<b>Chapter </b>97


    Elena’s POV


    Thanted toward the reception desk then ponting and praying that Miki would leave. Each step took echoed too loudly, like the world its has into a bush, just watching me


    My legs felt heavy, sluggish with the weight of everything I’d just taped. The throb from the most hadn’t gone away it was a dull, constant pressure in my lower abdomen, enough to make me pause minutely every few steps and breathe through it


    Treached into my hoodie packet and pulled out my phone with stiff fingers, unlocking it to pay the bill.


    My fingers tapped against the ss as the payment processed. The receptionist smiled politely, her gaze dropping to the printed prescription that peeked out of the folder tucked in my open bag.


    “All done, Ms. Kovalyova. Take care of yourself, alright?” she <b>said</b>, her voice syrupy and soft, like she already knew too much like maybe she’d seen girls like me walk in and out with the same hollow eyes and trembling hands,


    I nodded mutely and turned to leave–only to find a tall, immovable wall of dark fabric blocking my way


    Of course it was him. Of course he was still here.


    My stomach dropped, twisting and knotting into itself clenched the folder tighter under my arm, suddenly hyper<b>–</b>aware of how fragile In


    I stepped to the side, <b>trying </b>to bypass him without a word, but he mirrored the movement.


    “Elena”


    His voice was almost a growl.


    God, why did it still have to feel so hard?


    Before I could step away again, he reached forward and caught my wrist–his grip firm, not hurting, but firm enough to halt me.


    “Niki,” hissed through clenched teeth, ncing around. “People are staring”


    must’ve looked.


    “I don’t care,” he said, dragging his free hand through his hair. His tie was askew, like he’d rushed out of somewhere without stopping to fix it. “Elena. please. Don’t do this, I <b>know </b>I messed up. I know this is all my fault. But I’ll fix it. I’ll fix everything, just-


    “You can’t fix things that have already happened,” Isnapped, yanking him down the hallway to a quieter corridor near the restrooms. It was narrow, cramped, and smelled faintly of antiseptic. Better than being gawked at by strangers.


    I turned to face him fully, tightening the grip on my bag praying he couldn’t hear how loud my heart was thudding.


    “You know what Sergei did,” I said evenly, watching his expression still. “Benjamin must have already told you. About him showing up at my home.”


    Niki blinked once, twice. His face was pale under the hallway lights. That was all the confirmation needed


    “My mother is mad at me,” I continued, voice shaking despite my best efforts. “She’s seriously–actually furious. At me. For the first time in my life. And it’s because <b>of </b><b>you</b>.”


    “She was my fine, Niki looked away, blinking fast, trying not to lose it. “She was thest line I wasn’t willing to cross. And you–you blew right past it. You knew how much she meant to me. You knew everything, and still–still–you said nothing”


    His shoulders stiffened. Guilt coated his features, weighing on him like <b>chains</b>.


    If you’d told the in the beginning before we signed that contract, maybe I coulit vn forgivin you, I continued. even understood. <b>But </b>you didn’t. You blinduded me. You let me fall into thi: mese. You wood there and watched.


    Tprused, breathing hard. The ache from earlier pulsed through my abdomen, but tignored i


    “And <b>you </b>can’t fix my rtionship with her. No one can. Not even you.” My voice cracked, and i turned my face away, athamed “ou’ve done ano


    He said nothing, so I pushed on beforest my nerve


    “if this is about the money,” I said, “Then fine. Tell me what i


    at Lose I’ll pay you back. I’ll work every day for t


    Lemot of my life ifthave to?


    “No.” Niki said softly, his eyes dark. “You don’t owe me anything.”


    But even as he said it, he reached for me again and pulled me into a sudden, desperata kiss.


    1 froze, my hands braced against his chest, heart mming wildly in my ribs. His lips were warm, familiar, pleating–but it wasn’t enough. Not anymore,


    1shoved him away.


    “Nikiz


    He stared at me with eyes I’d dreamed of. Eyes that <b>had </b>once felt like home. But today, they just made me feel homeless.


    “Please,” he whispered. “I don’t believe you feel nothing for me.”


    And he was right


    ; right. Damn him. He <b>was </b>right


    But I remembered my mother’s words from the night before, words that cut deeper than any de ever could.


    | never taught you to lose your self respect in love”


    And no matter how much I wanted him, needed him, missed him–t <b>couldn’t </b>lose myself for <b>him</b>.


    “It’s toote for <b>this</b><b>,</b>” I said, pulling back again. “Don’t do this anymore. Tell your men to stop following me. Or…”


    He exhaled sharply. “Or what?”


    Thesitated. My heart mmed harder against my ribs <b>as </b>I <b>said</b>, “Or’ll ask the one person I never wanted to ask to interfere.”


    His expression shifted instantly He knew exactly who I meant.


    “Sergei,” he said, his voice a whisper of dread.


    Inodded.


    Niki stepped back <b>as </b>if I’d pped him, and for a brief second I saw something shatter behind his eyes. Regret? Rage? <b>I </b>couldn’t tell


    I turned <b>away </b>from him, walking back down the hallway without looking back–until I did. Just once. I opened my mouth to <b>say </b>something, but the words never came. So I turned again.


    And this time, I kept <b>walking</b>.


    <b>Back </b>in themon area, I spotted Mkai near the automatic <b>doors</b>. He was scrolling through his phone, probably expecting I’d never return. His head jerked up when he <b>saw </b>me, brows lifting in surprise.


    “You okay?” he asked, his voice low and careful


    I forced a smile <b>that </b>probably looked most like a grimace. “Yeah. Just bred. Would you mind. dropping me at the metro station?”


    12:23 Mon, 28 Jul (


    He stared for a second like I’d just asked him to abandon


    “drop you home,” he said simply “Come on.”


    | sighed, hall relieved. I didn’t have the energy to arque. Or to deal with the stares the othermuters would throw me the smell of tom people crammed in too undil a space. I just needed… quiet.


    Mkal opened the car door for me and I slipped inside, wincing a little at the ache in my stomach as i hockled up. His car smelled faintly of cada leather polish,forting in a way that made no sense.


    He climbed into the driver’s side, adjusted the mirror, then paused before turning the ignition


    “So… Niki,” he said, his voice as casual as it was not. “You guys fighting or something?”


    I stared at the window, watching my reflection. My skin looked pale, Almost translucent


    “No,” I said.


    He gave a light, relieved exhale. “Good. That would suck, considering.”


    ing what?”


    Ifrowned. “Considering


    He smirked, one brow raised. “Well, you’re pregnant, right? I’ve seen enough morning sickness to recognize it.”


    froze. My hands clenched in myp. My throat dried out like it had been stuffed with cotton.


    “What? No. You’re wrong.” I said, my voice hoarse. “It’s just… stress. I’ve been sick for a few days.”


    He didn’t look convinced. Not even a little.


    “Are you sure?”


    I turned toward him, eyes sharp now. “Yes. Don’t say that to anyone. Not even your sister. I have an IUD.”


    The moment the words left my mouth, I realized how guilty I sounded. Too many details. Too much insistence. Ovepensation in its most obvious


    form


    Why couldn’t I just lie properly for once?


    I turned my head away again–and that’s when i saw him,


    Niki.


    He was stepping down the clinic stairs, his dark silhouette framed against the sky. His gaze swept across the parking lot–then locked on me.


    Straight through the windshield.