As you pushed open the door to your separate bedroom, you released a loud sigh you’d been keeping in through your whole awkward and uncomfortable dinner with Rafe. You kick off your stiletto Jimmy Choo’s, your feet sinking into the plush carpet. You hated this. This had been your first dinner with Rafe, and it would be your first night sleeping in his house. You already wanted to go home, but you couldn’t. You were the dutiful daughter, you did everything your parents asked of you, no matter what it cost you.

An arranged marriage with Rafe Cameron was what they’d asked of you, and you’d reluctantly agreed. This was so far from the type of relationship you’d dreamed of when you were a kid. You didn’t even know Rafe. You certainly didn’t love him, or think you would. He’d been cold at dinner. You’d asked questions trying to get to know him, but he’d mostly ignored them. Most of his attention had been on his phone, answering texts to god only knows who. One night and you were already lonely, already wishing you had a backbone when it came to your parents so you weren’t stuck engaged to this asshole. You stuck up to everyone else, but you’d never been able to when it came to your parents. Maybe it was because nothing you seemed to do made them happy, you had this innate need to please them.

You sit down on the large king sized bed, sinking into the memory foam mattress. Your gaze lands on the nightstand, where Rafe left you a black Amex and jewellery box. You open the box, looking at the large, princess cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds on a platinum band. You lift it out and slide it on your finger. All that you feel is emptiness, and a heaviness from the ring that feels almost suffocating. No romance here, that was for sure. There’d been no romantic proposal like you’d always dreamed of. Nope, assface Cameron had just left the engagement ring on the table for you to put on yourself.

God, you were pretty sure you hated him. How were you going to pretend to Outer Banks society that you were happy and in love? There would be engagement photo shoots, engagement parties and then the wedding itself. Nothing you wanted. Hell, you were already fantasizing about being a runaway bride and leaving Rafe looking like an idiot standing by himself at the altar. You could never do it, but it made you feel slightly better to imagine it.

The bedroom door opens with a bang, and you glance up to see Rafe standing in the door. Of course he didn’t knock, that would require manners that he clearly didn’t happen. You grind down on your teeth, trying to stop yourself from yelling at him and telling him exactly what you thought of him. Behave, you tell yourself repeatedly. You force your mouth into a fake smile, that lacks all of the usual warmth you’d have if you were smiling at anyone else.

“Is there something you need?” You ask through gritted teeth. You’d thought you were free of him for the night after that dinner. That had been agreement. Separate bedrooms, separate lives behind closed doors.

“There’s a party at the club, and as my fiancé, you’re required to attend princess.” He smirks at you, the mocking tone of the nickname making it clear that it wasn’t meant to be a cute pet name.

“Put your heels back on, and that red lipstick you always wear and get your ass out the door” he commands, making you want to slap him.