Page 26 of Ruined By a Devil

I spot him at the other side of the pool, in the same place where he first kissed me the night we met. But then I notice a familiar figure standing in my path and I slow down.

Nolan.

He’s standing at one of the tall tables, leaning against it, with his drink still in his hand, and an expression completely different from the polite smile he wore earlier in front of the guests.

My stomach drops and I glance behind me instinctively. He’s really the last person I want to talk to, or even have anywhere near me. And the worst part is that I have to walk past him to get to Malachi. It’s either that or returning inside and having one of my cousins drown me in the endless sea of questions about my engagement. There are people everywhere around us, but everyone is too caught up in their own thing to even notice us. The music is loud enough to swallow a conversation, and Nolan knows it. Of course, he does.

“Move please,” I say.

He pushes himself away from the table, forcing me to stop. “You've got some fucking nerve.”

His eyes travel over me, but there’s nothing warm in them. His face is twisted and the sight alone makes the small hairs on the back of my neck rise.

“I don’t want trouble, please get out of my way.”

“You humiliated me.” He ignores my request and continues. “And now you want me to just move out of your way?”

I stare at him, refusing to engage in this conversation. A part of me is tempted to scream and call for help, but I’m scared of the consequences. Above everything else, I’m scared of how Malachi would react.

His jaw clenches as he continues. “You think this is funny?”

“No,” I respond. “I think you’re drunk and that we shouldn’t be having this conversation in the first place.”

“I’m perfectly sober.”

“Even more reason to let me pass and not ruin tonight,” I try to walk around him, but he steps in front of me again making my pulse race and not in a good way. “Nolan, please.”

“You were supposed to marry me.” He’s not even bothering to hide the rage in his voice. “And now you’re marrying Malachi fucking Kavanagh.”

“I don't owe you anything, Nolan,” I say, keeping my voice calm. “And I never agreed to marry you in the first place.”

His nostrils flare as he speaks. “You're a whore, Jade.”

For a second, I don't move. The insult itself, coming from him, doesn't hurt, but I would be lying if I said that the certainty in his voice doesn’t bother me. Like he genuinely believes he has the right to stand here and judge me. As if he has or had any right over me.

He takes another step toward me, forcing me to step back. The edge of the pool is now behind me, close enough that I can feel the dampness in the air against my bare shoulders. I shiver, feeling like a cornered animal. If he takes another step towards me, I’ll have to jump in the pool.

“You never had a say in anything,” he continues. “Your father is the one who gets to decide and he decided you were mine. Malachi took what belonged to me.”

“I never belonged to you,” I swallow even as the words leave my mouth.

His hand shoots out, catching my wrist and I suck in a breath. “You’re mine, Jade.”

“Let go.”

“You're going to marry me,” he says, ignoring me.

“You're insane, Nolan,” I stare at his fingers around my wrist.

“You'll marry me, Jade.”

“No.”

His grip tightens. “You will.”

“I said no!” I shout as his face comes closer to mine, and I can smell the alcohol on his breath.

“You think tonight changes anything? You think because he put his mouth on you in front of everyone, you're suddenly his?” His words are like needles on my skin and it takes all of my energy to just stay put.