Page 79 of Betrayal and Vows

“No.”

Relief floods over me but I know there’s still a secret.

“An—”

“No.” He stops me. “My real name is Alexei. Alexei Orlov.”

It lands like a bomb. And it keeps detonating.

Orlov.

As inVadimOrlov. Mikhail’s father. The man who has puppeted my fate since I was born. The devil who moves people around on his chessboard.

“What? You’re an Orlov?”

“I’m Vadim’s son,” Anton—Alexei—says flatly. “But only by blood.”

I have never been interested in learning anything about the Orlov family. I don’t care.

If I’m forced to bear the Orlov children, I will never tell them about the family.

Because I don’t care.

“Illegitimate,” I say. It makes sense. It’s not like monogamy is a thing in our world. The men are allowed to take any woman they want—willingly or not.

“No,” he says. “He was married to my mother.”

My mouth drops open. I had no idea Vadim had been married to someone before Natalia.

“Oh,” I say with a shake of my head.

I have a million questions but this is Anton. He’s not exactly an open book. I have to choose my questions carefully. I have a feeling I’m only going to get a couple.

“Your father.” I inwardly groan. That wasn’t a question. I’m just so—shocked. “I mean, I’m sorry. Please, tell me everything you want.”

“He tried to have me killed when I was six.”

The world tilts and there’s a loud buzzing noise.

Or maybe it’s just me. Shock. Anxiety.

“I don’t understand.”

He looks at me and something about the way he does makes me ache. Like a man unburdening a ghost he’s carried too long.

My heart hurts for him.

This isn’t a joke. Or some twisted story to garner sympathy.

My hand brushes his face, tracing the scar once again.

He’s not an affectionate man, but I have to touch him. Offer comfort that words will not provide.

I reach for his hand and gently squeeze. He doesn’t pull away, but he does look away. He’s back to staring at a particularly ugly bush.

“My mother’s name was Irina,” he says. “She was married to Vadim when she was eighteen. Had me a little over nine months after the wedding. I don’t remember much, but from what I have learned, Vadim met Natalia. They began their affair when I was very young.”

He stops and gently brushes his thumb across the back of my hand.