Page 116 of Queen’s Gambit

“Thank you,” I said, lowering my eyes to play my role of dutiful and happy wife.

“There are my grandchildren. They grow so quickly. When do you and Christov think you’ll be having more?”

“Oh…I….”

“That is a conversation between me and Yulianna and not appropriate for the ballet. Shall we go to our seats,” Christov asked.

At that moment I saw all the parallels between Christov and myself, but it didn’t matter. He’d set this ball in motion. He could’ve chosen anyone, but he picked me to get back at Eddie. I would never forgive him or Alina for their treachery, greed, or the part they played in ruining my life.

Mr. Ivankov senior slid his arm through mine. “Very well, but I’m escorting Yulianna inside. I want the rest of the men to be jealous.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I said, looking at Christov and Alina, who both looked furious for totally different reasons.

“Nonsense, my son can’t tell me what to do. At least, not until I’m six feet under, and maybe not even then.”

I was quickly regretting attending the ballet, and that said a lot.

A few hours later, I had just finished tucking Lilya in and walked into my bedroom to change when I smelled smoke. I ran to the bathroom and there was a fire in my garbage bin.

“Oh my god.”

Pulling off my shirt, I wrapped it around my hand, grabbed the edge, and tossed it into the tub.

“Ouch.”

Sucking in a deep breath, I shook out my hand. It didn’t look burnt, but that metal can was hot. I turned on the faucet, and it didn’t take long for the fire to go out. Looking around, I tried to figure out what could’ve caused it.

“You really shouldn’t leave candles burning unattended, Yulianna. That’s how accidents happen. Good thing you found that fire so quickly,” Alina said, and I turned to see her standing in the middle of my bedroom, watching me.

I swallowed hard as I stared into her crazy eyes.

“Get out of my room, you lunatic,” I growled and marched toward her, my hands clenched.

Like the coward she was, she giggled and ran out the door. That was fucking creepy. I thought I knew creepy, but that was a whole other level. I almost expected her to run away on all fours like someone possessed in a horror movie. Grabbing my phone, I sent Mylo a text. He was downstairs getting a bite to eat but had already taken over for Vlad.

Y: When you come up, I want you to stay in Lilya’s room. I’ll keep the adjoining door open.

M: Did something happen?

Y: This place is getting crazier by the day.

After checking the hall for Alina, I locked the door. I was tempted to pull my dresser in front of it. This had to be about tonight and was most likely a one-off tantrum, but still…I needed to be more vigilant than ever before.

Lilya – Three Years and Five Months Old

Something wasn’t right.

I’d been feeling lethargic all day, but now my stomach was upset, and I was suddenly wheezing. I stumbled out of Lilya’s bedroom, and Mylo grabbed me before I collapsed.

“Yulianna, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” he said and started to carry me away.

“No, you can’t leave Lilya here. Call my mom first. She needs to be here. Christov won’t deny her entry.”

He eased me down to the floor and took out his phone. I grabbed my stomach as the pain intensified and nausea hit. Mylo was talking, but all I could focus on was the garbage pail at the end of the hall. I crawled over and vomited just as Mylo grabbed my hair, pulling it up and out of the way.