway.
“What is going on here?” His eyes land on me before they turn to my father. A hard glint. His expression is made of stone. “Ivan. Feel free to join our wedding.”
“You owe me money. You bought my daughter. Pay up.”
Nikolai’s laugh is cold. “I will do no such thing. I am not going to pay for your daughter. What I will do is marry her and honor our original deal. You’ll work for me and pay off your debts. Simple as that. Now, Irina and I are getting married.” He offers me his hand and I only hesitate a moment before taking it.
Nikolai pulls me to my feet and gazes down at me with concern. “Are you all right?”
I can only nod. Does he truly care for me? He’s a confusing man to say the least.
“Now, Ivan, either come join the wedding or leave. But I am marrying Irina. If I were you, I would want to get on my good side.”