Chapter 6

"Who gives you the right to sleep on my bed?" Dice's cold voice echoed in the room, and I quickly jumped to my feet.

"I... I didn't mean to..." I stammered, twisting my fingers together in a futile attempt to calm my trembling.

What the hell is wrong with me? This isn't part of my plan; everything will be ruined if I don't get it together. I shouldn't be trembling like this in front of him. If I show any weakness, he'll use it to his advantage, thinking he can make my life miserable and make me suffer—just like he intended. But I won't let that happen.

I need to start acting brave in front of him; I won’t give him the chance to make me suffer. If I want to move past my misery, I have to stand my ground.

I took a deep breath and looked straight into Dice's eyes. His voice from last night felt different from the one he was using now, and his expression was not friendly at all.

"Does that mean he doesn't know it was me last night?" I thought, wondering what the hell was going on in his mind and what was his plan.

"No, of course, he’ll know it was me. There’s no way Dice wouldn’t figure it out. I think that’s why he planned the marriage—just to make me suffer..."

"If I hadn’t met him last night or lost my mind and didn't think twice before letting him fuck me, he wouldn’t have planned the marriage. Damn it!" I thought, while Dice continued to stare at me with a questioning look, his face a mix of impatience and anger.

"Nevertheless, I won't let him treat me any way he wants. Instead, I'll focus on my plans to make Nessa and Henri regret everything, and my parents," I thought, a slight smile escaping my lips.

"I'm sleeping on our bed because we're about to get married, future husband," I replied, the smile still on my face. I felt a surge of happiness in my heart for how bravely I had just spoken to him. I realized I was going to enjoy this anyway.

I could see an evil smirk escape Dice's lips the moment I said that, and I could swear my heart skipped a beat in fear. But just as quickly, the fear dissipated, as if it had never been there. I realized it was because I recognized that smirk. He seemed to know exactly what he had in mind for me, and perhaps he thought my words were just a self-deception. That’s why my heart raced for those few seconds. But I promised myself it wouldn’t happen again, no matter what. I have to be able to control my heart; that's the only way I can survive here.

I won’t let him make me suffer or hurt me; he won’t succeed in carrying out his evil plan against me. That’s final, and nothing will change that. A smile returned to my face as I exhaled softly.

“Did I just hear you say ‘future husband’?” Dice asked, his tone laced with sarcasm, coldness, and hatred. But I had fortified my heart against fear, determined to keep my smile intact.

His words right now are making me wonder if he knows I was the one from last night. He didn't speak to me with hatred and coldness then, which is one reason I didn't recognize him last night. I don't know why I'm fixating on this when I've already convinced myself of why he didn't talk to me the way he is now. Still, it's driving me insane, and deep down, I really want to know if what I'm thinking is true.

I made sure my curiosity didn’t show on my face. If what he did last night is part of his game, then he might really be ready to take me down until I’m nothing again. But I won’t let him win. I’m prepared to do whatever it takes. As for my curiosity, I think I’ll find a way to uncover the truth myself.

"Yes, you heard me right. Are you, not my future husband, just like you wanted?" I replied, mirroring the sarcastic, cold, and hateful tone he had used. This time, I saw Dice scoff, like a devil ready to pounce on his prey.

I exhaled loudly to dispel my fear, forcing myself to stand my ground as Dice began to walk closer. It took every ounce of self-control I had to keep myself from backing away. This time, I was determined to stay in control of my emotions.

Dice stopped right in front of me, and I didn’t move back an inch. My eyes were fixed on his face as he smirked, but then his expression turned serious.

"You’re suddenly acting brave, huh? That’s fine, but don’t worry—I’m going to take that bravery and your smile away from you very soon. You’ll be nothing but empty, Liliya."

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, Dice, but I'm not letting that happen. You should know that I won't be the Liliya you can make suffer. Instead, you'll be marrying the opposite. So just understand what you're getting yourself into," I said, a proud smile escaping my lips once more.

"There's no need for me to explain how I'm going to ruin you. You know you don't deserve that smile; you deserve pain. You know what you did to me, and you were supposed to be dead a long time ago," Dice said again, his tone menacing. I chuckled, refusing to let his words make me shake or feel scared.

"And you should also know that was a long time ago, and you—" Before I could finish my sentence, Dice suddenly grabbed my neck tightly with his hand, and I started choking immediately.

His eyes were red with anger, making him look like a monster. I began hitting his hand away from my neck, but he refused to let go.

I was becoming breathless, tears streaming down my face, when Dice suddenly released me.

"You don't deserve an easy death, so it's not your time yet. But remember, your suffering will begin tomorrow, Liliya Orlov," he said with a sinister grin. Finally, I managed to catch my breath.

"I'll take that as our game starting tomorrow, and we'll see who wins in the end," I said with a smile before rushing to the bed and falling onto it.

Dice's eyes turned red again, filled with fury. "What a nerve," he spat, his gaze sharp enough to cut through me.

"Come to bed, future hubby. You must be tired from getting angry," I said, deliberately trying to provoke him further. I could see it was working from his eyes, and I couldn't help but smile to myself.

More is still coming, Dice Rexroth!