Chapter 24 - More Lies

"Meet my daughter, Prisana Visalyaputra. Her husband, Giovanni Blair."

Prisana's father proudly beamed this, as he motioned toward the both of them. It was the first time in three months she had seen her father ever since his betrayal. Under the sparkling chandelier, her father's well-being came to light as he was healthy and happy as ever. He still harbored the politician's glint and voice that drove her mad.

Compared to Prisana, he must be dwelling in the wealth from the marriage and gaining publicity in his candidacy. Prisana was a walking, miserable object that held the arms of her husband only in appearances.

Giovanni had his arm wrapped over her. She could only fake a smile and then when time allowed, glare at the intimacy she could not refuse. When her dear husband beamed his fake smile, it was a smile so fake it made her want to expose him for what he truly was.

And then there was her father...The man that threw her away to further his own ambitions. He was acting like they were loving toward one another. First, praising and then doting upon Prisana like he was the number one father in the world.

Everything made Prisana sick. Father. Giovanni. This shimmering upscale atmosphere. Music that sounded like scratching nails upon floorboards. All she wanted was to go back to the cabin and perhaps, to the beast inside the cabin.

Now Prisana knew that she would never meet him again in this lifetime and it would be for the best if she wanted to live a life of seclusion by herself. Away from everything. Time was ticking as it was the third month that her father reminded her she would be forced to sign the certificate. By then she would hope to be long gone.

Prisana looked to the man her father introduced her to. Harry Plaskitt was someone she knew very well as he sought out her hand in marriage once before. He was a very persistent man. She heard a lot of nasty rumors about him. The rumors proved true as Harry cornered Prisana before, trying to kiss her.

Of course her 'loving husband' beside her did stop him once before but she wondered if he even cared about any of that now.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Plaskitt," she stiffly spoke to him, giving him one of her most dazzling smiles to hide the disgust she felt inside.

Mr. Plaskitt boldly took her hand without permission. He grasped it against his lips and kissed it. She could feel his slobber leak onto her hand. It took every ounce of self control not to vomit. But father and everyone else who loved to kiss up to her father was watching her every move.

"The pleasure is all mine. Why Gio, I didn't know you were married to such a beautiful woman."

Lies. He knew full well Giovanni and Prisana were engaged since the beginning of time. It must be due to her father's hawk like gaze that made him act like a stranger. The moment his lips retreated, Prisana quickly pulled away. When doing so, another man she even more so despised wrapped one arm over her shoulder. She almost gasped but held her smile.

Her hips stuck unnervingly close to Giovanni as she watched his fiery blue gaze rain down on Harry. Surely he wasn't...angry? No, it was due to the fact that he wanted to play a doting husband in front of her father's followers.

"Hands off my wife, Harry. You're making me jealous," Giovanni said with slight laughter in his voice. "I don't want another man to touch her."

Prisana's father and the crowd bought his beautiful lies.

More lies on top of lies.