جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 80

MikhailThe pieces were falling into place, and the picture they formed made me sick to my stomach. I sat in the living hall, watching Liliana process what I'd just told her about Katarina, and felt the foundations of my entire life crumbling beneath me.Katarina was Anastasia's lookalike They were sisters. Their relationship was tight. They were called The Volkov sisters. She also volunteered to raise me after my father died, but Anastasia beat her to it.She would visit me with flowers and cookies every weekends and I loved her just like I loved Aunt Anastasia. But one evening, they both went on a trip and Katarina never returned. Only Anastasia came back alive. The news reported her dead in a car accident but we never saw her body. Only Anastasia survived the crash. "I need to make some calls," I told Liliana, pulling out my phone. "We need to know exactly what we're dealing with."I called Lorenzo first, one of my father's old associates. He had told me to reach out whenever I

MikhailThe Grand Palladium Hotel rose from the city's heart like a monument to bygone elegance. It was exactly what I'd expected, opulent, crowded. Doormen in burgundy uniforms ushered an endless stream of guests into the palatial lobby beyond."Remember what we discussed," I murmured to Liliana as Muffy, my driver pulled our armored Mercedes up to the circular drive. Through the bulletproof glass, I watched valet attendants in crisp white jackets move with the synchronized precision of a ballet company, their every gesture was calculated to project competence and discretion.Liliana's hand found mine across the leather seat, her skin was cold as winter despite the warm October evening. She looked absolutely breathtaking in her midnight blue gown, Italian silk that hugged her every curve. The neckline exposed her neck, revealing the upper part of her breast. The dress had cost more than a hundred thousand dollars."We stay together," she replied, her voice steady despite the fear I c

MikhailMy head felt like it was full of cotton, but slowly I started to wake up. First I tasted metal and chemicals in my mouth. Then I felt silk sheets against my skin and realized with horror that my shirt was gone. The drug was still making everything feel far away and weird, but I was fighting to stay conscious.Katarina wasn't on top of me anymore, and I could hear voices, like two women arguing in fast Russian. My vision was still blurry, but I could see two figures standing by the door. One of them wore the same fancy evening gown Katarina was wearing before she went crazy. But they both had the same posture I'd known since I was a kid."You always were disgusting," came Anastasia's voice, cold as ice. "But this... this is sick even for you.""Sister," Katarina said sweetly, and I could hear her smiling. "How nice of you to join us. Though your timing sucks.""My timing is perfect. As always." Anastasia stepped closer, and I could see she was holding something metal that caugh

MikhailThe look in Liliana's eyes was like a knife twisting in my gut. I could see the doubt creeping in, the questions forming. Katarina's poison was already working, even from that metal chair."Liliana," I started, but she held up her hand to stop me."Is it true?" she asked, her voice was so quiet that I could barely hear it. "Did Anastasia make other women disappear from your life?"I wanted to lie. God, how I wanted to lie. But after everything we'd been through tonight, after all the lies that had already been told, I couldn't add another one."Yes," I whispered. "But it wasn't like that. It wasn't what you think."The pain that flashed across her face was worse than any physical blow I'd ever taken. "Then what was it like, Mikhail? Tell me the truth. All of it."I looked at Anastasia, who was standing in the shadows like a ghost. She gave me a small nod, as if giving me permission to finally speak."There were three women," I said, my voice cracking. "Maria, Elena, and Sofia.

MikhailI sat on the front steps of the manor, my head in my hands, trying to make sense of the mess my life had become. The October air was cold against my skin, but I barely felt it. Everything inside me was numb, like I'd been hit by lightning and was still trying to figure out if I was alive.My whole life was a lie. Every relationship, every choice, every moment of happiness, all of it had been manipulated by the woman I trusted most in the world. The woman who raised me. The woman I called family."Mikhail?" Liliana's voice came from behind me, soft and careful like she was approaching a wounded animal.I didn't turn around. I couldn't look at her right now. Because the worst part of all this wasn't what Anastasia had done to Maria or Elena or Sofia. The worst part was not knowing if what Liliana and I had was real."Are you okay?" she asked, sitting down beside me on the cold stone steps.I laughed, but it came out cracked and bitter. "Am I okay? My aunt just confessed to manip