Chapter 2

Aria POV:

My flat refusal made the air in the living room drop below freezing. Brennan's eyes turned bloodshot. He reached into his pocket, pulled out an unlit cigarette, and crushed the filter between his fingers.

He stared at me in disbelief, clearly furious that the quiet wife he treated like a doormat dared to talk back. He threw the ruined cigarette onto the expensive rug and sneered.

"You've grown a spine, Aria."

Tucked safely against his chest, Brittny curved her lips into a triumphant smile where he couldn't see.

Just then, the private chef stepped out from the hallway and bowed slightly. "Mr. Hurley, late-night dinner is served."

Brennan pulled his glare away from me, wrapped his arm around Brittny's shoulders, and walked toward the dining room. I stood still for a second, tossed the humiliating contract back onto the coffee table, and turned toward the stairs leading up to the second floor.

Brennan stopped dead in his tracks. "Get over here and eat with us," he ordered without looking back.

I paused on the first wooden step, my fingers gripping the banister. "I already ate."

He spun around, marched back in three long strides, and grabbed my wrist. His grip was so tight it felt like my bones were about to crack.

"When I tell you to come, you come," he gritted out through clenched teeth. "I make the rules in this house."

I twisted my arm to break free, but there was no fighting the brute strength of a pro hockey player. He dragged me into the brightly lit dining room.

A long oak table was covered with French dishes, silver cutlery gleaming under the crystal chandelier. Brennan pulled out the chair to the right of the head seat for Brittny like a perfect gentleman. Then he pointed to the very end of the long table, as far from them as possible.

"Sit," he commanded.

Rubbing my aching wrist, I pulled out the chair and sat down stiffly. The chef poured ice water into our glasses and left.

Brittny picked up her fork, cut a small piece of foie gras, and took a bite with an exaggerated sigh. She turned to Brennan with a sweet voice.

"Honey, this is amazing. Try some."

Brennan leaned in and ate the piece right off her fork, reaching out to stroke her hair affectionately. I stared down at my empty bone china plate, my stomach churning violently.

Suddenly, Brittny set her fork down, picked up a small porcelain bowl near her plate, and stood up. She walked down the length of the table and pushed the bowl right in front of me. Inside were several small pieces of meat cooked in heavy spices, making it impossible to tell what kind of animal it was.

She leaned her hands on the edge of the table, looking down at me with undisguised malice in her eyes.

"Aria, you're way too skinny," she said, dragging out her words. "You need to eat more meat to keep your strength up."

I looked at her coldly. "Take it away. I don't want it."

At the head of the table, Brennan slammed his water glass down on the wood.

"Brittny is being nice enough to serve you herself, and you're giving her an attitude?" he barked. "Eat it! Right now!"

My face was completely numb as I picked up my fork, speared a piece of the meat, and slowly lifted it to my mouth.