“Trash.” The word flew out before I could stop it. I didn’t care. I was shaking with anger, and I was past the point of being careful.

I spun toward my grandfather. “How could you do this to me? I’m your grandson. Your only heir. And you sold me to a man like I was something you could trade away without a second thought?”

“Kai, lower your voice,” my grandfather said sharply. “Is that how you speak to your husband?”

“Husband." I let out a short, hollow laugh. The word tasted wrong, like biting into something rotten. “You say that like it’s normal, like it’s good.”

Tears I hadn’t planned...