Boxed Set: Dominated by a Billionaire - Part 10-12: Irresistible Billionaire by Emma M. Green Page A

the best, but if it were up to me, I’d go for simplicity.”
    “I didn’t ask for any of this,” I grumble, feeling hurt.
    “Sweetie, I’m sure that’s not what he meant,” my mother says, defending him.
    “I want to marry you, that’s all that counts,” he goes on, plunging his gorgeous gray eyes in mine. “I want us to say ‘I do’ in front of witnesses and to belong to each other for forever. The rest, the frills, the fuss and the sequins – that’s all extra.”
    “Extras I could have done without.” I smile, a little lost.
    Who are you Mr. Dark and Handsome?
    “By the way, did Daddy congratulate you?” my little sister suddenly asks, picking at her vegetables.
    “No, no news whatsoever since I told him on the phone. I mean, via voicemail, since he didn’t bother picking up… I guess he has other fish to fry,” I say, making a face, thinking about his future baby.
    “Yep, he’s getting ready for his new heir. He must be under pressure to get it right, this time,” Lily scoffs.
    “Alma, I wanted to talk to you about that, by the way,” Marie slips in, obviously uncomfortable. “Your father called me yesterday.”
    “What did he want? To tell me his chick is expecting quadruplets?” my brother grunts.
    “So..?” I ask, staring at my mother.
    “He said he wouldn’t attend your wedding,” she mumbles, barely audible. “You and Vadim… He refuses to approve of your relationship. Since your accident and the hospital, he is still convinced that Vadim is bad for you. I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn’t listen.”
    The news hits me and a thousand blades rip through me. I knew my father was selfish, but I wasn’t ready for this. Getting married without him. No father to walk me down the aisle. No first dance with the man who brought me into this world and who is supposed to love me unconditionally and stand behind my choices, whatever they are. Vadim is a fine man, a good man, who only wants one thing: to make me happy. Edward has no excuse. Not a chance, either. He can’t hold a candle to my Russian. That car accident is just an excuse; my father never gave Vadim the slightest chance. His heart is not big enough for that. It is made of stone. I finally realize it.
    “He doesn’t approve?” I whisper, oppressed by the unease that has settled around the table. “He doesn’t approve?”
    “Alma, maybe he’ll change his mind,” my lover tries to console me, stroking my cheek. “You have to talk to him…”
    “Why should I beg him?” I scream, jumping up from my chair. “Be good, Alma. Be kind, ambitious, respectable, correct, polite, loving! Be perfect, roll with the punches and shut up! That’s all he ever taught me, in thirty-one years! Now I’m living my life, making my own choices and if he doesn’t like it, he can go to hell!”
    My mother and sister get up at the same time, but Vadim motions to them to give me some space, a few minutes to get hold of myself. I lock myself up in my parents’ bedroom and pull my phone out of my jeans pocket. I open my text messages, tears rolling down my cheeks.
    I am blown away. The anger is starting to dissipate, and soon all I feel is sadness. My own father refuses to attend my wedding. His cruelty, his stupidity, his biases hurt me so atrociously. But I guess that’s the goal. Edward may be trying to get revenge. His children have taken sides: they chose to stand behind Marie, not him. Not to forgive him for his unfaithfulness, his cowardice. And I guess I’m going to pay for that.
    I don’t regret it a single second. If it were to do over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. My mother is a saint, my father is a piece of shit.
    My touchscreen had switched to standby so I switch it on again, then hit the keyboard without thinking:
    [You took Vadim away from me once, you won’t do it again. If you think he doesn’t deserve to be my husband, you don’t deserve to be my father. The choice is yours. Choose fast.