<b>Chapter </b><b>125 </b>
Niki’s POV:
Fury, hot and blinding, burned through me as red down at Dmiti, whoy sprawled on the polished marble floor, clutching his jaw and groaning. My vision swam with a red haze of pure, unadulterated rage.
My mind felt thick and sluggish, unable to process anything beyond the primal urge to inflict more pain on the pathetic excuse of a human being who dared to touch Elena, to cause her such distress.
My hands, still trembling with adrenaline, clenched into fists, and I took a step forward, intending In delhor another blow, aiming for his gut this time, when strong arms suddenly wrapped around my chest, pulling me back with surprising force.
One second i was towering over Dimitri, ready to unleash another wave of brutal punches<b>, </b>and the next I was being dragged away, <b>as </b>heard Elena’s voice, sharp and urgent, cutting through the roaring in my ears. “Nikil” twisted my head to see two of the Vetrov’s hulking security guards right behind me, their expressions grim as they physically restrained me.
Another guard had moved in <b>quickly </b>grabbing Dmitri by the arms <b>and </b>hauling him to his feet.
Lazar stepped forward, his voice calm and authoritative. “Alright, everyone, party’s over, please. Kindly take your leaves. Show’s over. He repeated, his gaze sweeping over the stunned and whispering guests, effectively cutting through the remaining <b>festive </b>atmosphere.
I didn’t give a damn about the gawking onlookers. I straightened myself up, shrugging off the remaining hold the guards had on me. “Let go,” I said, my voice low, my eyes still fed on Dmitri. The guards immediately stepped back, their gaze falling to the floor. Ismoothed down my slightly rumpled zer, turned around, and my eyesnded on Elena. She stood in the middle of the lounge, looking pale and shaken, a young girl clinging to her arm, hiding behind her as if she were a frightened animal.
Myfrown deepened. <b>Who </b>was this girl, and why was she clinging to Elena?
“Come with me,” I said softly, my voice barely a <b>whisper</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>desperate plea in my heart for Elena to just listen to me this time, to trust me enough to follow. I could see the internal battle raging within her, the clear desire to refuse warring with something else, perhaps a desperate need for help
Finally, she sighed, and nodded slowly, Gripping the girl’s arm, she pulled her along, following me out
ut of the chaotic house, and towards the ck SUVI had parked haphazardly across the street when Benjamin had finally given me Elena’s location.
The second Benjamin’s picture had confirmed she was at Dmith’s <b>mansion</b>, I had bolted from the office. The drive here had been a blur offrantic thoughts and <b>a </b>desperate longing to see her
I turned to walk towards the passenger side of the SUV, <b>reaching </b>for the door handle, intending to open it for Elena. But she stopped short, her lips pressed into a thin line. “She’s with me, Niki,” Her tone brooked no argument.
I nodded slowly. I then moved to the back door and opened it for her. The girl looked hesitantly at Elena<b>, </b><b>her </b>ayes filled with uncertainty. “It’s okay. <b>I </b>can just… go. Her voice <b>was </b>barely audible.
“Mielle. Please, just get <b>inside </b>Elena said firmly, her hand resting on the girl’s shoulder. Mielle finally nodded, her fear still evident, and climbed into the back seat.
I looked at Diena, who walked over to settle into the passenger seat and I made my way to the driver’s seat. My heart was hammering against my || had been so <b>long </b>ce I had been this close to her, since I had seen the subtle nuances of her expressions, the way her brow furrowed when sho worried, the slight tremor in her hands had to physically restrain myself from reaching out, from touching her, from simply looking at her for too
How long had it actually been? Since I hadst seen her? Since I hadst touched her skin, felt the warmth of her body pressed against mine? Since I hadst inhaled the unique scent of her? Since I hadst heard the sound of her <b>voice </b>in person?
It felt like years, an unbearable eternity.
Iclenched my fists, my knuckles turning white against the steering wheel, the <b>carefully </b>chosen words of my therapist echoing in my head. “Don’te on too strong, Niki. That would only make her pull away further. She likely thinks you love bombed her, manipted her into marrying you to take advantage of her if you truly want to get through to her, then show her through your actions that <b>you </b><b>care</b>. Don’t rush her. Give her space and time ta
process everything
pulled the SUV out of its haphazard parking spot, my gaze carefully fixed on the road <b>ahead</b>, and cleared my throat. “What happened Elena Lacked, my voice low, trying to keep it neutral
The car remained silent, the only sound was the soft hum of the engine lena didn’t speak, her gaze fixed out the side window. To my surprise, it was the young girl in the back seat, Mielle, who finally broke the silence, her voice small and hesitant. “I’m so sorry for the trouble, sit. it’s all my fault, You can just… drop me off at the metro station, please” She said, and i frowned<b>, </b>ncing at Elena through the corner of my eyes
“What did Dmitri do” I asked, my voice firm. Elena’s head shot towards me, her eyes red–rimmed,
Then she sighed, a long, weary sound, and looked at Mielle. “I’m <b>so </b>sorry, Mielle.”
My knees were bouncing up and down with barely contained irritation. Whatever had happened, Dmitri was clearly involved, and the thought of him causing Elena more pain, even indirectly, was enough to make my blood boil.
Mielle spoke up again, her voice trembling slightly. “Please don’t apologize, Elena… you came all the way here for me…
I pulled the car over to the side of the road, the sudden stop making both women jump slightly. “Llena,” I said, turning to face her directly, my voice low and intense, “can you please just speak to me? Tell me what’s going on.” She took a deep, shuddering breath, then finally turned to look at me properly. My heart skipped a painful beat when I saw the unished tears still clinging to her eyshes.
“Elena “began, reaching out a hand towards her,
“If I speak to you, Niki… if i tell you to do something, will <b>you </b>actually listen to me?<b>” </b><b>She </b>cut me off, her voice <b>surprisingly </b>steady despite the lingering tremor in her hands. And all of a sudden, I felt like the biggest kind of asshole
I swallowed the Tump that had formed in my throat.
“I will, Elena,” I said softly, my gaze unwavering But then I hesitated, a sliver of my old stubbornness resurfacing. As long as it doesn’t risk your safety…or involve me signing those damn divorce papers.”
I heard her scoff, <b>a </b>short, humorless sound. She turned her head to look out the passenger window, her expression unreadable. For <b>a </b>fleeting second, I thought she might just open the door and <b>walk </b>away, disappear into the night
But she didn’t. She remained in her seat, her gaze still fed on the passing scenery.
She spoke then, her voice low and strained, looking out the window “Mielle is pregnant, Niki it’s Dimitri’s child. And he’s refusing to sign the document that will help her get an abortion. That’s the reason I came here tonight.”
I paused, the weight of her words settling heavily upon me, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into ce with sickening rity. I nced at the girl sitting silently in the back seat, her face hidden in her palms.
Then I nodded slowly, my gaze returning to Elena. “The document.. it’s needed to prove his paternity, then? That’s why you need a waiver? If the abortion is the only issue, Elena, then can easily have that resolved. I can make arrangements immediately.” I said, my voice calm, trying to offer a practical solution, but Elena’s head snapped towards me, her eyes zing with an anger that made me finch.
“Abortion is not the only issue here, Niki!” She paused, <b>taking </b>a deep, shuddering breath, trying to <b>regain </b>some semnce of control” least… not anymore. Why the hell did he react in such <b>a </b>disgusting way? What’s wrong with him? He basically raped her, Niki. She was intoxicated, b conscious. She <b>wasn’t </b>capable of <b>giving </b>consent.” Ekena hissed, her voice trembling with fury, and with each word, my heart seemed to drop weight of <b>her </b>usation settling like <b>a </b>leaden mass in my chest.
My frown deepened, the realization of the true horror of the situation finally dawning on me. No wonder Dmitri had reacted with such visceral appression. I felt a wave of nausea chum in my stomach, a vile taste rising in my throat as the fragmented memories of Dmitri’s entitled behavior over the years shed through my mind.
“it’s <b>because </b>he’s <b>afraid</b>, Elena” I said, my jaw clenching tight, the words barely <b>a </b>whisper.
“Afraid of what Nik Elena screamed, <b>the </b>sound <b>raw </b>and filled with <b>pain</b><b>, </b>and I turned to look at her, my gate meeting her tear–filled eyes.
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12:38 Tue, 29 Jul Gu
“Afraid of his pasting to light, Elena… something like this… happened before. When he was seventeen” I said, my voice low Theri 1 added, the words hanging in the air like a death knell. “However… the girl involved that time… she didn’t live to see the light of day.”
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