NOT YOURS ANYMORE MR ASHFORD

CHAPTER 5

"Who is the father of the child?" Nikolai's voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Is it that man you've been visiting?"

Elena's heart stopped. How could he know? Her hand instinctively flew to her stomach, a gesture that didn't escape Nikolai's sharp eyes.

"So it's true," he hissed, his face transforming with rage. He stepped toward her, fists clenched. "You've been carrying another man's child under my roof?"

Without thinking, Elena lunged for the door, slamming it shut just as Nikolai reached for her. The lock clicked into place a split second before his body crashed against the wood.

"Elena!" His fist pounded against the door, the solid oak trembling with each blow. "Open this door immediately!"

She backed away, tears streaming down her face, her breathing ragged and shallow. The doctor's warning echoed in her mind—high stress, dangerous for the baby.

"Elena!" Nikolai roared again. "You will open this door and explain yourself!"

She slid down against the far wall, wrapping her arms around her knees, rocking gently as she tried to block out his fury. His accusations cut deeper than any knife—the child was his, had only ever been his. But how could she make him understand when he'd already convicted her?

Minutes stretched into an hour as Nikolai's rage gradually subsided into terse, clipped demands, then finally silence. Elena remained on the floor, tears dried on her cheeks, staring blankly at the door until exhaustion claimed her.

Morning light filtered through the curtains, rousing Elena from her uncomfortable position on the floor. Her neck ached, her eyes felt swollen, but the silence in the house suggested Nikolai had finally given up and left.

With stiff movements, she rose and cautiously unlocked the door. The hallway was empty. Relief flooded through her as she made her way to the bathroom, desperate to wash away the night's trauma.

The hot shower revived her somewhat, but the calm was shattered the moment she entered the dining room. Seated at the head of the table where Nikolai usually presided was Cassandra, leisurely sipping coffee from Elena's favorite cup.

"Good morning, dear," Cassandra smiled, her red lips curving like a wound against her perfect skin. "Rough night? You look... worn."

Elena froze in the doorway, her chest tightening. "Where is Nikolai?"

"Out," Cassandra replied with exaggerated casualness. "Business emergency. He asked me to keep you company." She leaned forward, adding in a conspiratorial whisper, "After your dramatic episode last night, he thought you might need supervision."

The humiliation burned through Elena like acid. This woman—this interloper—was now monitoring her in her own home. Cassandra's expression made it clear she was savoring every moment of Elena's discomfort.

It struck Elena then, with painful clarity, how foolish she'd been. All those nights she'd lain awake, hoping Nikolai would one day see her, truly see her. The meals she'd planned to his taste, the clothes she'd chosen to please him, the way she'd molded herself around his moods and needs. She had given him everything, including her heart, and he had used her body for pleasure while keeping his heart firmly locked away.

In that moment, something shifted inside Elena. The pain was still there, raw and throbbing, but alongside it grew a quiet resolve.

Without a word, she turned and walked out of the dining room, ignoring Cassandra's mocking laughter. She would not give them the satisfaction of seeing her break. Not anymore.

In the privacy of the garden, Elena's hand returned to her stomach, to the tiny life that was now her responsibility.

"We'll be okay," she whispered, a new determination hardening her voice. "I promise."

As Elena left the dining room, Cassandra's laughter faded behind her, but the woman's presence in the house continued to gnaw at her. She retreated to the garden, finding temporary solace among the roses, but her mind raced with thoughts of Nikolai's accusations and Cassandra's smug confidence.

When Elena returned to the house hours later, the sun was high overhead. She found Cassandra lounging in the drawing room, a glass of wine in hand despite the early hour.

"There you are," Cassandra called, her voice deceptively friendly. "Join me for a drink? You look like you could use one."

Elena hesitated in the doorway. "No, thank you."

"Oh, come now," Cassandra insisted, already pouring a second glass. "Nikolai won't be back until late tonight. Business in Dubai, apparently." She held out the crystal glass, the amber liquid catching the light. "Just us girls. A chance to... clear the air."

Against her better judgment, Elena stepped forward and accepted the glass. The tension of the past twenty-four hours had left her exhausted, her usual caution dulled by fatigue.

"What exactly is your relationship with my husband?" Elena asked bluntly, taking a small sip.

Cassandra's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Direct today, aren't we? Let's just say Nikolai and I understand each other. We have an... arrangement that satisfies us both."

"And what about our marriage?" Elena's voice remained steady despite the ache in her chest.

"Your marriage?" Cassandra laughed, the sound like broken glass. "Sweetheart, your marriage exists on paper only. Nikolai's grandfather forced him into it, and he's been looking for a way out since day one."

The words stung, though they contained nothing Elena didn't already know. She took another, larger sip of her drink, welcoming the slight burn down her throat.

"You're just a convenience," Cassandra continued, watching Elena closely. "A trophy to display at business functions. Nothing more."

Elena felt a strange warmth spreading through her limbs, heavier than the usual effects of alcohol. The room seemed to tilt slightly, the edges of her vision softening. She looked down at her glass, suspicion dawning through the growing fog in her mind.

"What did you..." she began, her tongue suddenly feeling thick in her mouth.

Cassandra smiled, taking the glass from Elena's loosening grip. "Just something to help you relax. You've been so tense lately."

Elena tried to stand, but her legs buckled beneath her. Cassandra caught her with surprising strength, guiding her to the sofa.

"That's it," Cassandra murmured, her voice coming from what seemed like a great distance. "Just rest now."

Through increasingly blurred vision, Elena watched as Cassandra pulled out her phone, scrolling through contacts. "Marco? It's time. The side entrance is unlocked."

Elena fought to stay conscious, to understand what was happening, but the drug pulled her under, plunging her into darkness.

Consciousness returned in fragments. First came the sensation of being moved, then voices speaking in hushed tones. Elena struggled to open her eyes, finding herself being half-carried, half-dragged up the grand staircase toward her bedroom.

"Hurry," Cassandra's voice hissed. "Get her on the bed before anyone sees."

A man's voice, unfamiliar and accented, responded. "This wasn't part of the deal. You said photos only."

"And you'll get your money," Cassandra snapped. "Now do as I say."

Elena felt herself being lowered onto the soft mattress of her bed. She tried to speak, to protest, but only a weak moan escaped her lips.

"Perfect," Cassandra muttered. "Now, take off your shirt and lie beside her."

"This is going too far," the man—Marco—protested.

"Double the money," Cassandra offered coldly. "Just do it."

Through the haze, Elena heard the rustle of fabric, felt the mattress dip as someone lay down beside her. She fought against the drug, managing to crack her eyes open enough to see a bronzed, shirtless man positioned next to her. Cassandra stood at the foot of the bed, Elena's phone in her hand.

"Say cheese," Cassandra smirked, raising the phone.

The flash blinded Elena momentarily, driving her back into semiconsciousness. More rustling sounds, murmured instructions, several more flashes.

"Her fingerprint," Cassandra instructed. "I need to unlock the phone."

Cold fingers grasped Elena's hand, pressing her thumb against the cool surface of her phone screen. Elena tried to pull away, but her body refused to respond to her commands.

"Perfect," Cassandra declared, satisfaction dripping from her voice. "Nikolai will be beside himself when he sees these."

"I've done what you asked," Marco said. "My payment?"

"In the envelope on the dresser. Now go, quickly. Use the service entrance."