Chapter 6 He’s A Monster

"Steven," I called out after excusing myself from Malik. By the time I reached him, we were well away from the party.

I told Malik I was going to the bathroom. That’s the only way I could get away from that man.

Steven ducked into the terrace, and as soon as I stepped in after him, he exploded.

"What the hell, Eli! How could you do this to me?"

I froze, blindsided. He was yelling at me for something I had no control over. Something I didn’t even want… not even for a second.

The shock hit my mind before my eyes could even show it.

"You kissed him in front of everyone. How could you do that?" He pressed.

"You think I had a choice?" I shot back, disbelief twisting my voice.

"Oh yes, you do. You could have moved, pushed him away, but you didn’t. You stood there and kissed him!" He growled

I could see the disgust on his face—but does he really think I wanted that? I wanted to kiss a man I was forced to marry?

"You can’t be serious right now, Steven," I said in disbelief. "Malik is my husband and there were hundreds of people there, I can’t possibly push him away in front of everyone."

Steven suddenly went silent. His eyes darkened, and I could tell I’d hurt him by reminding him that I’m with someone else now.

"Oh, of course. How could I forget, you’re married to him?" His voice dropped as if I had just betrayed him.

But is it betrayal when I married him after we broke up?

"Steven, come on," I said, taking a step closer.

He stepped back. "No, you’re right. He is your husband. You have all right to kiss him, to touch him. To love him…" His voice lowered as he said the last part "You should be with him Eli, not here with me."

I could hear the pain in his voice, but I didn’t know what to say or how to make him feel better.

I know I was wrong to just get married without any warning but Steven also left me without any warning. At least I didn’t have a choice in this but Steven did. He could have stayed with me, sticked to the plan we agreed on but he didn’t.

Steven and I fell in deep silence for a moment before he quietly asked "Why did you do this to me Eli."

"Do what?" I asked

"Betray me." He said lifting his gaze to look at me "You went off and married another man."

"I didn’t have a choice, Steven," I said, my voice low but firm

"You could have said no." He said, his voice suddenly rising "You could have told me. I could have done something."

I scoffed "Really? How could I have told you when you left me on the stop." The reminder of him doing that suddenly crushed my mind and I recalled how much I cried.

My voice heaved as I continued "You rejected me, Steven. You turned your back on me first."

"Yes but for a job, not to marry someone else." He defended

"That’s even worse. You left me for a job… a job Steven."

He scoffed. "Don’t you dare turn this on me. You know how much I needed that job. And I was going to come back and make things right once I was settled. I was going to marry you, Eli, like we planned."

I don’t know if what he’s saying is true but deep down I wish it was.

"How was I supposed to know that?" I asked, my voice cracking. "You rejected me, you cut ties with me, how was I supposed to know you’d come back to marry me?"

"Would me coming back have changed anything if I had told you I’d be back?" He asked. "Would it have stopped you from marrying him?"

I stayed silent. I knew it wouldn’t- but how could I tell him that? I don’t want to break his heart.

He read my silence and scoffed. "See… You would have married him anyway. So me telling you I’d come back wouldn’t make any difference."

He’s right.

I sighed heartily "I didn’t have any choice. I had to marry him so Sarah would pay for my dad’s treatment."

"What?" He questioned

"Yes." I nodded. I told Steven everything that happened leaving no detail behind.

He didn’t speak for a moment as he processed everything I said. Then finally he said, "You made a big mistake, Eli."

"I know… but I didn’t have a choice."

"Yes, but not that. Marrying him is your biggest mistake. You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into. That man is insane." He stepped closer to me. "Alpha Malik is not who you think he is. He’s a monster."

"Steven…" I sighed. I can tell he was only saying this because he didn’t want me with Malik but it’s already done. He’s my husband now.

"No, I’m serious," He insisted. "I’ve only worked with him for a few days, and I’m telling you, I’ve seen the way he does things. He has no heart and…"

"Steven, please stop," I cut in not wanting to hear his lies "I don’t want to hear all of that."

He scoffed. "You think I’m saying this because I’m jealous, don’t you?"

"Why else would you be saying it?" I asked.

"Because it’s the truth. He’s dangerous, and if you stay with him long enough, you’ll see it yourself."

His words hit me harder than I expected. A part of me almost believed him. After all, this was Malik we were talking about. He is cruel, rude, and mean, but a monster? I didn’t think so.

Just as I opened my mouth to reply, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Before I could turn, I caught the change in Steven’s face. His expression tightened, his eyes wide with fear, as if he had just seen something behind me.

I turned and there was Malik, standing there, looking furious.

My heart dropped.

Did he hear everything?