Chapter Fifty-One

Y A N A

For what seemed like forever, neither Mikhail nor I manage to utter a single word. We just stare at each other, but eventually I have to look away because I can’t stand seeing the pain in his eyes.

I want to take it back.

The exact statement I said about us breaking up . . . I want to take it back. I want to take back time and never say it, even though I know it’s necessary for him to keep a decent relationship with his parents and his birthright, which is the company.

I know that he worked hard for everything, but he could lose it all if he chose to stay with me.

So I made that choice for him.

It might be cruel. It might just be the stupidest thing I ever did and I might just live to regret this for the rest of my life, but in the end I would know that I did it for him.

But at the same time, that doesn’t mean my heart is not being ripped into pieces right now.

“Why?” Mikhail asks, and this one simple word is enough to bring out a tear from me.

“Because it’s not right.” I forc