Feigned Marriage

chapter 19

Sky's POV

I'm barely thinking straight as I walk to our bedroom, tears streaming down my face and P'pai on my heels. "Baby," P'pai pleads. "Please. Please trust that I'll fix this."

I whirl around to face him. "How?" I shout. "How will you fix this, P'pai? Articles about us are all over the internet. It isn't as simple as suing just one single magazine, and even if we do, it's too late!"
I walk into our wardrobe and yank my clothes off the hangers, my movements erratic.

"Sky," P'pai says, his voice breaking. "What are you doing, Cupcake? You can't... don't do this. I beg of you, don't do this, Sky."

I shake my head and grab my suitcase. "I'm not spending another moment in the same house as him. I've tried, P'pai. For years, I've tried, sacrificing my damn soul to keep him happy in the process. I can't take much more."

He grabs my shoulders and holds onto me tightly, panic flashing through his eyes. "You're insane if you think I'll let you go."

I shake my head. "I'm not giving you a choice, P'pai'. I can't do this. I can't spend the rest of my life being tormented by my own brother. I can't deal with the constant snide remarks, the guilt trips, the manipulation, the lies."

"Then I'll make him leave, sky. There's nothing I won't do to ensure your happiness."

I wrap my arms around his neck and look into his eyes, my heart breaking.
"You know your grandmother won't let him leave. Grandma isn't going to give up until she resolve the companies issues. I can't... I just can't do this."

"What does that mean, my love?"

I take a step away. "I don't know yet, P'pai. I just... all I'm asking for is some time to think, nothing more. I can't be around him right now. I can't sit back and watch him attempt to destroy my life. Not again. I'm scared that if I stay, I'll do or say something I'll regret. I can't bite my tongue right now, and the last thing I want to do is harm him."

I start to fill my suitcase, throwing things into it without thinking. The mere idea of being around james right now makes my skin crawl. "Besides, I need to think about whether this is truly what I want. There's no doubt in my mind that I love you, P'pai." I pause and turn to face him. "But let me give you a moment of honesty. I'm not sure our love can survive him. He tore us apart once, and we both know he won't stop until he does it again. What kind of life is that?"

P'pai drops down to his knees in front of me and grabs my hands. "I know how hard it is, baby. I know I shouldn't even be asking this of you, considering everything you've been through so far, everything you have yet to endure, but I'm not above begging. I can't see a life without you, Sky. I'm begging you. Please, let's find a way to get through this together."

I shake my head and pull my hand out of his. "I need some space, P'pai. All I'm asking for is a little bit of space to think about what I want. All my life, I've catered to everyone I loved, but not once has anyone asked me what I want out of life. Even marrying you was something I was told to do. I'm tired of living my life by other people's rules. I can't keep doing this. All my life, I've been manipulated, forced to conform until I fit in the boxes others built for me. And I did it — with a smile on my face. What for? What did I do it for, P'pai? This marriage has cost me my sanity and my career, and that would be worth it if I'd got you in return, but I didn't. Even now, after the price I've been forced to pay, it's the three of us in this marriage. And I... I don't know if that's something I can live with."

P'pai stares down at the floor, still on his knees in front of me. "One week," he says, his voice soft. "I'll give you one week to think things through while I fix the mess James caused."