“We had no choice,” she whimpers. “We did something terrible trying to save the vineyard. It cost us everything.”
My head jerks back. “What did you do?”
When my father speaks, his voice is low and frayed. “We took a loan, stellina. For four hundred thousand. From a man we never should’ve gone to.”
“A loan shark,” my mom whispers, as though this asshole will just magically appear. “He threatened us. Said he would kill us. And you.” She swallows hard, taking a seat beside my dad. “ThenAleksei came. He offered to pay off the debt. Help the vineyard. Said he could protect us. All he asked for was?—”
“Me,” I cut in, my stomach turning. “All he asked for was me. My life. My future.”
“It wasn’t easy,” my mother cries, reaching for my hand, and I’m too numb to push her away. “We said no at first, I swear. But then Aleksei threatened us too, and we felt we had no choice.”
“I’m sorry,” Dad says softly. “Ogni giorno, mi maledico per averti tradita in quel modo.”Every day, I curse myself for betraying you like that.
“You should’ve come to me. I would’ve helped you. Butthis?” I shove the contract forward. “This wasn’t the way. I’m a human being.”
“Please,” my mother chokes out. “Forgive us. We did wrong. We know.”
I shake my head. “I…I just need space right now, okay? Can you guys give me that? Because it’s too hard to process it all right now.”
“Of course.” My father nods solemnly, while my mother silently cries.
I hate seeing them this way, and I feel guiltier for walking toward the door, but where doImatter in all this? Where doesmyhurt come into play?
Before I can stop myself, I rush out and get into the car, barely registering the slam of the door behind me. My fingers tremble as they grip the wheel, fury and heartbreak tangling in my chest like barbed wire.
I know exactly where I’m going next: to him.
To Aleksei.
He’s going to look me in the eye and tell me why he stood there and pretended I had a choice when every move had already been made for me.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
FIONA
The drive is endless,though I don’t remember the streets I take or the lights I run. Everything outside the windshield blurs into gray streaks of rain and motion, and my fingers grip the wheel until the leather creaks beneath them.
Every mile closer to Aleksei’s building feels like another step toward detonating something that can’t be undone. By the time I reach the glass tower, my stomach is twisted in knots. I sign in at security and mindlessly ride up the elevator to the top floor.
When the doors open, I spot his secretary behind a sleek white desk, phone pressed to her ear.
She looks up, smile automatic. “Good afternoon. Do you have an?—”
“I’m here to see Aleksei. I’m his wife.” My voice cuts through hers before she can finish. “Where is he?”
Her eyes widen. “Oh, Mrs.?Marinova, of course. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Tell me where he is. I’ll let him know myself.”
The woman hesitates, glancing toward the corridor. “He’s in the conference room at the end of the hall, but he’s in a meeting. If you wait?—”
“I won’t be waiting.”
I want the element of surprise.
My heels strike the floor in sharp, echoing beats as I move down the hallway. Each step seems to squeeze something tighter inside my chest, pressure building beneath my ribs. The contract burns against my palm, hot with betrayal.
When I reach the door, I don’t stop. I push it open. As soon as I strut in, the room falls with a heavy silence.
