Chapter 10
“You’re bothering my woman,” Nikolai’s voice rang out, smooth and commanding. The words fell into the room like a threat. Ryan’s face immediately twisted with fury, his gaze snapping toward Nikolai as if daring him to continue.
Without warning, Ryan slammed his fist onto the table, his eyes locking onto mine, as if expecting me to back down.
“Enough with the games, Helena!” he barked. “You’re my wife, and there is no one else I could ever love. You wanted to make me feel guilty, right? Well, you’ve succeeded. I’ve learned my lesson. But please, Helena, let’s go back to how things were. We belong together. You wanted a baby, right? Let’s have one.”
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Before he could say anything more, my hand moved of its own accord, and I slapped him across the face. The force behind it was undeniable.
He winced, but despite the sting, he forced a bitter smile, his voice dripping with false calm. “Go ahead. Hit me as many times as you want, but we’re still meant to be together.”
“Together with a dog like you?” I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity, my words sharp and cutting.
Nikolai, who had been watching Ryan’s tantrum with amusement, now stepped forward, his presence as imposing as ever. He pulled me gently into his side, his arm wrapping around my waist possessively, like a shield.
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“Five years ago, Ryan,” Nikolai continued, his voice smooth and chilling, “your mother tricked Helena’s parents into believing you were some kind of hero–worthy of someone as pure as Helena. But isn’t it true that your mother was once a prostitute for the former mafia don? And that you’re nothing but an illegitimate son?”
Ryan’s face twisted in fury, and without a word, he lunged at Nikolai, throwing a punch with all his might. But Nikolai barely flinched. He caught Ryan’s punch effortlessly and, with a cruel twist, twisted his arm behind his back. I heard a sickening crack as Ryan’s wrist broke.
Ryan’s eyes never left mine, though the pain was evident on his face. He was waiting for me to react, to feel something–anything- but I felt nothing. The man he once was, the
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I placed a hand gently on Nikolai’s arm, halting him before he could do any more damage. “It doesn’t matter to me, Nikolai. He’s a stranger now. Let him go.”
Ryan’s history, his betrayal, his lies–they were all irrelevant. I didn’t care who he had been or what he had done. What mattered now was that he was no longer a part of my life.
I stood up to leave, ready to walk away from everything we had been. But as I took my first step, Ryan’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.
“Helena, please. We’ve been together for five years… Baby, you’ve never once turned against me. You’ve loved me through
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everything. How can you be so cold now? I understand that you’re angry, but don’t listen to him. Come back to me, Helena.”
His grip tightened, desperation in his voice, but I yanked my arm away from him, my heart as cold as the look in my eyes.
“I’m not coming back, Ryan. Not now, not ever.”
I met Ryan’s frantic, desperate gaze and gently pried his fingers off my wrist.
“I’m marrying Nikolai soon,” I said, my voice cold and deliberate. “It’s best you keep your distance. My fiancé might misunderstand.”
