The Marriage (Darkest Lies Trilogy Book 3), Bethany-Kris [books for 8th graders txt] 📗

Soon, Sylvia or someone from the staff would be knocking on her door any minute now. Even though she was hungry, she didn’t want to eat any of the breakfast they’d bring her. She still would because health started with providing her body with what it needed, even if that was food that she couldn’t really taste.

Not that she wanted to, but Karine was sinking into that lonely hole of abandonment and betrayal again. Though she worked hard to tell herself what she felt today might not be the same as what she woke up feeling tomorrow, it didn’t seem to matter. She wished her emotions weren’t so constantly broken, whipping back and forth to create a storm she couldn’t escape.

A soft sigh of desperation escaped her lips, and she fell back into bed—just as there was a knock on the door, and she had been considering hiding back under the blankets.

“Go away,” she called out.

Either not hearing Karine, or just not caring, the lock on her door clicked loudly swinging open to expose Mrs. Hughes, one of the women who worked closely with her. She leaned just far enough in the doorway to show a brilliant smile.

“Oh, good, you’re awake, Karine. Your father is here to see you, and I just wanted to check if you’re okay with that.”

What?

She stared blankly at the woman, sure she’d heard her wrong. Her father?

“Sylvia is at a bad location today, cell service is spotty—we also can’t reach your husband to clear the visitor, but your file filled out by him did check off immediate family as approved visitors. And it is noted in your file that having guests really does improve your mood and days. We’re willing to accommodate the visitor for a short time, if you’re interested.”

It was almost as if she was saying no harm, no foul. We won’t tell if you won’t. Karine was beginning to think there was more than one thing about the Twin Rivers facility that wasn’t exactly above board.

Karine just blinked.

She was sure that box had been checked by her husband either by mistake, or simply because there wasn’t another option. Maybe he’d been distracted.

Alarm bells rang in her mind.

Silently, but loud all the same.

“Karine?”

“My father—you’re sure?”

“Maxim Yazov. You did mention him the other day when we went on our walk, remember?”

But briefly, in passing.

She knew better than to spill the truth about her father and every sordid detail of her history.

How did Maxim find her hiding place? If he was even alive like Roman claimed. It was just a theory, and he didn’t have actual proof that Maxim was alive.

What if it was Dima claiming to be her father? Or one of his men. Was he that cunning?

Mrs. Hughes must have finally noticed the hesitance in Karine because she stepped into the room, and closed the door slightly behind her. Leaving only a crack open. “You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to. I can ask security to escort him out. We certainly weren’t expecting any guests for you, and you’re not required to have any. I simply thought you’d like the choice either way.”

Karine could feel her lungs collapsing painfully in her chest. The possibilities of danger were endless, and suspected the staff in the facility had never truly known the full scope of her situation. Otherwise, this wouldn’t be happening in the first place.

However, this could be her only chance. To put an end to everything.

If it was Dima and he’d found her, she wasn’t going to be safe here anyway. It was already too late. Or perhaps her father had come to collect on his dues.

Maybe this was her opportunity to put everyone out of their misery.

“Yes, you’re right. I would like to see him ... but not out there with everyone else. Could I have privacy in my room, and see him here? Thank you.”

*

Karine quickly changed out of her pajamas, splashed some cold water on her face, brushed her teeth, and tied her hair up in a tight ponytail after Mrs. Hughes had left her room. She didn’t want to appear weak, even if she felt like exactly that.

She stood at the end of the bed with her hands clasped at her front. Outside the door, she could hear Mrs. Hughes’ voice and footsteps, muffled but getting closer with every passing second.

The harsh knock on the door made Karine stand a little straighter—and then it opened.

She heard the exaggerated sound of air rushing into her lungs and then blowing out through her nose. Mrs. Hughes was smiling up at the taller, older man with broad shoulders. His three-piece suit was cut perfectly to his large form.

Karine wasn’t listening to anything being said. The only thing she could do was stare at the face of her father.

It was him.

Maxim Yazov stepped into the room, peering around as if nothing he saw bothered him, and he was perfectly comfortable in the unknown surroundings. Finally, his gaze rested on her. Karine searched for words to say, her spine ramrod straight, and heart beating against her ribcage wildly. How was a daughter supposed to react to a father who had given her away? A father who had disappointed her—neglected her in every possible way?

Maxim looked at Mrs. Hughes with a charming smile, one Karine recognized from her father. It drew people in, meant for them to think they were safe in the gaze of a predator.

“Thank you for your help,” he told the woman. “Really appreciate the accommodation today, yes? I’m sure her husband will also be ... thrilled you made an effort.”

Karine swallowed hard, her stare darting to Mrs. Hughes who seemed entirely entranced by the handsome, older man beside her.

“Of course,” she replied. “I’ll let you two get at it. I’m sure you have a lot to catch up on. Just to note, should you require help, you’ll have to knock on the window of the door, as staff remains