Page 66 of Reclaimed By My Ex’s Bratva Brother

The lunch rush was packed. The server recognized us and seated us in a back booth. Just one block from the office, but far enough that coworkers' stares couldn't follow.

I ordered soup without thinking. Winnie got a sandwich and coffee. Once the server left, she turned to me.

"What happened?" Her voice was gentle enough to make me want to cry. "You look like you didn't sleep at all."

"I don't know." The truth, and the worst part.

If Varlam had straight-up told me he was done, or that Brinny was back so I was useless, I could at least call him an asshole to his face. But there was nothing. Just a transfer notice.

Like everything changed, but no one would tell me why.

"It just happened suddenly," I said. "One minute, he was in the elevator..."

My throat closed. I swallowed the rest.

"Then that woman—his ex—showed up. He held her and left. Didn't look at me. When I got home, the transfer notice was waiting."

"He said it himself?"

"No. But it came from his email."

"Then how do you know it was his decision?"

I smiled bitterly.

Winnie raised her hands. "Okay, I know. Who else would dare make that call? But this still feels wrong. Too fast."

"Some people throw away what they don't need fast."

The words opened a wound in my chest. I forced myself to summarize yesterday.

Brinny asked me to get water, deliberately spilled lukewarm water on herself. When Varlam came in, he didn't let me explain—just checked if she was hurt, then made me apologize.

Winnie's expression darkened.

"He believed her completely. Wouldn't give me a chance to explain." Bitterness coated my mouth.

"She was faking it, and he was too stupid to see it."

Winnie said it too loud. The couple at the next table turned.

She paused, giving them a polite smile.

"Sorry. Discussing a very failed wedding."

They turned back.

I should've laughed. But my mouth barely moved before my eyes burned.

"He's my boss, but I have to say it—he's an asshole." Winnie hissed. "And that Brinny, using tricks this cheap—she didn't come back for her ex, she came back for a performance."

"But she won."

"Only because the judge was on her side from the start."

My fingers tightened. That was the part that hurt most. Winnie saw, covering my hand with hers.

"I feel so stupid. Every time, I wanted to believe he cared."