Appeasement.
This was the universal expectation placed upon me.
I was suddenly overwhelmed by profound exhaustion and desolation. What exactly was my role in this house? Wife? Tool? Or merely some disposable ornament?
I curled up on the window seat, cocooning myself in the cashmere throw. Outside, the snowfall intensified, as though intent on burying the entire world beneath its weight. And here I sat, trapped in thisgilded cage, watching those crystalline fragments cascade helplessly downward. I had lost not only my freedom—it seemed my final shreds of dignity and autonomous identity were being systematically stripped away as well. How would I endure the endless days stretching ahead?
The thought sent bone-deep cold coursing through me.
Chapter Nine
Kholod
"Boss, Miss Vance has left."
"I know." I didn't look up, just stared at the surveillance feed on my computer screen. "What did they talk about?"
"Mostly women's stuff. Clothes, bags, makeup—that sort of thing. But..."
"Speak."
"Miss Vance mentioned Lorenzo Conti. She told Mrs. Morozov that Lorenzo got hurt trying to save her. And she advised Mrs. Morozov to behave and not anger you anymore."
My fingers froze.
Lorenzo. That name was like nails on a chalkboard.
"Keep watching her," I said coldly. "And check Isabella's movements too."
"Yes, boss."
After Dmitri left, I pulled up Noelle's phone records.
The phone I'd given her—every call and text automatically backed up to my servers.
I'd expected to find evidence of her carrying on with Lorenzo Conti, or plotting with the Bellucci family.
Instead, the records showed nothing but spam, ads, and communications with Sofia and Isabella.
Isabella's messages were all trivial nonsense—"Isn't this new Chanel gorgeous?" "Want to get spa treatments next week?" "I saw these shoes that would be perfect for you"...
Boring as hell.
But Sofia's texts piqued my interest.
The latest one came this afternoon. "Noelle, I know you're struggling right now, but you have to hold on. The family needs you. Kholod is a good man—he's helped us so much. You need to repay him properly, understand?"
Good man?
I snorted.
Sofia Bellucci was definitely a practical woman.
I scrolled up to find more of the same—
"Have you figured out how to get Kholod to help us again? It would be great if we could get that dock property back."
"Noelle, you need to learn to use your position. You're the lady of the Morozov house—that's your advantage!"
