Standing up, I give Marie a hug and a tight smile. “Thank you so much for listening. And for understanding.”
“I’m here whenever you need me,” she smiles.
Downstairs, my brothers are all in Artur’s office. I can hear them in a heated discussion about me and my betrayal. And the wedding. They are all agreeing with each other that it’s the best option, which gives me no hope at all.
With a heavy, aching heart, I duck out the back door that I came in, tapping my pocket to check that the car keys are still there. I won’t leave them again, but I need air. I need to drive and think and clear this heavy feeling resting on my shoulders.
It’s as easy to get out as it was to get in. Maybe they haven’t told the guards to double down yet. Too busy planning my wedding to some asshole stranger.
I jog slowly to the gate and slip through it, out onto the road outside the property, then walk slowly around to where I parked my car out of sight.
Yulian’s car, actually. The one he bought for me when I first arrived at his place. A custom pink little 4x4 that makes me smile every time I get into it. It still seems ridiculous that he did that for me before he even knew me.
And when I think about it, as I have often, I can’t think of a single moment when he treated me badly. I was a princess living in his castle. He took care of anything I needed. He gave me freedom I’ve never felt. He gave me my dream. My own studio. Clients to design for.
I was actually happy there.
I mean, truly, genuinely happy.
If it wasn’t for the guilt of leaving my family, I would have stayed.
But then again, how can I stay when we are enemies, and at some point, whether now or in the distant future, it would have to come to an end?
Tugging the car keys out of my pocket, I press the little button on the fob, and the door clicks unlocked with one beep and a flash of the lights.
As I’m reaching for the handle, though, someone grabs me. My stomach drops, my heart somersaults, and before I can scream in terror, a hand slams over my mouth.
But as soon as the man pulls me close, I recognize his cologne. He drags me into the passenger seat of his car and slams the door closed. I don’t bother trying to get out. I sit quietly, waiting for Yulian to climb in on the driver’s side.
He pulls away, tires screaming against tar as he does so.
“You thought you could just leave like that? What was your plan? To feed your brother's information about me? Was that why you stayed?” he snaps, turning the corners too roughly, making me slide around in my seat.
My heart is so heavy I can’t even find the words the respond.
First, my family thinks the worst of me, and now Yulian does, too.
Maybe I am the monster in all of this. Maybe I am the bad guy after all.
Chapter 15 - Yulian
The car skids around corners as I drive like a madman to escape their territory. My heart is racing with adrenaline. My palms are sweaty against the steering wheel. I don’t think anyone saw me coming in, and I don’t think we’re being followed out, but I don’t want to take any chances. And my adrenaline is more to do with her than being chased by anyone.
Seeing her face, finding her there outside her family's house, it spiked my anger, the hurt, the confusion.
“How could you betray me like that, Katerina? Why would you do that? I trusted you. I tried to give you everything you wanted. You didn’t even talk to me before you left. You could have left a note, just letting me know you were done with me, that you were going—anything. I was worried sick, thinking you needed help, only to find out you’d gone back to your brothers.”
I’m furious. But it’s only a mask to hide the hurt she’s caused me.
My entire body is breaking down from stress and the idea that Ilosther. Today has been hell. I still don’t know if I have lost her or not. My heart refuses to accept it, but my mind is plagued by logic. She left. She went home. She didn’t even tell me. She chose to walk away from me in a coldhearted betrayal. Shedidthat. It’s just the facts. Why, though?
My hands are gripped tightly around the steering wheel, my knuckles white with the force of it. We’re free of the Krolik territories and back in the city.
Katerina hasn’t spoken at all. She’s subdued, looking miserable. Is she upset because I caught her again, because I’m forcing her to answer my questions? Fair questions that I think Ideserve answers to. I was kind to her. I didn’t treat her badly. I’m about to tell her this when I steal a look in her direction.
When I glance at her, I notice her hands shaking. It makes me pause, my foot easing off the accelerator for the first time since we drove away from her brother’s place. My heart clenches.She needs me.
“Kat?” I mutter, reaching out to touch her leg.
