“Dimitri?” she says softly, stepping off the balcony threshold. “What’s wrong?”
Her voice is cautious—too cautious. Like she already knows something terrible is coming but can’t yet see its shape.
I stand there, chest rising and falling, trying to contain the storm long enough to speak. But the truth is—I can’t. Not anymore.
I explode.
“Who did you talk to?”
My voice cracks through the room like a whip.
“A journalist? A friend? One of your little society leeches? A photographer?”
She flinches, just slightly, but she doesn’t look away.
Her chin lifts, trembling—but steady.
“I didn’t speak to anyone, Dimitri.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
The words are a snarl.
“Tell me who you called. Who you texted. Who you breathed around. Someone leaked it, and it sure as hell wasn’t my brothers.”
“You think I’d destroy myself just to hurt you?” she shoots back, voice shaking but clear.
I don’t answer. Because I don’t know.
A part of me….
A part of me doesn’t trust her.
Not after everything.
Not after the timing.
Not after the way she’s been pulling away like she’s already planning an escape.
When I finally speak, my voice is ice.
“We’re holding a press conference this evening.”
Vivian jolts as though I struck her. “I don’t want to show up in public right now. Not after everything they’ve said!”
“I wasn’t asking.” I shake my head. “You’ll stand beside me,” I continue, every syllable clipped. “You’ll smile. You’ll defend me. And you’ll make the world believe this marriage is real.”
Her eyes widen, horror spilling across her face. “No. Dimitri, I’m not— I’m not going to let you parade me like—”
“You don’t have a choice,” I cut in.
She stares at me like I’ve become someone she doesn’t recognize. Maybe I have.
“I won’t do it,” she whispers, voice breaking. “I won’t stand there and pretend when you’re accusing me of—”
“You will.” I step closer, my shadow swallowing hers. “You owe me that much.”
“I owe you nothing.” Her defiance flickers—small, but there. “I didn’t leak anything. I’m not going to sell myself for your image.”
