Chapter 4
But I didn’t.
Ander’s hand shot out, seizing mine with an urgency I hadn’t expected. His gaze dropped to our joined hands, brow furrowed as he processed the contact, confusion clouding his expression.
“Thank you,” I muttered, though I couldn’t suppress the elation in my smile. Ryan tightened his grip on my arm, studying me with an intensity that seemed to pierce through to my very soul.
“You’re smilingbears the birdeal?” His voice was low heavy with something I couldn’t place. Was it disbelief or jealousy?
I nodded, unable to hide the satisfaction
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curling in my chest. “Yes.”
Ryan’s face darkened, the pressure of his grip making my skin burn. As the weight of his gaze grew too much to bear, I flinched, pulling away instinctively. His fingers recoiled as if stung, and only then did he notice the fresh wound on my arm, the one from my earlier fall.
“Helena…” he began, his voice softening, though there was no real concern in his tone –just a hollow attempt at care.
“It’s nothing” I said, brushing him off with a careless flick of my hand. “Just a scratch.”
Out of the coffeest tayhebrsaw Catherine watching, her expression unreadable. She had been waiting for this moment, no doubt. The tension was thick, a weight I couldn’t ignore, and it seemed to unsettle her to see
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Ryan’s attention so suddenly shift to me.
“Hey, Helena! That diamond ring is stunning” Catherine’s voice bubbled with false
sweetness. “It’s a couple’s ring, isn’t it? Where did you buy it? I’ve been thinking of getting one for Xandr, but he threw his away. I guess he didn’t like it.”
The mention of the ring made my chest tighten. The ring–the one Ryan had once slipped onto my finger with promises of forever. I watched his empty hand, and for a moment, the realization hit me harder than any blow could. He had discarded it without a second thought.
But I kept my face neutral, masking the ache inside.
“Nothing special,” I said with a tight smile. “You can find these anywhere.”
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Catherine’s smile faltered, disappointment flickering in her eyes. She had expected me to react, to fall apart, to show some emotion. But instead, I gave her nothing. No jealousy, no anger, no drama. Just a quiet resignation.
f my f
As I left the diner, I didn’t even look back. The moment the door closed behind me, I ripped the ring and tossed it onto the ground. I crushed it beneath my heel, feeling an odd sense of liberation. This marriage had taken everything from me–it had killed my child.
But my anger wasn’t done yet. I picked up the ring again, holding it in my trembling hand, tears welling in my eyes. This time, I hurled it into the nearest trash can, my hands shaking as the weight of it all settled in.
4/13 –
My phone rang.
I wiped my eyes, sniffling as I answered, not even realizing how my voice cracked.
“You did well, the voice on the other end rasped.
I froze. It was him. Nikolai Federico.
The merciless god of death.
“Nikolai?” My heart stuttered in my chest.
“It never suited you, honestly,” he said casually, almost as if he were talking about a dress or a pair of shoes. “Diamonds are just overhyped rocks. When you’re mine, I’ll give you something far better–a ring with a golden rose, sapphire inlayed. The sapphire because it reminds me of your golden eyes. And the rose… because I know it’s your
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favorite.”
I could feel my pulse quicken, but I tried to keep my voice steady. “This is a business deal,” I said, though I knew it wasn’t. Not for him, at least.
“For you, it’s Nikolai replied smoothly.
“But for me, it’s about revenge. Taking Ryan’s woman, making her mine–it’s all part of the plan.” He chuckled darkly. “Don’t worry about tomorrow. I’ll send my people to pick you up. If things get messy, I’ll keep you safe.”
Before I could respond, a shadow fell over me. I turned, only to find Ryan standing right behind me, his eyes narrow with suspicion. I quickly ended the call and looked at him coldly, my heart still pounding.
“What business deal?” Ryan’s voice was sharp, demanding answers.
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“With the French,” I replied flatly, refusing to look him in the eye.
He didn’t press, but the silence in the car was deafening. As we drove home, he glanced at me from the rearview mirror more than once, but I didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, I stared out the window, watching the familiar scenery pass by for what would likely be the last time.
That night, I didn’t go into our bedroom. I made my way up to the attic, craving the quiet, the solitude, and the view of the stars. I had never spent much time up there, but tonight it felt like the only place I could breathe.
When I woke up, I found Ryan sitting beside me, his presence almost suffocating in its silence.
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“You don’t need to cook. I’ve already ordered breakfast”
We sat in silence, the only sound coming from the soft taps of my fingers scrolling through my phone.
“Where’s your ring?” Ryan’s voice cut through the quiet, his gaze locked on my bare finger.
“I lost it.”
“I’ll get you a new one.” His words were casual, but when I merely hummed in response, his demeanor shifted. He set his knife and fork down, and I could feel the tension building in his voice.
“You wanted to go on a movie date, right? How about we go today?” I wanted nothing more than to stay home, but the thought of
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him pushing me into something if I refused made me nod in reluctant agreement. Besides, I figured going out would give Nikolai an opportunity to make his move, and I wasn’t about to let that slip by.
When we arrived at the theater, Ryan suggested booking the entire floor for privacy. I shrugged, not seeing the need, and picked a horror movie.
Before, when I was still invested in this marriage, I would’ve chosen a romance- something that felt like a typical couple’s date. But today? I just wanted to be alone in my choices.
Throughout the movie, I didn’t glance at him once. Not even during the intermission. Ryan must have noticed, his irritation brewing.
“Do you want to go to your favorite diner
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after this?” he asked, the words laced with thinly veiled annoyance.
“No, I’m fine,” I replied, unfazed by his frustration. I wasn’t going to make an effort today, not when I had nothing left to give.
“Alright then, he muttered, his lips drawn tight in frustration. Without another word, he stood up and walked out of the theater, leaving me to finish the movie alone. I didn’t hurry. I wasn’t interested in catching up with him.
As I exited the theater, I heard Catherine’s voice–sweet and saccharine–cling to the air. “Ryan, see? Aren’t they cute?” She was practically hanging off him, showing off a new pair of earrings, smiling up at him with her head tipped back.
“Cute,” Ryan said, barely looking at her.
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Catherine stood on tiptoe, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. Ryan smiled, ruffling her hair affectionately.
But the moment he saw me sitting off to the side, scrolling through my phone, his smile faltered.
“Helena! Oh, I’m so glad you’re here…” Catherine’s voice faltered as she noticed me. It was as if the kiss she had just planted on Ryan’s cheek had slipped from her mind, and now she was suddenly on the defensive.
“H–Helena, please don’t misunderstand! I was just being… too willful,” she stammered, her eyes filling with fake tears, clearly hoping I’d react.
I glanced at her, my voice calm and steady. “Why are you apologizing? You haven’t done
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anything wrong. Don’t let people like him manipulate you.”
Ryan, ever the master of manipulation, patted Catherine’s head, his tone soft, reassuring. “Don’t listen to her, Catherine,” he said, his hand gently stroking her hair.
And just like that, it all felt like a performance -one I wasn’t interested in participating in anymore.
Then, the chaos began.
“Fire! Oh my god!” someone screamed.
The room erupted into panic. The air thickened with smoke, and the crowd surged toward the exits. I stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do as the mass of people around me scrambled for safety.
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Ryan immediately grabbed Catherine’s hand and pushed his way toward the emergency exit, leaving me behind in the smoke–filled theater.
Tears blurred my vision. I had no time to think about the betrayal. Then, out of nowhere, a jacket was draped over my shoulders. I was yanked off my feet by a strong, unfamiliar hand, and a voice–low and authoritative–spoke softly in my ear.
“Shh. I’ve got you.”
I tried to scream, but before I could, a hand pressed gently over my lips, muffling the sound.
“Who are you?”
