His Broken Princess

Chapter Nine

Good relationship needs patience.A man who can stay silent and stand in solidarity even in her chaos is the man any woman needs. Someone who would take time to learn her edges and jagged curves and still falls for her. -A. Gupta

Violet

I walked through the aisles, the displays on either side of me were filled with clothes of various colours and sizes and designs. To be honest they were beautiful, and unlike me any normal person would be all over them, excited to have them. But I couldn't imagine myself wearing any of these dresses.

So far I only chose three articles. Two long sleeve shirts that were a size bigger and a pair of socks that I liked. I wasn’t lying when I had expressed to Mrs Carter that I already have too many clothes. Both Kiara and Brenna had been too kind to bring me things that I didn't even use. They had stocked my closet with clothes of every kind, even after knowing that I won't wear those denim shorts and halter tops. Kiara had even brought me makeup that I haven’t even tore the packaging off from. All those things were sitting as untouched as the day she stored them in my dresser.

But despite all of that, even now when I looked at the cart it was full— not from the three things I put in it, but from how many things Cold had thrown in it. He did it without looking at me and each time I had to grit my teeth because I knew he was intentionally ignoring me. Living with Carters and him, I had come to regret only one thing about my silence: that they ignore me and don't look at me when they want to do something for me, especially when they knew that I wouldn’t allow it.

So they just pretend that I’m not shaking my head and I’m not trying to catch their attention. And those times I wished, I wish, that I could open my mouth and scream at them and tell them that I know what they are doing.

I walked to him and stood in front of him as he picked out another dress, this one was light purple with pink flowers on it. His thumb and fingers slightly caressed the material. And I watched those fingers. Remembering how not even fifteen minutes ago he had held my hand. Those tan, lean fingers had intervened with mine. I had forgotten how to breathe in those precious moments when those moving steps had taken us up a floor. I had stood still, not only because I was afraid, but also because for those moments I had felt secure and warm. And I was petrified to my core as I tried to understand what that meant. He had squeezed my fingers when we had reached the upper floor and whispered for me. “Now.” We both had stepped forward and then I had felt stranded when his hand had left mine, those strong fingers slipped from mine.

 Now, he promptly ignored me as he turned around and put the dress in the cart. Before he could move the cart forward, I snatched the dress from it. Those beautiful sherry eyes darted toward me, they slid down to the dress in my hand before coming back to my face.

I held up my notebook. Page turned to the one where I had written in big capital letters. ‘I DON'T NEED ANY MORE DRESSES.’

Those eyes narrowed imperceptibly before his hand came up and he plucked the notebook from me. Frowning I stepped forward to take it back from him but he rolled it and slid it at the back of his jeans. Eyes wide I just stared at him. The corner of his lips twitched. And then he said, “You will get your notebook back when we reach home, not before then.”

I wanted to stomp my foot on his. Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I contemplated him. He arched his brow. Huffing, I signed, ‘I am not going to wear this.’

He took the dress from me and put it back in the cart. He said, “You will.” I opened my mouth but I couldn’t voice the word. Never. I will never. And instead I heard him adding under his breath, “Someday, you will.”

I stayed quiet after that, not that I was going to say anything but also he took the notebook. And he wasn’t paying me any attention. He walked through the boutique like he owned it, like he was the one Mrs Natalie sent for shopping. He plucked dresses after dresses. Shirts and pants. Socks and sneakers. And scarfs.

I trailed after him, not paying any attention to him as I knew he would do what he wanted to do. But then after some time I realized he had stopped moving and his shoulders were tense. I peaked over him and saw it.

Lingerie section.

Oh.

“Excuse me, Sir?” We both turned at the same time, his arm brushed my side and I gulped. Even through the fabrics of our clothes I felt the warmth of him and it was the catalyst to how I felt goosebumps rising on my skin from that warmth. “Can I help you?” The woman asked as she gestured at the racks of lingerie in front of us.

I felt my cheeks warming up as nerves coiled in my stomach. He cleared his throat and that rough voice made me feel like someone was tickling me. I wanted to hide somewhere. And a small part of me wanted to look up at him. He said, “Yeah... Um..”He turned toward me. I looked down at my sneakers as I felt his gaze on me. So heavy and tangible like he wasn’t just looking at me but touching me and I liked it. I liked the caress of his eyes on my body. It wasn’t like those beady dark eyes that had felt like insects were crawling over my skin. It wasn’t intruding. It was warm and something inside me wanted to welcome it more. His eyes on me felt like the first rays of sun in the winter morning. First peak at the sky after living in the dark underground for years.

 “You get whatever you like or want. I’ll be waiting at the bill counter.” He was saying to me but by the time I looked up he was already striding toward the counter with the cart, taking the comfortable warmth with him.

“You are so lucky.” The woman said to me, a smile on her face. I frowned at her. Seeing my confusion, she said, “You are newly married, right? And still so shy around each other. It's so cute!”

I licked my lips and my eyes once again went to where he stood with his hands in his pockets. Back leaned against one of the glass doors, he looked out of the shop. I shook my head. The woman looked down and I followed her gaze, realizing that she was looking at my left hand, particularly at my ring finger. “Oh...” She murmured. “I am sorry. I thought...” She waved her hand and then motioned toward the colorful lingerie and said, “Come, let me show you. We have got a new collection this week. If you are not there yet, this might help.”

I silently listened to her and shook my head at everything she asked. My eyes were darting toward him, wanting him to stop this madness. But he wasn’t looking at me. He even took my notebook with him and I didn’t know how to tell this woman that I didn’t want anything. And walking away felt like being rude to the poor woman when she was just doing her job. She held up pieces after pieces that made me blush and some of them even made me confused. How does one wear that? Oh, this one didn’t even hide the important bits. I wasn’t ever going to wear any of these in this lifetime and not a thing about them appeared appealing to me.

The woman started to sound less enthusiastic and I could see that she was also getting irritated with me as I haven’t said a single word. She held up another piece. I only caught a flash of light blue silk and without seeing what it was I nodded. I took it from her, fisted it in my hand. I was about to turn away and make my way toward the bill counter when she gasped like I murdered a little rabbit. “You can’t treat it like that.” She squeaked out and took it from me. “Let me pack it for you. I’ll send it to the billing counter, you go ahead.”

Sighing and taking a deep breath of relief I turned around and walked to where he was standing. His eyes finally cut to me and I stalled, there was that flicker. The flicker I have only seen three times now. The first time when he visited me in my bedroom. Second time when he yelled at that kid. Third time when I had asked him why he hated me.

But, he didn't hate me. No. He didn’t.

Then why was he once again looking at me like he was furious with me for something I have done? Swallowing, I looked away from him. When I reached the billing counter I held out the card Mr Carter had given me. I had rejected it but of course no one listens to me when they want me to have something. Mr Jared Carter had said that he would think that I didn’t trust him and respect him enough to take what he was giving me. His next words had made it impossible to refuse and had my throat tight, “I am doing what any father would do for his daughter. And believe it or not, you are part of this family, Violet.” I had accepted it.

But now as I held the card out to the cashier another sleek black card appeared beside mine and his rough words caressed my ear as he spoke to the cashier, “Take this one.”

Frowning, I looked up at him but he stared at the cashier. The cashier, of course, took his card and swiped it for the bill. “Please wait for a few moments, sir. We will pack your things.”

Cole nodded and turned around to face me. I held out my hand. He arched his brow. I imitated writing. He sighed. “I told you I will give it back to you when we reach home.” I narrowed my eyes. “Do you want to say something?” He questioned.

Gritting my teeth that I was afraid they would turn to dust, I held up my middle finger. An abrupt soft chuckle left him and I stood there frozen. He was smiling. And he was so beautiful. His eyes were bright, those golden rings in them bigger and shinier. Slowly, his smile disappeared as he realized that I had frozen and was watching him in fascination. I never thought that a man could be a beautiful creature.

All the Carter brothers were handsome and they weren’t evil, maybe dark but not evil, but this one was beautiful. I always thought that men could be nothing but monsters. But now after meeting the Carters and now in this moment, looking at him, I didn’t think he could ever be a monster.

After a few minutes that I remained standing there with his eyes boring into me, the woman from earlier returned. “Here you go. We hope you return soon.” She held out the bags for us. Four of them. And before I could, Cole stepped forward and took them from her.

He thanked the woman and turned to me, as he said, “Let's go.”

I listened to him only because I didn't have my notebook. Once I got my hands on that thing I will let him know in big capital letters what I thought about his highhandedness.

A.Gupta