So, that was the game that Dima was choosing to play, hm? Very well. She’d go along with it, for now. This was what she had meant when he’d asked her so long ago about her supposed hatred for him. In this moment, she does hate him. He’s making this task INCREDIBLY difficult. Why did men have to make everything so complicated this way?
Still, Anastasia was not one to back away from a challenge. So she marches up to Dmitry with a determined gleam in her eyes – so clear a man could look right through them and see her inner workings. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love you, Dima. You know, it was Nona who pushed me to chase after you? If it made me happier than any amount of gold or dresses?”
“Fine then, if that is what you ask of me. We can go. Right now. Find a courthouse, grab Vlad and Lilly and Nona and then we can…. we can be together. But there is one condition here, Dima. We stay in France. With Nona. We can live comfortably. Never have to worry about anything ever again. Silk sheets, porecelain bathtubs… don’t tell me you haven’t dreamed about that too. A life of no worries after so long on the streets. That is my condition. We only get married if you agree. No other way.”
The Dowager told her to chase after him ?? Now he knew this was a JOKE. After the way he behaved ??( dmitry could still f e e l the STING along his cheek ). It mattered not that he didn’t take the money, that he now had absolutely no desire for it —— what was he to them ??
N O T H I N G ——— that’s what. && that would never change.
Russet orbs stare deeply into her own, never once even THINKING of parting ways. Dmitry oh so wants to believe her, a l m o s t does, but this is TOO GOOD to be true. These sorts of things never happen. History will always repeat itself, the conman learned that much from all his studies ; from how his life has gone, there was NO GOOD that could come from it.
“You want me ?? To live in your world ??” Now he scoffs, rough hand rubbing the nape of his neck. Hands sweat, digits tingling with nerves. He’d make a fool of himself, of her && her family. “The press will LOVE it Anya. They’ll never leave it be. I’m ——”Not one for the limelight. A wanted man in the papers for something positive (ish??) — that’s unheard of.
“Of course I have Anya, who wouldn’t ?? Doesn’t mean I’m IDIOTIC enough to believe that could ever happen for me ; so F I N E . Go on && get them. We’ll get hitched. Once you hear what the press will have to say, you’ll be GONE anyways.” Heart sinks, brow rises in CHALLENGE nonetheless. Arms extends for her reach, another disbelieving laugh parting from dry lips. “Lead the way, your highness. We have a wedding to get to.”
